Dear Parents and Guardians and candidate for Confirmation,
The time for you son or daughter to begin Confirmation preparation has
arrived. We believe this to be a graced time not only for your family but also for
the entire parish community. As parents you have a primary role in this process and
the Office for Faith Formation will assist you in this special formative process.
Your role must never be underestimated.
Parents are the first and most important
educators of their own children, and they
also possess a fundamental competence in this area. In
fact, the home is called the Domestic Church.
You are the educators because you are
the parents. You share the educational
Mission with the Church.
The above words belong to Pope John Paul II as he affirms the great gift of
family life. Whatever its size or shape, the family is the most influential former of
young people.
At St. Elizabeth of Hungary we seek to assist parents in this faith
formation mission, and offer occasions where parents can gather with one another
to discuss faith, to receive resources to assist them in their mission of faith
formation and to pray together for our young people. What follows is a guide to
help you prepare for this special occasion “worry-free”. I realize that this guide
attempts to be comprehensive but will fail. I also realize it may appear a bit
overwhelming due to its size. However, hopefully, I have anticipated most of your
questions and concerns and the guide will act as a resource for the year’s events
and activities. Please hang onto the booklet as it will become a valuable source of
information closer to Confirmation.
If you need any additional information or have questions, concerns, or
confusion or family emergency or difficulty please do not hesitate to contact us at
412-882-5023 or ctomko@steliz.com .
Many blessings,
Kristina M. Kendralla, M. S. Rel. Ed.
Director of Faith Formation
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About Confirmation:
“People in love make signs of love, not only to express their love but also to
deepen it.”i Sacraments are God’s signs of love expressed as gift. The sign of love
we celebrate in Confirmation has a particular history. The external symbols of
Christian initiation have their roots in the customs of second and third century
Roman culture. Even the word sacrament has a relationship to the Roman ceremony
called the sacramentum in which soldiers were initiated into the rights and
responsibilities of service to the Roman citizenship. In the practice of the time, a
bath was followed by rubbing oil into the body to strengthen the muscles and
moisturize the skin. Hence, in the Christian tradition a post-baptismal anointing,
which evolved into Confirmation, complemented the water-bath of Baptism.
As ministry changed with the expanding Church of the third and fourth
century, the practice of initiation changed as well. In some countries, the waterbath of Baptism was performed by a local minister while the anointing was
performed by the bishop. It was in this context that Confirmation as a separate
sacrament began to evolve.ii From these early roots, we can see the integral
relationship of Confirmation to Baptism, the symbolism of strengthening and the
relationship with the wider Church as symbolized by the bishop’s anointing.iii
The roots of controversy and confusion around this sacrament are
embedded in its history. In the years following the recognition of Confirmation as a
distinct sacrament different interpretations have been prevalent. Does
Confirmation ratify Baptism making it effective because the Bishop has anointed?
What is the meaning of Baptism? Is Baptism incomplete? Do we receive more of the
Holy Spirit in Confirmation? How much is enough? Our understandings or
misunderstandings of the sacrament have led to pastoral practices that are
sometimes equally confusing.
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Keys to Understanding Confirmation
Part of our difficulty in defining Confirmation is trying to name and quantify
this grace and gift from God. As part of the mystery of God’s call to us, the
sacraments have been entrusted to be witnessed to by the Church. While not
claiming to exhaust the meaning or to answer every question, Church leadership
provides clarity about the sacraments. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
we can summarize four keys for understanding Confirmation.
Key One: Confirmation welcomes us as a sacrament of initiation.
 Confirmation is linked to Baptism and Eucharist.
 Confirmation is part of our initiation into the faith community.
 Confirmation honors the spiritual maturity of the individual.
Key Two: We are Confirmed in the name of God the Creator, Jesus, the
Redeemer, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and animates.
 Confirmation is part of the welcoming initiative of God the creator.
 Confirmation unites us more firmly to Christ.
 Confirmation strengthens us with the Holy Spirit.
Key Three: Confirmation strengthens us for discipleship, mission and witness to
our faith.
 Confirmation empowers us to witness to our faith.
 Confirmation links us to the ministry of Christ and the mission of the
Church.
 Confirmation initiates young people into the adventure of discipleship.
 Preparation for Confirmation is a moment of conversion that includes
celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Key Four: Confirmation is a celebration of the community of faith.
 Confirmation joins us to the ministering community.
 Confirmation is received by individuals and celebrated as community.
 Preparation awakens a sense of belonging to the universal Church and local
parish.
 Preparation includes a sponsor who represents the wider faith community.
 Preparation provides an opportunity to partner with families as communities
of faith.
