St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Ripon Wisconsin

Mission and Overview:

The goal of our parish confirmation preparation is to help teenagers understand the effects of the Holy Spirit in their lives, bring them into a deeper relationship with Christ, and unite them more deeply into the Body of Christ, especially at the parish level (CCC 1309).

Our confirmation preparation focuses on an overview of the sacrament, Theology of the Body, personal prayer, the Mass, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and service.

Structure:

Our Confirmation program consists of 4 major components.  Students will attend classes Sunday evenings from 6:30pm-8pm throughout the Religious Education year.  Every third Sunday of the month, students will attend the St. Catherine of Siena chapter of the Dead Theologian's Society (DTS.) [For More information on DTS click here.]

Second, students will attend a Spiritus retreat at Mount Tabor Retreat Center in Menasha and the Wisconsin Catholic Youth Rally.  If a student is unable to attend the retreat, they are responsible for attending another Spiritus retreat.  

Students will also participate in service to the parish, community, and/or larger world concerns.  In order to be confirmed, students must complete 30 hours of service.  [For full service requirements click here] 

Finally, students will attend an orientation meeting with a parent, a sponsor meeting with a sponsor or parent, and an interview with Father Bob.

Who Can Recieve the Sacrament:

Any high school teenager who is a junior (or older)  in high school at the time they will recieve the sacrament, and feels that they are personally ready to recieve the sacrament is eligible. Teenagers are eligible to go through the high school confirmation preparation until they graduate from high school. Any college-aged young adults should enroll in the parish RCIA program to be confirmed into the Church.

Knowing When to Recieve the Sacrament:

The choice to recieve the sacrament of confirmation is an important one, and is solely up to the discretion of the candidate. Our diocese currently recommends two years of high school faith formation before one receives the sacrament of confirmation.  In order to receive the sacrament, students must have completed the previous year's religious education classes.