Contact: Anne Maura English
Email: rcia@stvchurch.org (rcia null@null stvchurch NULL.org)
Preparation of youth for Confirmation is an 18-month process at St. Vincent’s. The first nine months are considered a time of discernment (Quest for Vision), during which the young people meet every six weeks. During this time they are asked to consider their past history in the Church, the sacraments that they have received, their relationship with their families and friends within the Church, and the consideration of growing gradually into a more fully realized Catholic identity. They are expected to attend all of the liturgies of the paschal triduum, especially the complete Easter Vigil at St. Vincent’s.
Following this time, those young people who so choose enter the Confirmation preparation process. During this nine-month period, they meet every month. Each is presented with his or her own copy of Holy Scripture, as well as a book about the lives of the saints. Together, they read from Scripture, and individually, they consider which are the saints they most admire and why. They keep journals about this journey to readiness. They share in two retreats, participate in service activities, and support each other along the path. They choose confirmation sponsors; many of the young people choose sponsors from among the parish community. As a part of welcoming the young people at this last sacrament of initiation, all parishioners are invited to write letters to the confirmandi, and share aspects of what is important and lasting about their faith.
When possible, confirmation takes place in the parish, with the congregation present for blessings and celebration. When our young people are confirmed at the Basilica, parishioners are invited to come and be a part of the liturgy there, and a special time is set aside during one of our regular liturgies to celebrate the occasion together.
