What is Confirmation?

Along with Baptism and Eucharist, Confirmation is one of the three initiation sacraments and is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. Conferred in the 10th grade or older in the Diocese of Des Moines, Confirmation is a sacred moment that enables you to recognize and respond to God's call. In the sacrament, God's Holy Spirit communicates seven significant gifts: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, piety/devotion, courage, counsel, and the obedient love of an adopted daughter or son. 
 

Program Description

As recommended by Bishop Joensen and the Diocese of Des Moines Office of Evangelization & Faith Formation, Confirmation preparation in the parish is to be a two-year process beginning in 9th grade, with the sacrament typically conferred during the 10th-grade year. This preparation supplements and supports ongoing preparation by parents as the primary faith formators of their children in the home. 

Confirmation Year 2 (10th Grade)

Confirmation Year 2 will include the following components. Additional details will be available soon. Thank you for your patience!

• Parent/teen information meeting 
• Initial discernment conversation  
• Formation sessions (meets one-two times each month on Mondays or Wednesdays)
• Monthly conversations with their sponsor 
• Long-term service project in parish or community

PURPOSE

We use PURPOSE, from Catholic publisher LifeTeen, to prepare our Confirmation candidates. PURPOSE is formed around these questions: "Why God?", "Why Jesus?” and “Why Church?” and offers a transformational plan for the Confirmation journey that seeks to draw youth to become disciples of Jesus who will go out and bear witness to His love in the world today. Click here to learn more about PURPOSE. 
 

Handbook, Calendar, & Service Opportunities

Confirmation Year 2 Handbook

Click here to view or print 2022-23 Confirmation Year 2 Handbook. 

Confirmation Year 2 Service Hours Log

Click here to view or print the Confirmation Year 2 Service Hours Log.

Confirmation Year 2 Calendar

Click here to print or view the schedule for 2022-2023

Service Opportunities

Tuesday, January 27 @ 1:00 pm
Help is needed to prepare for the Family Faith Formation Evening filling Holy Water Bottles, making sticker sets, etc.

Senior and Confirmation Candidate Mass, Lunch, and BINGO 
January 16 – (MLK Jr. Day) Mass @ 10 for Senior Citizens and Candidates, Lunch to follow.  Please sign up to help and be counted for the meal.  Click here for the Sign Up Genius 

Mass Ministry
The Youth Mass is the 10:30 am mass on the first Sunday of the month.  Each month we need ushers, greeters, lectors, and musicians.  You can sign up for one of these ministries by emailing [email protected]. 

Angel Tree
Contact Kathy Masters at [email protected]

Youth Group
Candidates may recieve service hours for attending Youth Group at 7 pm on the first Sunday of each month in the Mary and Joseph room.

Monday afternoons after school or before/after Faith Formation class
Help straighten missals and prayer cards in the church pews. Contact Cindy Clefisch at 515-850-1883 or email [email protected] 

Safety Team
Teen may serve as a safety team member (must be with a parent). This would be a two-hour commitment each week on Mondays 4-6pm or 5:30-7:30pm or on Wednesdays 4-6pm or 5:30-7:30pm or 6:30-8:30pm. Click here to sign up! 

Children’s Liturgy of the Word
CLOW is looking for teen assistants on Sundays during both the 8:30and 10:30 Mass! This is fun and rewarding experience for older students who enjoy young children, plus service hours are offered (if needed).  Please contact Jackie at 319-350-3410 for more information or click here to sign up. 

Responsibilities

Candidates

In addition to an ongoing formation that takes place in the home, Candidates for the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to prepare by participating in our parish preparation program, which includes formation, service opportunities, and discernment interviews. Each candidate selects a sponsor in Year 1 to accompany him or her on this faith journey. 

Parents

As parents, you are the primary formators of your child in the faith and the parish is here to support you! We highly encourage parents or guardians and other significant adults in the candidate's life to see themselves as companions on a lifelong journey of faith with their teen. We believe and want to help our children understand that the sacrament of Confirmation is lived out in service as part of our baptismal call as Catholic Christians. As with all sacraments, they are not just one-day celebrations, but moments of encounter with Jesus to strengthen us for mission.

Encourage your teen to attend formation sessions, participate in service to the parish and outreach in the community, and be open to any and all questions as you travel this journey together. Please review this website page carefully and read weekly emails from the Faith Formation Office.

Sponsors

A sponsor's role in the candidate's preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is essential and he or she is invited to prayerfully consider the importance of the role of a companion on a journey that helps draw the candidate closer to Christ. Sponsors are asked to assist the canidate in filling out a sponsor form.  The form must be signed by a Catholic priest of the Sponsor's parish and returned to the canidate.  Sponsors and candidates are asked to meet, either in person or via phone, to discuss topics of the Catholic faith.  Candidates will then write reflections based on those conversations.  It is ideal if the sponsor can join the canidate on the day of Confirmation.  

Discernment 

Our goal is for a member of our faith formation team to have at least two conversations with Confirmation Candidates as a part of the preparation for the sacrament.  A conversation near the end of the program to assess each candidate's readiness and willingness for the sacrament, as well as to offer an opportunity to reflect on the preparation process and discuss his or her future and ongoing faith journey and involvement in the life of the parish community. 

Required Retreats

Thursday 3/2 – Parish Wide Lenten Event – Surge of the Heart: Canidates, Sponsors, and Parents are required to attend.
Saturday 3/25 - Confirmation Retreat (candidates only) @ St. Boniface 9 or 10 - 6:45

Confirmation 

Sunday May 7

12pm Confirmation Candidates meet with Bishop
1pm Confirmation Liturgy

Core Team Resources

This section is under construction. Thank you for your patience!

Lesson Plans

Click on the session date below to view and print a specific lesson plan.


 

Internal Forms

Click on the document title to view and print.

Parish Ministry Application