Effective Sacramental Preparation
 Confirmation preparation is nourished and informed by the directives of
Christian Initiation. Effective sacramental preparation:
 attends to the individual faith journey of the adolescent
 links the liturgical year with the preparation process
 involves the faith community
Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, Music in Catholic Worship, Revised Edition (Washington DC:
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1983) #4, page 9.
Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M., The Sacraments, How Catholics Pray (Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony
Messenger Press, 1995), pages 32-33.
#1290, #1291, #1292
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Confirmation is not…
Confirmation is not a time of one’s personal choice for or against the Church.
To make that statement mistakenly implies that youth are not really
part of the Catholic community until the moment they receive the
sacrament. Baptism makes a person a member of the body of
Christ. Preparing for confirmation enables people to grow more
deeply into their baptismal identity.
Confirmation is a not a sacrament of ratification of baptismal promises made
on one’s behalf in infancy.
This notion goes against the Church’s teaching on Baptism. The Rite
of Confirmation includes renewal of baptismal promises. This action
precludes Confirmation from being a mature re-affirmation of a
previous Baptism.
Confirmation is not a sacrament of maturity in terms of an “age”
We must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of a natural
growth nor forget the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited
election and does not need ratification to become effective. (CCC,
1308) The maturity that comes with Confirmation does not refer to
growth in baptismal identity. It is to a point when those baptized as
infants accept the faith for themselves and begins to take more
responsibility for cultivating personal spiritual growth and communal
outreach.
The sacrament of Confirmation is an important dimension of the
initiation of the individual into the life and works of the community of
faith. As one grows physically, intellectually, and emotionally, one also
grows in faith. The sacrament offers concrete instruction and the
visible support of the community through the bishop and the parish.
As the confirmandi grows in faith, the sacramental experience
deepens in meaning and the experience takes on new significance.
Faith is an ongoing experience that grows over time and it is
important not to attempt to measure the depth of maturity of an
individual’s faith.
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Confirmation is not a sacrament of commitment.
The doctrine of Christian commitment is integrated into all the
initiation sacraments. A full commitment is made in Baptism. From
that point on a person is forever empowered to grow into this
commitment within the world. Of the three sacraments of
initiation, the Eucharist “is the principal way in which the
Christian consistently renews commitment to the dead and Risen
Lord
Confirmation is not a replacement/or graduation for continued faith formation.
The church expects that from childhood on, all persons continue to
be informed and formed in their faith through religious education for
a lifetime. Confirmation is not associated with graduation.
Confirmation is not equivalent to a coming-of-age or puberty rite, and
it should not be associated with graduation from any one grade, nor
from a religious education program.
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Immediate Preparation for Confirmation
The role of St. Elizabeth Faith Formation preparation program is to
accompany both the candidate and their families on their spiritual journey. Our
program provides both structure and numerous opportunities to delve deeper into a
relationship with God through study, prayer, worship, and service. The
confirmation preparation program adheres to the directives set by the Diocese of
Pittsburgh Initiation Policy manual. The celebration of the sacrament of
Confirmation typically takes place during the Easter season. We submit several
dates to the Bishop’s office and when the Bishop’s spring schedule is set we
receive notification from His office. Confirmation can be on any day of the week
and any reasonable time of day. We request a time in May and as soon as Fr. Dale
receives word we contact all of the candidates and their families. To accommodate
our faith community we request two celebrations of the sacrament it is the
Bishop’s office that notifies us if our request is accepted.
Throughout this time of preparation in anticipation of the celebration the
candidate will explore the scriptures, learn about their Catholic identity, and
experience life in the Church and Her worship and extend the Christian response of
care and concern for others in community outreach. It is important to be mindful
that our youth are in a time of enormous growth: physically, emotionally, cognitively,
and spiritually. Just as we give our adolescent room to grow in maturity, intellect,
and relationships, it is vital that we give them room to grow spiritually. It is unfair
to expect adult faith formation from an adolescent. It is our hope that
participation in our preparation program for Confirmation can be a renewal of faith,
no only for those being confirmed and their families, but for our entire parish
community. We are excited about the possibilities it holds for all of us to deepen
and renew our life in the Holy Spirit.
The Process:
Orientation Meeting:
During this meeting the sacramental preparation process will be
outlined for you. We also hope to answer any questions that you may
have about the process and the program. If you were unable to
attend this meeting, and after reading through this booklet have
questions please call our office at 412-882-5023. During this session
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Candidate Forms:
In order to facilitate record keeping, we ask that you fill out the
candidate form immediately. You might have already done this or
given us some of this information before. And we Thank You. By your
filling out these most recent forms it allows us to check and double
check our information in order to insure no mistakes are made in
recording any of this important information. Completion of the
Candidate Information Form it indicates your intention to complete
your immediate preparation and celebration of the sacrament at St.
Elizabeth. If you are not planning on being confirmed at St.
