High School Confirmation

There is no rush to get started if your child or your family isn’t ready. We can always take the year to ease into it. What does it mean to be “ready” for Confirmation?

• Attends weekly faith formation classes
• Your child was BAPTIZED in the Roman Catholic Church, and you can produce the baptismal certificate at time of registration (along with your child’s birth certificate).
• Your child desires the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• Your child attends Mass every single Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation
• Goes to sacramental Confession at least once a year

There are no conveyor belts to Heaven or the sacraments! This year is not the right year for your family if you cannot answer “YES!” to the following questions:

• Do you attend Holy Mass every single Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation?
  If you attend occasionally or even monthly, then you are not ready to start the process for First Holy Communion for your child. Jesus commands us to Keep Holy the Sabbath and to worship God in Holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. It is a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sundays.

• Do you go to sacramental Confession at least once a year?
  The Church requires yearly Confessions of all her members. Too many high school students (over 60%) have not gone to Confession since their first time. This is a tragedy, but one that we cannot blame on the kids.

• Do you pray regularly at home?
  Jesus Christ is not a teacher, wise man, or prophet. He is our Lord and Savior. What is the purpose of Holy Communion if we do not have living faith in Jesus at home?

• Are you able to attend  the weekly faith formation classes?
  Sometimes our schedules get crazy depending on the year and what activities our kids are involved in. Sacrament Preparation is a priority over sports, band, and other things. If this year is too full that you cannot make it a priority, then let’s look at next year.

If you answered “No” to any question above, then let’s devise together the best way forward that meets the needs of your family and upholds the dignity and power of the Sacraments. Jesus Christ desires you to know and love Him, to receive His free gift of salvation through faith, and to be not only in touch with Him, but in communion, in holy intimacy with Him. That alone is the end game for our sacrament preparation family ministry here at Prince of Peace.

• Families attend Mass every Sunday and Catholic parent(s) go to confession at least once a year, as required in the Church Precepts
• Students will attend weekly Faith Formation classes
• Parents will attend weekly Parent Cafe sessions or volunteer for Faith Formation
• Parents will work with their children to complete the books for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
• Students will attend either a day of reflection or confirmation retreat
• Parents are welcome to participate in the Alpha program (optional)

The high school confirmation candidate must be:

• enrolled in BOTH Faith Formation and Sacrament Preparation programs
• baptized in the Catholic faith
• at least 9th grade

If your child is in 6th-12th grade and he/she would like to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation or Eucharist please click here or contact Diana Valencia at DValencia@POPHouston.org or 281.469.2686 x223.

*Please Note: If your child has not been baptized:

• Under age 7, please contact Miriam Sanchez at MSanchez@POPHouston.org or 281.571.4117.
• Age 7+, please contact Dcn. Robert Trahan at RTrahan@POPHouston.org or 281.571.4126.

Confirmation sponsors have an important role in the lives of those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Below are some helpful guidelines to remember as you choose your sponsor.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A CONFIRMATION SPONSOR?
The sponsor prays for their candidate, answers questions, and serves as a role model in the faith. Choose someone who lives his or her Catholic life well: daily prayer, weekly Mass, knowledgeable about the faith. Obviously, the sponsor doesn’t have to be perfect, but he or she must be striving to live our Catholic faith every day. Although it is not absolutely necessary, it is most helpful if the sponsor is local so that he or she can frequently meet up with you.

DO SPONSORS HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC?
Yes, sponsors must be fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) Catholics who attend Mass regularly and are able to receive the Eucharist. An unbaptized or non-Christian person is not eligible to be a sponsor for Confirmation.

DO SPONSORS HAVE TO BE MARRIED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Yes, if married, a sponsor’s marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church. If married civilly or in another Christian tradition, he or she is not eligible to serve as a sponsor until the marriage is recognized in the Catholic Church.

HOW MANY SPONSORS CAN I HAVE?
Your Confirmation sponsor can definitely be one of your godparents from Baptism – that’s a beautiful way to celebrate the unity of the sacraments. Actually, if you’d like both your Baptism godparents to be your sponsors, you can.

Any confirmed Catholic adult in good standing with the Church.

We support and assist high school candidates preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation through mentoring, teaching, organizing retreats, and facilitating spiritual formation activities.

Because it provides an opportunity to accompany and guide high school students in deepening their faith, fostering community, and experiencing personal spiritual growth.

Wednesdays 7:30-9 pm in the St. Pedro Calungsod Youth Center September-May.

You can also choose to serve for days of reflections and high school retreats.

If you are 18 years old and above, our archdiocese requires all adult volunteers to complete safe environment training.

This short one-hour online training teaches people how to create a secure and protected environment for everyone, especially children, by recognizing and preventing potential risks or harm.

Click here to register for Safe Environment Training.