Parent/Candidate Meeting

Sunday, September 22, 2019
3:00pm-6:00pm
This session concludes with Parish Mass at 5:00pm

September Review
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Parent/Candidate meeting. If you were unable to attend, please contact Kait (kmayer@stpaulsofprinceton.org) to get the necessary information! Below, check out "September Themes" for a bit of a review of the topics covered at today's session. Look forward to a similar recap of each major topic we cover at [Purpose]. Additionally, we're providing some convo starters to chat about what's covered at the session with your teen. Use these as a springboard for conversation about your teen's journey toward Confirmation. Please continue to check out the [Purpose] section of our parish website for future updates about the program and other support for parents and sponsors!

September Themes:
Traveling with small children can be quite an adventure. Think back to the first couple of times you took a trip or went on vacation with your family. As parents of small children, we have a desire to pack everything we can possibly think of in our best attempt to take care of the needs of our children while away from home. We pack strollers, diaper bags, bottles, pack-n-play cribs, medicine, snacks, toys, games, videos, and anything else we could possibly need for any number of potential situations that may arise while on vacation. We do our best to “cover the bases” by bringing anything we could need for our children in their time of need, away from the comforts of home. We do this out of care and love for our children and an innate desire that we, as parents, have to be the primary caregivers for our children. Situations may arise while traveling with our children, but we do our best to prepare so we can provide for them in their moment of need.

It is now time for your teen to begin their journey to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This journey of faith, which actually began at their baptism, will help your teen discover and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. As your teen embarks on this journey toward Confirmation, you have a responsibility to accompany and provide for them, just as you did on those family vacations many years ago. However, you will be trading in the stroller and pack-n-play with ongoing prayers for them as they dive deeper into the faith. You will trade in the bottles and diaper bags for the countless number of family discussions you will have as they ask questions and search for answers. You will trade in the toys and games for the opportunity to attend Mass as a family every Sunday. As parents, you will walk with them on this journey and be a witness of faith.

God designed the family to be the first place where children learn about Him. Your witness, as parents, is irreplaceable. While you may not believe it, God has equipped you with the gifts needed to be the primary catechist for your teen. However, you are not alone on this journey. We are here to support you in this task. We will support you and your teen as they make this journey toward the Sacrament of Confirmation. We will lead them, guide them, pray with them, share the faith with them, and witness to them through our words and actions. May God bless you and your teen on this journey, and may the Holy Spirit open our hearts to the amazing power that is working in all of us. Come, Holy Spirit!

 

Conversation Starters:

1. Share your journey toward Confirmation with your teen. What was your preparation process like? How did your experience impact your faith and relationship with the Holy Spirit? Do you have any pictures or videos from your Confirmation you can share?
2. Read Acts 1:8. How do we currently live as witnesses of faith? Is there more we could do to live as witnesses of faith?
3. What is one goal that we, as a family, can commit to doing during this time of preparation (e.g., attend Mass every Sunday, volunteer at a local shelter once a month, attend Reconciliation once a month, pray before meals)?

Purpose Sessions 1 & 2

Sunday, October 20, 2019 1:00pm-6:00pm 

REASONS

Several years ago, a series of popular memes circulated the internet. Each meme included different pictures and titles that described a person’s job or career. Under each picture was a description about what different groups of people thought someone with that job does. The descriptions were usually something like, “what my friends think I do … what my mom thinks I do … what society thinks I do … etc.” The pictures were typically a humorous depiction of how that particular group of people perceived that job or career. The last picture always had the title, “what I actually do” and included a humorous picture with some truth to it.