Elizabeth please indicate this in writing on the Candidate form
and return this to our office. If you have not completed this form
this needs to be completed and turned into our office as soon as
possible. If your child was not baptized in this parish, or did not
celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist at St. Elizabeth, we will also
need a copy of his or her baptismal certificate in your child’s
Confirmation Papers Envelope provided to you at the orientation
meeting. If your child was baptized at St. Elizabeth please indicate
the year.
 Candidate Sponsor Forms:
Please complete and return your sponsor forms by March 3, 2010.
A completed sponsor form means that your sponsor information is
listed on the form AND that a separate sponsor eligibility form
has been obtained by your sponsor from their home parish. In
the event that your sponsor is from St. Elizabeth please be sure to
have the appropriate forms completed and signed by our pastor.
Paperwork needed from your Sponsor : Once you have selected a
sponsor they are responsible for contacting their home parish office
and obtaining the appropriate eligibility form from their respective
parish. This is not a standard form, but the form typically bears
the parish name and church address and their pastor’s signature and
often has the church seal. If they are from St. Elizabeth please
use the form provided and make an appointment to see Fr. Dale for
his signature.
Confirmation “Retreat”
Candidates who are preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation are
expected to participate in a Confirmation Retreat experience.
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Preparing for a sacrament should not be taken lightly and like Jesus
who often went off “to pray and reflect” we must do the same.

We recognize that the students who attend St. Elizabeth of
Hungary Elementary school do attend a retreat at Seton
LaSalle High School, but it is very important for each
candidate to spend some time reflecting specifically on the
Sacrament of Confirmation, the demands of discipleship, and
the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are a couple of retreat
options, some provided through the Diocese of Pittsburgh,
others that are offered here at St. Elizabeth throughout the
months of January, February and March. You will receive
notification of the various retreat options as each of the
dates draws near. Retreatants are asked to wear
comfortable clothes, bring a Bible, a folder, a happy heart, and
a tool for writing.
Afternoon of Reflection for Candidates and their Sponsors and parents :
This event is for both Faith Formation and Catholic School Students and
their parent or sponsor if they are available. The afternoon will consist of
some prayer and reflections, a challenge, and a detailed explanation of the
sacrament and practice information. Once our confirmation date has been
set we will be able to schedule the practice and reflection afternoon.
More information about this special day will be provided as it draws near.

CANDIDATE DISCIPLESHIP REFLECTION JOURNALS
Discipleship Journal
At the orientation session each candidate was given an Discipleship Journal.
Each candidate for Confirmation is being asked to keep a reflection journal.
Within the journal there are activities that are to be completed over the
course of the next several months. These activities and reflections and
service activities may be done with your sponsor or your parent. Additionally
your classroom teacher or catechist may ask you to record additional things
in your journal. Composition books have been provided for each student.
These are being distributed in your Faith Formation class or through your
Apostolate Class.
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Spend some time each month completing the activities and the the
accompanying reflections and submit your completed journal by February 28,
2010. These can be sent through the school or through your Faith
Formation Class.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: LIVING THE APOSTOLIC LIFE
The Lived experience of Mission of Jesus Christ-the call to service:
An essential aspect of the Catholic Christian life is active participation in
building the kingdom of God through acts of compassion, justice, charity, and
mercy. As a disciple of Christ, the candidate is challenged to naturally
choose a life committed to social justice or apostolic activity-BRINGING
CHRIST TO THE WORLD. Part of the way one learns to live the Christian
life is through experience and lived example. As Catholics we are called to a
life of service- we love and serve God through our loving service and actions
of care shown towards others. Sometimes we may care for those we know
and other times we are called to care for people that we do not know or may
never meet.
In order to increase our awareness of our call to service as Catholics the
candidate is asked to direct some of his/her time, talent and energy into
service over the next 6 months. Please set aside time monthly for service.
This is in addition to those quiet moments of service and acts of charity
that each of us does as members of a family; you know shoveling the walk,
folding our sister’s clothes, helping grandma, etc. Those actions are
important and necessary in the life of a committed Christian. But during
this time of preparation for Confirmation we are asking for some action that
requires a commitment on the part of the candidate and their
sponsor/parent with intentional awareness of what they are doing and why
they are doing it-i.e. participation in what has come to be known as “service
projects” and parish ministry.
During this time of preparation the candidate has identified someone to help
them grow as a Catholic Christians, someone to help guide them along in the
ways of discipleship-enabling them to renew and deepen their relationship
with Jesus Christ- their sponsor, as well as, their parent who has been the
first teacher of the faith. During this more concentrated time of
preparation for the sacrament, it is our hope and expectation that youth will
be accompanied by their sponsor or parent as they explore all the possible
ways to serve others in their local community, the church, and world.
