Youth Confirmation
“You are helping people prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. Perhaps you are doing this because you have experienced the Holy Spirit in your own life—in the quiet of your heart, in the power of your speech, or in the confidence of your faith. You believe that the Spirit dwells within you, and you are anxious to help others experience the same gifts. Thank you for offering your service to the Church.”
(Guide for Celebrating Confirmation, Paul Turner, ix.)
Resources for Confirmation Coordinators
It is important to be innovative as we think how we prepare the youth for the sacrament of Confirmation. Below you will find resources to help you evaluate, expand or build a confirmation program for your parish.
Confirmation Preparation Webinar: New Ways to Think about Confirmation Preparation. (A recording of the webinar which gives us the chance to think innovatively about how we can prepare youth. June 2021)
- Resources that can help with the work of reimagining Confirmation preparation (as discussed in the webinar above):
- New Ways to Think about Confirmation - PowerPoint Presentation
- New Ways to Think about Confirmation Preparation: A Resource List:
- Research:
- National Dialogue on Catholic Pastoral Ministry with Youth and Young Adults
- Report on American Catholic Religious Parenting - Dr. Christian Smith (link for free download)
- The State of Religion and Young People - Springtide Research Institute (link for free download)
- Religious Parenting: Transmitting Faith and Values in Contemporary America by Christian Smith, Bridget Ritz, and Michael Rotolo
- Book List:
- Faith Talk: Having Conversations that Matter with Youth by Robert McCarty
- Rebuilding Confirmation: Because We Need More than Another Graduation by Christopher Wesley
- Guide for Celebrating Confirmation by Paul Turner
- The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis from NFCYM, NCEA, NCCL and NIAC
- Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith and Melina Lundquist Denton
- Kevin Dowd just released a new book called Your Confirmation Bible Companion: What Scripture as ‘God’s Love Song’ Means for You. This book is geared towards Confirmation students and teens and is a user-friendly guide to understanding how Catholics read and interpret the Bible. The book includes questions for reflection and space for journaling.
- Other Resources:
- Research:
- New Ways to Think about Confirmation Preparation: A Resource List:
- Innovative Confirmation Preparation Assessment: A fun "quiz" to see how your Confirmation Preparation Looks!
- Helping youth embrace the Kerygma (Gospel message and Good News of Jesus) should be incorporated into all aspects of faith formation with adolescents, including during Confirmation preparation. Here are some resources to lift up the Kerygma.
Parish Program Guidelines
“Sacrament of Confirmation: Recommendations for Parish Program Guidelines” are recommendations offered by the Faith Formation team of The Center for Catholic Education and Formation (The Center) in regards to preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation for adolescents in parish communities within the Archdiocese of Hartford. These recommendations are a direct result of the many innovative ideas, common suggestions, and overwhelming concerns brought to the attention of The Center by numerous clergy, parish directors of religious education, catechists, parents, and youth ministers. It is our hope that these recommendations assist all pastors and parish catechetical leaders in the planning and implementation of a solid and fruitful Confirmation preparation program for adolescents, and that this catechetical ministry helps parish communities form faithful missionary disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sacrament of Confirmation: Recommendations for Parish Program Guidelines
Confirmation Retreats
Virtual Confirmation Retreats
- Trinita is now offering Virtual Confirmation Retreats during this time of uncertainty. They will be led by Retreat Director Steve DiMotta and will include everything that the dynamic day retreats offer. Click here for more information.
- Red Barn Ministries has developed engaging on-line Confirmation retreats using high quality videos. These sessions include prayer, topics relevant to Confirmation and interviews with young, relatable Catholics. Click here for more information: redbarnministries.org.
In-Person Confirmation Retreats
These are some retreats that are being offered around the Archdiocese. Be sure to take advantage of these awesome retreat opportunities!
- Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center – West Hartford
- Click here to learn more about Holy Family retreats.
- Trinita Retreat Center – New Hartford
- Click here to learn more about Trinita Retreat Center.
Rooting Youth Service Experiences: A Practical Guide
Engaging youth in service experiences is one of the most effective ways to help young people encounter Jesus Christ. Such opportunities are formative in their catechesis and faith formation, which plants a seed for a deep love for the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Center for Catholic Education and Formation and the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry have put together a comprehensive and interactive guide entitled "Rooting Youth Service Experiences: A Practical Guide” This guide will help you design effective and meaningful opportunities for the youth you serve.
Confirmation Speakers
For a list of recommended speakers, please contact Kelly Henderschedt. Please be sure to have all guest speakers fill out The Center's Testimonial of Suitability Form. Please keep one copy for your own parish records and send one copy to us.
Testimonial of Suitability Form
For more information contact:
Kelly Henderschedt
Archdiocesan Director of Faith Formation
860 - 242 - 5573 ex. 2663
Kelly.Henderschedt@aohct.org