This same sentiment sometimes applies to the Bible. There are a variety of opinions about what the Bible is. Some people perceive the Bible to be an old, outdated, historical book, while others think the Bible is strictly a book of rules and regulations on how we are to live our lives. Some people look for scientific explanations in the Bible, while others look to the Bible as a literal explanation of the workings of the world. And somehow, in the midst of all of these ideas about what the Bible is, we find what it actually is: a collection, or library, of 73 different books that were written over the span of about 1,600 years by several authors. Many books of the Bible differ from one another in that they have a unique literary style due to the author of that particular book. In addition, the books of the Bible often address a specific audience and may have different intentions, such as conflict mediation. Some books of the Bible contain literal descriptions of events that took place, while others were written to simply point to a moral truth. Some books of the Bible were written to foreshadow an event that would eventually take place (allegorical) and others point us toward eternity (anagogical). Regardless of the literary style the individual books are written in, or what the intention of the books is, one truth remains: The Bible is meant to help us know and love God so we can direct our lives toward Him.

God created us with a desire to know Him, and we learn who God is in the pages of the Bible. We believe that God is the ultimate author of truth and that the individual authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is through our faith, which is a gift from God, that we can come to believe all God has revealed to us. It is through reason, which is also a gift from God, that we can understand more of what is being revealed to us. When we come to a better understanding of what God has revealed to us, we can know God more and direct our lives more fully to Him.

 

Reasons Conversation Starters:

1.   How do you view the Bible? How often do you read the Bible?
2.   What is the biggest challenge you have in understanding the Bible?
3.    What can we, as a family, do to better understand the Bible?

 

SEEKING

We can all admit it: There is something intensely addicting about Amazon(.com). Perhaps it is the array of easily accessible items, ranging from sporting goods to groceries, beauty products to electronics, clothing to furniture. Maybe it is the ability to get almost anything delivered to us with just a few short clicks or the beauty of a package waiting for us on our doorstep. It is an exciting moment when we open the packaging, revealing the contents inside. As we take a few short moments to revel in the beauty of what we ordered, we quickly find ourselves returning to Amazon, ordering something else. While this is not a marketing plug for Amazon, it is an example of our innate need for “something.”

We, as human beings, have desires — deep-seated longings that we sometimes cannot fully satisfy on our own, even if we think we can. We have a desire to be happy, to be loved and taken care of. We desire acceptance, approval, and affirmation. We desire to be known and loved. While these desires are not necessarily bad, how we choose to fulfill them is what makes the difference. We think we can find happiness in the material items we order from Amazon, but we are only left feeling empty once the short-lived, immediate gratification they provide fades. We think a certain number of “likes” on a social media post will make us feel accepted and worthy but find that the feeling quickly disappears. We think we can find fulfillment through an overindulgence in alcohol, food, or Netflix, or by getting the latest version of an iPhone, TV, or car. This pursuit of material items will not fulfill us; they ultimately leave us with a certain emptiness.

As you know, Confirmation is a journey. It is a journey toward true happiness, fulfilling our desires in a lasting way. Confirmation is a journey where teens learn how to chase what is eternal, not what is fleeting. There is a deeper meaning to our desires. As your teen takes their first step on this journey, they will come to realize not only that they have desires but that their true desire — the one will completely fulfill their deepest longing and need — is a desire for God.

 

Seeking Conversation Starters:

1.   Is there something you really want right now? Why do you want it? What do you think will happen if you get it?
2.    Can you apply the “five whys” process to this desire? What is the root of this desire?
3.    Read Acts 17:27 and pray together, as a family, that God will help you find Him in all that you seek.

Purpose Sessions 3 & 4

Sunday, November 17, 2019 1:00pm-6:00pm 

REVEAL

After we meet someone for the first time, we typically look them up on social media. It happens with the new employee at work, the neighbor who just moved in next door, your teen’s chemistry teacher, and even the volunteer serving in the same ministry at church. If we find them on social media, we may see where they work, where they went to high school, and if we, by chance, have any “mutual friends.” We may look at pictures of their family, guess their age by their graduation year, or even check out things they have posted in the past. In essence, we seek to learn more about the person. Perhaps this is because we think that if we know more about them, we can decide if we would like to pursue some sort of relationship with them.