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Working side by side with young people and seeing them live out their faith
and to watch their perspective change can give us (parents, teachers,
sponsors) that “this is what it is all about” feeling. But there is the other
side of service in our ministries. It is when it becomes a parish confirmation
requirement or the school graduation requirement that turns service into
one more thing that a young person has to do. It is this side of service that
gives us and our youth the “what in the world am I doing?” feeling and stirs a
sense of reluctance and disinterest. How can we avoid this? One way is
making service a companion activity.
What better way for a sponsor to help support, nurture and mentor their
candidate then by working alongside them furthering the mission of Christ
by performing some service or ministry together. In the event that your
sponsor is unavailable due to other commitments or travel distance, a parent
or another significant adult can participate in the service activity with the
candidate. In the words of St. Francis,” Speak the Gospel at all times, if
necessary use words.”
Certainly our baptismal call to live a life of service should not be just one
more thing that we have to do. Rather, it should be an opportunity for
personal and social transformation as a way of life, something that will
enable us to live out our baptismal call. Service should be family friendly
and not a requirement that must be met in order to celebrate a sacrament.
Over the course of the next six months activities and opportunities for
service and ministry will be highlighted for you to consider. Ideally, as the
candidate prepares for confirmation, it will also be a time for the family to
assess its’ call to carrying out the mission of Christ, and continue to do the
things that you already are doing that are working towards the fulfillment of
the mission of Christ and also identify areas which might need some
attention and redirection.
As a candidate for confirmation service experience in the following areas
are expected to be completed:
 Service to your faith community through the sharing of your talents,
time and treasure by assisting during parish worship, Diocesan
Service Events, and parish outreach, social or service activities ( a
minimum of 2 activities)
 Service to your extended family through outreach to family members
( a minimum of 2 activities)
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 Service to your community (school, social agencies, hospitals,
neighborhood events, sports, etc.) (a minimum of 2 activities)
 Service to friends and immediate family members ( a minimum of 2
activities)
 The candidate is asked to record their acts of service and their
reflections on the service activity pages in their journal.

Confirmation Celebration
As of this writing we have not received notification of our date for the
celebration of Confirmation. As soon as we receive notification of our
celebration date and time we will get the word out as soon as possible.
There are two possibilities for the celebration of the sacrament one within
the context of a Eucharistic Liturgy (MASS) or the celebration of the
sacrament outside of mass, CONFIRMATION RITUAL.
Once that is determined (by the Confirming Bishop) we will be able to
provide you with more details about the actual ceremony. In the event that
Confirmation is celebrated outside of mass we have asked for 2 celebrations
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of the sacrament to facilitate the numbers more efficiently and charitably.
If we are granted our request of two celebrations of the sacrament of
Confirmation, you will be notified of your time that you will celebrate the
sacrament.
Confirmation Practice
Once the date for Confirmation has been determined by the Bishop’s office
we will schedule a practice of the candidates to “rehearse” the Confirmation
Ritual. The practice is for the Candidate and their sponsor and/or parent if
available. We understand that sponsors may not always be able to attend
because they may be out of town, etc. however, it is imperative that a parent
or significant adult attend this event with the candidate in order to help
facilitate conversation and communication relative to the celebration of
Confirmation.
Confirmation name
According to the Rite of Confirmation it is preferred that the name given at
baptism be used at the time of Confirmation. This act indicates the unity of the
sacraments of Christian Initiation the nature of baptism as the origin of our
Christian identity. Therefore,: candidates ARE NOT required to select a new name
for confirmation. A candidate, who, of his or her want accordingly, chooses to claim
a name with a Christian meaning or saintly significance, is permitted to do so and
may use this name in the Rite of Confirmation. History has taught us that the
selection of a Confirmation Name tends to gain momentum and importance closer to
the celebration of the event. Unfortunately, this makes thorough and accurate
recordkeeping a challenge when the selection of a Confirmation name becomes
important on the day of practice or the actual day of the celebration. So in the
spirit of Charity the decision to select a name for confirmation will be made by
December 8 with submission of the Name Selection Form. If the form is NOT
received by December 8th it will be assumed that your preference is to use your
baptismal name. There are NO EXCEPTIONS or extensions to the submission of
this form. Part of growing in faith in maturity is learning to complete the task in a
timely manner honoring deadlines indicating respect and the increasing realization
of how your behavior affects others.
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By name I have called you….you are mine….
CONFIRMATION NAME Selection form
for
CANDIDATE
THIS FORM is in your journal… IN order for us to process the information about a name it MUST
BE RETURNED in your Journal BY February 28, 2010NO EXCEPTIONS.
The timeliness of your response is appreciated.
Please place in your Confirmation Journal
Name of Candidate for Confirmation
CANDIDATE’S ( BAPTISMAL
NAME):_______________________________________________________
I HAVE SELECTED A CONFIRMATION NAME:
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NAME:
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