Confirmation Preparation

The high school Confirmation retreat starts June 5. We will need many volunteers to help before, during, and after the retreat. Anyone can volunteer, not just those with a teen going through the program! 

In order to volunteer you need to have completed the Diocesan Safe Environment training within the last 3 years. Please check your certificate or complete the training by going here: https://dol-in.safeenvironment.org/ 

Confirmation is a one-year process for High School teens (grades 9-12). The teens and their parents may choose any year of high school to participate (we recommend doing it sooner rather than later). All of the formal catechetical preparation is combined with a summertime retreat experience offsite. It utilizes large group talks, small group discussions, fun & powerful music, drama, skits, service, adoration, and personal faith sharing. It is a fun, high-energy, 100% Catholic, powerful, life-changing experience for the youth! Reception of the sacrament will occur after the last day of the summer retreat. No monthly meetings! Instead, the teen do the following:

Attend the entire five day retreat, June 5-9, 2024.

All currently registered families with a high school freshman will be notified by email (as long as an email is in the church records). Please contact the Faith Formation Office for 10th-12th grade teens to be added to June, 2024 list at (317) 846-3878.  You can also email marinj@olmc1.org with the teen(s) name, grade, your email address and cell phone number with the subject line "Confirmation 2024" to be added to the parent meeting notification information. 

Schedule

Retreat: June 5-9, 2024 at Holy Cross College, South Bend, IN

Mass: June 9, 2024 at OLMC Church 
 

Requirements to Participate

Attend the Parent Meetings: One parent must attend two meetings – one in the fall and one in the spring. For the Fall Parent Meeting with sessions on September 13 in St. Joseph Room from 7-9 pm or  September 19 2023 in the Parish Hall from 7-9 pm  in order to pre-register your high school student for the Confirmation program.

Spring Parent Meetings - March, 2024. Only attend if your teen is already preregistered. Email will been sent to all parents of preregistered teens with the specific information. 

High School Student (grades 9-12): Teen must be a high school student, currently enrolled in 9th-12th grade.

Registered Parishioner: Families must be registered parishioners of OLMC by December 2023 – at least six months prior to the retreat.

Baptismal Certificate: For each teen going through the program, a Baptismal Certificate must be provided.

• If your teen was baptized here at OLMC, provide us with the month and year of their baptism.
• If your teen was baptized at a different parish, an original Baptismal Certificate from the parish where they were baptized must be brought into the Parish Office for verification.

Attend Entire Program: Teens must attend the entire Ignite the Fire Confirmation Retreat in order to be fully prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. If your teen cannot attend the full program this year, and they are still in high school next year, you may choose to postpone. We recommend blocking off this timeframe for the following year in order to make sure your teen can receive this sacrament.

Confirmation Sponsors

Sponsors for Confirmation must:

• Be 16 years of age or older
• Not be the teen's parent – a parent cannot sponsor their own child
• Have received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
• Be a Catholic in good standing with the church, proven with a Letter of Good Standing

Letter of Good Standing

Sponsors must complete and bring to the Parish Office for verification the Letter of Good Standing Form. All sponsors must do this – even if you are an OLMC parishioner! 

** Please submit your form at least by November 30, 2024**

Letter of Good Standing for Sponsors (English)
Letter of Good Standing for Sponsors/Godparents (Español)
Sponsor Guidebook: Sent to each sponsor once their Letter of Good Standing has been received

Summer School Policy

Those seeking academic advancement through summer school are allowed to arrive Wednesday, June 8 in the afternoon. Parents will need to arrange transportation on their own. They will however be required to take off that Thursday and Friday in order to attend the entire retreat. A note can be provided to help excuse their absence from summer school if needed.

Financial Aid

For financial assistance with any programs and events throughout this school year, complete our Financial Aid Application and return to the Faith Formation Office. (This must be updated each school year financial aid is needed)

Financial Aid Application (English)
Spanish Financial Aid Application/Aplicación de ayuda Financiera en Español

Ignite the Fire High School Confirmation Program

Have questions?

Contact the Parish Faith Formation Office at (317) 846-3878