We may approach our relationship with God in the same way. While many of us have questioned the existence of God at some point in our faith journey, once we come to believe that there is a God, we can begin to know God in a personal way. Once we know God in a personal way, we find that God loves us, pursues us, and desires a relationship with us.

While it would be easier for us if God had a social media account we could check out when we wanted to learn more, God does not want us to simply know Him — God wants us to encounter Him. We may be able to get basic information about a person by looking at their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, but we cannot really know the person if we never spend time with them.

God desires to be known and chooses to reveal Himself to us in a variety of ways, which is called “divine revelation.” God’s revelation of Himself to us is an invitation into a relationship with Him. For this relationship to work, however, we have to encounter God, not just know about Him. God reveals His love for us in and through Jesus, and He invites us to know and love Him in return. Loving God is what we were created to do. The more we can know and encounter God, the more we can love God and grow in our relationship with Him.

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the first half of our session:

1.   In what ways has God been revealed to you throughout your life?
2.   Have you ever struggled to believe that God exists? Is this something you are still struggling with or have you overcome this struggle?
3.   How do you currently encounter God?

BROKEN-HEARTED

Oftentimes, the daily news can be frustrating, overwhelming, and heartbreaking. Whether we receive it from a news station, online, or via social media, it seems like we are constantly inundated with bad news, so much so that we are somewhat numb and immune to it. From a natural disaster that has destroyed an entire community to another shooting at a school, an outbreak of a disease to a fatal car accident caused by someone who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we see evil and suffering in our world. And, because of this, many people have questioned their faith and God’s role in allowing the existence of evil.

As we have discussed, we are all called to be in relationship with God. This relationship allows us to know God more fully, to recognize His goodness and live for Him each day. When this happens, we begin to trust God with our lives and through all circumstances. Even though we have faith, the question of evil and suffering can be challenging since there is no simple answer. Evil exists in our world. We believe that there are two types of evil, natural evil and moral evil. Natural evil always causes suffering, but there is no rational explanation as to why it happens (e.g., disease, illness, natural disasters). Moral evil, on the other hand, is a choice. God is not the cause of moral evil, as we are each given free will. Using our free will to make choices that are not of God leads to the existence of moral evil in the world.

We also believe that God does not enact evil. For example, if you have missed Mass for three weeks in a row, God does not bring punishment upon you. God is all-loving and all-forgiving. God is the ultimate source of goodness, kindness, mercy, and love, so He never brings evil upon His people. While God is never the source of evil, God can bring good out of evil. God is good and always wills good for us. As the Bible confirms, “we know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the second half of our session:

1.   Has there been a time when you or someone you know experienced suffering? What was that experience like?
2.   Why does God allow suffering and evil to exist in the world?
3.   How can you grow in faith in the midst of suffering?

Purpose Sessions 5 & 6

Friday, December 6, 2019 5:00pm-9:00pm 

PRODIGAL

Many of us are fascinated by our family stories and history. In fact, it has become increasingly popular to have our DNA tested so we can learn more about our ethnic background and where our ancestors may have lived and migrated from. When we research our family history, it is quite fascinating to learn who in our family may have been war heroes, politicians, or prominent public figures. We can discover where our ancestors worked, how many kids they had, how long they lived, and perhaps uncover some relatives we did not know we had. We are fascinated with this quest for knowledge and insight because of how our past shapes who we are today. Where our ancestors came from, what they endured, and how they overcame trials in their lives are a part of the story of who we are. Similarly, we are a part of a bigger story: God’s story.

God’s story is our story of salvation. It is a story that began long ago and continues still today. As we make every effort to understand our family history, we should also take the time to understand what God has done for us so we can fully appreciate where we are today. Our story is simple yet complex. It begins with the creation of the world and human beings, who were created in the image and likeness of God. The beginning of our story sets the stage because it tells us who God is and who we are. Throughout the Old Testament, we learn about a variety of people who played important roles in our story. We read about Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Samson, Gideon, and David, to name a few. While very different, all of these people have one thing in common: They were all sinners, ordinary people who were faithful to God.

