Letter from Parish Program Coordinator

Program Outline LetterPDF Icon

ST. MARK CHURCH

30 Melvin Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland 21228

410-744-6560, ext. 231

rclegg@stmarkchurch-catonsville.org

March 2011

Welcome to this year’s Confirmation Preparation Program! Here is the program outline:

This year’s program starts with the Entrance Ritual on the weekend of September 24 & 25. Candidates will be presented with a Catholic Youth Bible and asked to sign the Covenant Book during the Mass that they attend. Please follow the directions of the Presider after the homily. This is a mandatory event.

SESSION PREFERENCE: We offer six mandatory Confirmation Preparation Small Group Sessions on Monday nights in the Coakley Room. Please choose to participate in Group A or Group B. You will need to attend all the sessions for that group and the retreat assigned to the group. Every attempt will be made to schedule Confirmation candidates on their preferred dates. Participation in preparation for Confirmation involves a serious commitment and both the weekly sessions and the retreat need to be a priority. Candidates will not be excused from either because of sports, scouting or social events.

RETREAT: We participate in a structured day retreat at the Msgr. O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, MD; as there is no longer a priest assigned to the Retreat House, we will return to attend Mass at St. Mark.

  • Group A will arrive at the O’Dwyer Retreat House on Saturday, November 12 at 9:00am via bus from St. Mark and depart at 3:00pm (we will attend 4:00pm Mass at St. Mark).
  • Group B will arrive at the O’Dwyer Retreat House on Sunday, November 13 at 10:00am via bus from St. Mark and depart at 4:00pm (we will attend 5:00pm Mass at St. Mark).

Please return the retreat permission slip with your registration forms.

CONFIRMATION NAME: In order to demonstrate the very close relationship between Baptism and Confirmation, candidates are strongly encouraged to retain their Baptismal name (first name, middle name or both) as the name of the Bishop will call them during the Rite of Confirmation Anointing. If you choose a name other than your Baptismal name, you must complete both sides of the name form. Please return completed Confirmation name form on or before December 2, 2011.

CONFIRMATION SPONSOR: Again, in order to demonstrate the very close relationship between Baptism and Confirmation, candidates are strongly encouraged to ask one of their Baptismal Godparents to be their Confirmation sponsor. Please see the following pages regarding sponsorship guidelines, and please have your sponsor return a completed eligibility certificate on or before December 2, 2011. If the formis returned without a pastor’s (or pastor’s designee) signature and church seal, it will be returned to you. You cannot be Confirmed without a completed Sponsor Eligibility Certificate!

CONFIRMATION INTERVIEWS: Each candidate is interviewed by a staff member before their Confirmation; an Interview Preference Form will be sent in October. We attempt to assign the candidates to their interviewer of choice.

CONFIRMATION REHEARSAL & CELEBRATION: We have not yet received word from the Archdiocese as to when Confirmation will be celebrated. Traditionally, the Sacrament has been conferred in February at St. Mark. Rehearsal will be held on the Monday evening prior to the celebration and attendance at the rehearsal is mandatory for both the candidate and sponsor (or a parent substitute). As soon as I am notified of the date, I will notify you.

COST: The fee for the Confirmation program is $115, which covers the cost of the retreat, bus, Catholic Youth Bible, consumable materials, supplies, and guest speakers. The fee, made payable to St. Mark Church, may be made in one lump sum or in two payments of $57.50 each. All monies are due on or before November 1, 2011. Please contact the office if you require financial assistance for the program.

SERVICE HOURS: Each candidate is expected to complete a minimum of 15 hours of service (5 ministry, 5 social justice, and 5 community) prior to Confirmation and complete a Service Hours Reflection Sheet for each volunteer experience. Your first 10 hours of service with accompanying reflection sheets are due by September 1, 2011, and the final 5 hours with accompanying reflection sheets are due by December 2, 2010.

Please feel free to contact me at the above phone number and/or email address with any questions. Thank you!

You remain in our prayers,
Rae Ellen Clegg
Parish Program Coordinator