Dear Confirmation Families,
As you know, Confirmation Mass will be taking place on Thursday, January 23, at 6:30 PM at St. Patrick. Below you will find key information about various aspects of that evening which will hopefully answer many (if not all) of your questions! Please also direct your attention to following three items what that may require immediate action on your part:
Action Items:
1. Please share this information with your child’s sponsor. We will email it to them, as well, but just in case they don’t receive it, it will help for you to share it as well.
2. If your family will need 10 or more seats at Confirmation Mass (your candidate and sponsor should be included in that number), please let me know via email by Sunday, January 19. When you do so, please provide the estimated number of seats that your family will need so that I can plan out the pew assignments accordingly. If your family will not need 10 or more seats, no further action is needed from you at this time.
3. We are in need of Altar Servers for Confirmation Mass. If there are any altar servers in your family who would like to serve during Confirmation Mass, please email our parish’s Liturgy Coordinator, Carlene Demers ASAP. (cdemers@stpatchurch.org).
Additional Info about Confirmation Mass:
Early Arrival for Candidates and Sponsors (6:00 PM):
We do not have a rehearsal for Confirmation Mass. Rather, we ask that all candidates and their sponsors arrive early that evening at 6:00 PM. Each sponsor/candidate pair needs to check in with me at the Welcome Desk when they arrive (near the restrooms in the gathering space) for instructions. Family members may arrive anytime before 6:30 to join their candidate and sponsor in their reserved pew.
Reserved Seating in the Church:
A pew (or pews) will be reserved for your family to sit together at Mass. Your candidate and their sponsor will be seated at the end of your pew. When it's time for the Rite of Confirmation, Bishop Boyea will come through the aisles and approach each candidate individually. This means that all the candidate and sponsor need to do is stand up- nice and easy!
I will be creating the pew assignment chart over the next couple of weeks and will share it through email on Tuesday the 21st so that you can see where your family is sitting prior to arriving on the 23rd. We will also have greeters available to help you find your pew.
Please let me know by Sunday, January 19 if your family will need 10 or more seats (candidate and sponsor should be included in that number, since you’ll all be sitting together). You can let me know by replying to this email - please be sure to include the estimated number of seats that your family will need.
Dress Code:
All candidates should dress nicely in modest attire that is suitable for Church and reflects reverence for this special celebration. For the young women, a dress, skirt, or dress pants are all acceptable options (dresses/skirts should be an appropriate length for Church). Young men are encouraged to wear a tie, although it is not required.
Group Photos with the Bishop:
Immediately after Mass, we will take group photos of all the newly confirmed youth and the Bishop. We'll ask everyone to remain seated at the end of the closing song so that we can facilitate this as efficiently as possible. Please note that the Bishop does not typically take individual photos with the candidates.
Reception After Mass:
We are hosting a reception in McCann Hall (downstairs from the Church) after Mass. All are invited to come enjoy cake and other light refreshments! If you are making alternative plans for your family to celebrate elsewhere, you can expect that Mass and group photos will be wrapped up by 8:00 PM.
What Will Happen During The Mass:
The Mass will proceed as any other Mass does, with the following additions for the Rite of Confirmation.
Presentation of the Candidates: After the Gospel is read, Fr. Mathias will present the candidates to Bishop Boyea. Candidates may be asked to stand, but will not need to do anything else. Bishop will then give his homily.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises: After his Homily, the Bishop will lead the candidates in renewing their baptismal promises (candidates will respond "I do" to each question).
Laying of Hands: The Bishop will extend his hands over the group of candidates and say a prayer over them.
Anointing with Chrism: Finally, Bishop will proceed through the aisles, stopping at each candidate to anoint them with chrism in the following manner. (This information will be printed out for the candidates and sponsors to reference during Mass).
As Bishop approaches where the candidate is standing at the end of their pew, Sponsor will place their right hand on candidate's right shoulder.
When Bishop is standing in front of the candidate, Sponsor will say: "Bishop, may I present [candidate's Saint name]".
The Bishop will make a sign of the cross with chrism on the candidate's forehead and say: "[Saint name], be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit".
The newly confirmed will respond: "Amen".
The Bishop will say: "Peace be with you".
The newly confirmed will respond: "And with your spirit."
After these things take place, Mass will continue in the usual fashion with General Intercessions, Offertory, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
In Christ,
Marissa