At the pinnacle of our story of salvation is Jesus. God created humankind and came to Earth to save us from the bondage of sin and death. But Jesus was also sent to Earth to establish the Kingdom of God and invite each person into the Kingdom. Jesus not only provided us with a way to get to heaven someday, but He is also our model of holiness who shows us how to live and love. The more we learn about our story of salvation, the more we understand who we are and how we are to live.

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the first half of our session:

·   What are some interesting parts of our family history? What are your favorite family stories?
·   Why is it important for us to know about the story of salvation history? How does this story affect you?
·     How can we, as a family, more closely follow Jesus’ model of holiness?

NEW

Upon receiving good news, what do you typically do? Our natural tendency, of course, is to tell someone. We share our news in different ways, but perhaps the most popular way is to post about it on social media. The moment something good happens to us, we announce it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for all of our followers to see. We post pictures using the best filter, write creative captions that embody the moment and mood, and tag people with whom this event happened. We then wait to see how many comments and likes we will receive. As the number increases, we are affirmed that this is indeed good news. Ultimately, when we receive good news, we want to share it with others.

The disciples experienced this, too. The word “Gospel” means “good news.” The good news the disciples were sharing — which is good news for us today, too — was that Jesus’ death and Resurrection changed everything. Sin holds us captive, leads us to death, and prevents us from living the life God has planned for us. But through Jesus’ death and Resurrection, our relationship with God is restored and sin and death are defeated forever.

In the past, when countries won battles that changed the course of history, large archways or monuments were constructed to celebrate the victory and display it for all to see. Today, when sports teams win a championship, they are given a trophy, cup, or award that represents their victory and is usually put on display or paraded in the street so people can celebrate the victory with them. As Christians, our ultimate victory is Jesus’ death and Resurrection. The symbol of this victory is the cross, a true symbol of our freedom. The cross is a reminder for us that the battle for our souls has been won forever. It is a reminder that we are no longer slaves to sin and can live in the freedom of Christ. This is good news and, like all good news, we should share it with the world.

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the second half of our session:

·  How do you typically share good news with others?
·   Why is the cross significant? What does the cross mean to you?
·   What are some ways that we can live in the freedom of Christ?

Purpose Sessions 7 & 8

Friday, January 10, 2019 5:00pm-9:00pm 

FOUNDATION 

Have you ever been on a guided tour of a historical landmark? Maybe it was at a war memorial in Washington, D.C. or an immense cathedral in the United States or abroad. Maybe it was a site particular to your home city or state. If you have had this experience, you know that there is a big difference between touring the place on your own and touring the place with an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. Walking around alone, you are liable to miss important details about but with a guide, you are given unique details about the place and specific events that took place there. A guided tour gives us more insight and provides specific information about the place we are visiting. 

We are on a journey, one that is unfinished and will hopefully lead us to heaven. Alone on this journey, we would struggle. Luckily, we have the Church as our guide. Just like tour guides tell people about a landmark, the Church exists to evangelize and lead people to heaven. Jesus established the Church. He gave the Church authority, so she can be our tour guide as we journey toward heaven. Jesus entrusted Peter, our first pope, to oversee the Church. He promised never to leave the Church, so He sent the Holy Spirit to guide the Church and remind us what He taught. 

With that, the Church has a mission to make disciples of all nations. This mission, given to us by Jesus Himself, is fulfilled by bringing Christ into the world. The most tangible way the Church makes Christ present in the world is through the sacraments, which are efficacious signs of grace by which divine life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. We need the Church, as we cannot walk this journey alone. We need the Church to guide us, sustain us, pick us up when we fall, and put us on the right path toward heaven. 

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the first half of our session:  

• How do you view the Church? Have you ever struggled with any beliefs of the Church or with why the Church exists?  

• What does it mean to you that you are part of the Body of Christ, the Church?  

• How do you live out the missionary mandate of the Church to make disciples of all nations? How can we live out this mission as a family?  

SOURCE 

Do you know what it is like to be in a conversation and realize that the person you are talking to is not really engaged in the conversation? Whether they were scrolling through social media on their phone, looking around at the people who were walking by, or watching the TV that was on in the background, you quickly realize they are not really listening to what you are saying. This is a common experience for most people, but it can be difficult to handle, as we expect to have a person’s full, active, conscious participation when are conversing with them. We know that when we are fully present in a conversation, it can be fruitful, productive, and affirming. But we also know how offensive, frustrating, and hurtful it can be when a person is not fully present. Oftentimes in these situations, we have to repeat ourselves, information gets missed, and feelings get hurt. 

Our interaction with the Mass can sometimes be like a conversation with a person who is not really present. For many of us, Mass has become a part of our weekly routine, which is a good thing. Sometimes, though, the routine nature of the Mass causes us to be distracted and not fully present. We easily become distracted by the lector who appears not to have practiced the reading prior to mass or by the choir that is struggling to sing on pitch. Other times it is the lengthy homily that causes us to lose focus and instead compile a mental checklist of all of the things that need to be done the minute Mass is over. Despite the distractions, it is important that we do not forget that the Mass is a celebration of our Catholic faith.  

The Mass is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. Through the Eucharist — Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — we become one with Christ. As we prepare to receive the body and blood of Christ, we are called to full, active, conscious participation. Although it may be difficult to put our distractions aside and give the Mass our undivided attention, this is the respect the Mass deserves. 

Convo Starters Use these questions to chat with your candidate about the second half of our session:  

• Is Mass a priority for our family? Why or why not?  

• What is one challenge you have with attending Mass?  

• How can you enter into the Mass more fully? How can we as a family better prepare for Mass?  

Purpose Sessions 7 & 8

Friday, February 21, 2020 5:00pm-9:00pm 

ENTER

Has there been a time in your life when you were really thirsty? The kind of thirst where your mouth is dry, your energy levels are low, and your heart is racing...? Maybe you felt this thirst after you went for a run, hiked a mountain, took a class at the gym, or were simply outside for any length of time in the middle of July. If you have had this experience, you also know what it is like to quench your thirst – that moment when you are finally able to take a long sip of cold water. Water is amazing. It nourishes us and gives us life. We cannot go too long without water, as we need it to survive. Researchers have proven that the more water we drink throughout the day, the better our overall health. It is no wonder, then, why water is the central symbol of the Sacrament of Baptism. 

Through the waters of Baptism, the stain of original sin is washed away, allowing us to enter into a new life in Christ. As we enter this new life, we become sons and daughters of God and temples of the Holy Spirit. We are welcomed into the Church as members of the Body of Christ and are given a permanent identity in Christ. Just as water nourishes our body, the waters of Baptism nourish our souls, as we live out our baptismal call each day. 

All of the sacraments have some sort of effect on us. Baptism is not a one-day event and neither is Confirmation. As baptized members of the Church, we stand as witnesses to the truth and are called to be lights in a dark world. Through our baptism, we are called to bring Christ’s light and love to the world. This is our purpose, and it is time we embrace it. 

Convo Starters Use these questions/prompts to chat with your candidate about the first half of our session: 

• Share some details of your baptism, as well as why you chose to have your child baptized. 

• What does the Sacrament of Baptism mean to you? 

• How can we, as a family, more fully live out our baptismal call? 

SIGNATURE

For most children, Christmas Eve seems like the longest day of the year. Due to the anticipation of what is to come on Christmas Day, it sometimes is hard to pass the time. There is a degree of excitement that accompanies receiving gifts, especially those that are found under the tree on Christmas morning. This excitement is oftentimes rooted in the hope that we will get something we have always wanted, the surprise of receiving something we never thought we would get, or the joy of unwrapping something we really needed. Once the gifts are opened on Christmas morning, the rest of the day is spent enjoying the new items we received, be it games, toys, movies, books, etc. Even in the months, sometimes years, following, the gift continues to be enjoyed by many. 

At our baptism, we also receive a gift: the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, inspires us, and guides us. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives, whether we realize it or not. At our confirmation, we receive a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is here that the spiritual gifts we received at our baptism are strengthened, renewed, and made complete. As your teen continues in the preparation process and approaches the Sacrament of Confirmation, he or she may be excited to receive the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit, however, it is different than receiving gifts on Christmas morning. 

With this gift comes responsibility. We are anointed with oil to signify the mission we embark on after we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament is the beginning of a deeper life in Christ, a life that requires the strength, help, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are called to live our identity as sons and daughters of God by embracing the responsibility given to us at our confirmation. Confirmation is not graduation from the Church. Rather, it is a gift from God, the gift of our purpose in life. 

Convo Starters Use these questions/prompts to chat with your candidate about the second half of our session: 

• Share about your confirmation, including the preparation process, who you chose as your sponsor, etc. 

• Who is your sponsor for Confirmation? Why did you choose this person? 

• How can we honor the gift we have been given from God in the Sacrament of Confirmation? 

Purpose Session 11 & Stations of the Cross

Session Cancelled: Friday, March 20, 2020 5:00pm-9:00pm 

Although this session was cancelled, please feel free to review the content we had planned to cover and have a conversation at home with your candidate and family: 

SPEAK

In each of our families, we have stories that are filled with laughter and others that are filled with tears. We have stories of how our ancestors overcame trials and made sacrifices to provide for our families. We have stories of getting lost and being found, success and failure, new opportunities and continuing tradition, war and peace, life and death. These stories have shaped who we are as people, but they are not finished. Each day we add to our family story. 

Confirmation is a new chapter in our life story. As with any new chapter, it brings trials and tribulations. We are faced with new challenges and opportunities for growth. In this chapter, we are given the chance to become a more faithful witness of faith. Confirmation gives us the strength to share our faith with those we encounter in our daily lives. 

There are people within our families who have been incredible witnesses of faith. We have heard stories of how they have overcome trials and made sacrifices so they could spread the Gospel with the world. Looking outside of our families, we can find remarkable witnesses of faith in the Church. Known as martyrs, these individuals were faithful to Christ to the point of death. Through their witness — particularly that of Mary, the saints, and Confirmation sponsors — we can learn what it means to be a witness of faith in our world today. 

Mary is Jesus’ mother, but she is our mother, too. She followed Christ as He established the Church, remained with the apostles as they shared the Gospel, and continues to care for us as we grow in discipleship. Mary loves us perfectly and is wholly committed to leading others to her Son, Jesus. She reflects Christ’s love and always points us back to Him. 

The saints are the ultimate witnesses of faith, and they are a part of our family story. They have overcome many trials and remained faithful to Christ, sacrificing their lives rather than betraying the faith. The saints continue to intercede for us as we strive to share the Gospel. 

Finally, the sponsor whom your teen chose should be a strong witness of faith and be committed to accompanying them as they grow in discipleship. The sponsor is chosen by the candidate, and he or she becomes a part of your teen’s faith journey and story. Looking to our models, we can learn what it means to be a witness of faith and boldly embrace this calling in our world today. 

Convo Starters Use these questions/prompts to chat with your candidate about the planned content for this session:

• What is your favorite family story? 

• What role has Mary played in your faith journey? How can she help you as you continue on this journey?

• Are there any saints you look up to or relate to? How can their example strengthen your witness of faith? 

Stations of the Cross This month, we also planned to attend Stations of the Cross with our parish family.  You can view a video reflection on the Stations of the Cross here: https://bit.ly/3ebWDjZ 

Purpose Session 12 & Sacrament of Reconciliation

Session Cancelled: Sunday, April 19, 2020 1:00pm-6:00pm

Although this session was cancelled, please feel free to review the content we had planned to cover and have a conversation at home with your candidate and family: 

MY PURPOSE

Come, Holy Spirit. These simple yet powerful words invite the Holy Spirit to come into our lives, to be with us on our faith journey. As we utter these words in prayer, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to move and work in our lives. If we truly give permission, the Holy Spirit works in unexpected and wonderful ways. These prayerful words remind us that the work of the Holy Spirit is powerful and tangible.

It is through the Holy Spirit that we come to know God. The Holy Spirit leads us into a deeper relationship with God and guides us on our path of discipleship. Empowered by the Spirit, we are able to joyfully and boldly proclaim the Gospel to all those we meet. We no longer live in fear and are strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to defend and share our faith.

Confirmation is not graduation from the Church. Confirmation is an invitation to enter more deeply into our faith and the life of the Church. Rather than ending our journey, Confirmation is the continuation of our faith journey. Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us on our journey, serving as our advocate, guide, and protector. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we come to know our purpose and are empowered to live a life of discipleship. May we come to embrace our purpose as we continue on our faith journey, sharing the Gospel with all those we meet along the way.

Convo Starters Use these questions/prompts to chat with your candidate about the planned content for this session:

• What has been the most impactful moment or experience from this time of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation?

• How does the Holy Spirit help us understand our purpose?

• How can we continue to support one another as we continue on our faith journey? 

Sacrament of Reconciliation This month, we also planned to host a Reconciliation service, offering all candidates the opportunity for individual confessions prior to Confirmation. You can view a video reflection of an Examination of Conscience here: https://bit.ly/2zsmIMS

Sponsor for Confirmation

We are asking Candidates to have chosen their sponsor by January 15. In order to secure a spot as sponsor, two items must be completed:

1. Candidate/family must complete the online form found at the bottom of this page.
2. If sponsor is *not* registered at St. Paul Parish, sponsor must request/obtain from their home parish a letter of eligibility for sponsorship.

Please note the following:

• Eligibility requirements for sponsors are listed below. Siblings who meet the requirements may serve a a sponsor. Parents may not.
• If a sponsor is not able to attend the Confirmation Celebration for some reason, a proxy sponsor may be chosen. The same requirements of eligibility apply to the person chosen as a proxy. If a proxy is necessary, please contact John directly (jmcguire@stpaulsofprinceton.org)

Requirements for Sponsors:
According to Canon Laws (cc. 872-874, 893:1), sponsors for the sacrament of Confirmation must be:

• 16 years of age or older
• Fully initiated Catholic (having received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist)
• Leading a life in conformity with the faith and the role of a sponsor
• Not bound by a canonical penalty (e.g., invalid marriage)
• Not a parent of the one to be confirmed

Additionally the sponsor may be:

• The same as the sponsor (or godparent) for Baptism
• Male or female (i.e., female candidates may have male sponsors; male candidates may have female sponsors)

Confirmation Name

Here are some details about the choice of a name for Confirmation.

• May retain baptismal name or choose new name (Diocese of Trenton. Parish Religious Education Administration Manual, Section 507:A. rev. 2012).
• New name must be name of a recognized saint of the Church (Diocese of Trenton. Parish Religious Education Administration Manual, Section 507:A. rev. 2012).
• Newly chosen name does not need to be gender consistent (Diocese of Trenton. Parish Religious Education Administration Manual, Section 507:C. rev. 2012).

Please note: Candidates choose ONE name for Confirmation. For example:

My name is Kaitlyn Christine. When I was confirmed, I took the name Rose. I was confirmed as "Rose" (not "Kaitlyn Rose"). Had I chosen to retain my baptismal name, I would need to specify whether I would use "Kaitlyn" OR "Christine" as my Confirmation name. There is only one Confirmation name. When candidates receive their confirmation certificate, it will have their first name, confirmation name (if different than their first name), and last name.