Confirmation

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is changing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore! The standard age of preparation is being lowered to age 9. If you would like to learn more about this Archdiocesan decision, click here. 

2026-2027 is our major transition year at St. Alphonsus. ALL children in 4th-7th grades (who are also enrolled in a faith formation program or Catholic school) are invited to prepare for the sacrament. See below for a basic understanding of what this process entail.

Older children (8th grade and above) will be accommodated needed. Please contact Clare at clare@stalchurch.org to discuss what this might look like.

Adults (18+) looking to receive Confirmation should contact Dee Papania at dee@stalchurch.org for information regarding the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).

Registration for 2026-2027 can be found at the bottom of this page.

Q&A

Q: Who will be eligible to prepare for Confirmation?

A:  ANY child in 4th-7th grade who is also enrolled in a Faith Formation program (whether here at St. Alphonsus or elsewhere) or in Catholic school.

Q: What if I have a 9-year-old who is in 3rd grade?

A: While 9-years-old is becoming the “standard” age of Confirmation, our program will be built for 4th grade and above, regardless of when the child turns 9 or if they will be 10-years-old while preparing for the sacrament.

Q: What if my child is NOT ready to prepare for Confirmation?

A: THAT’S OKAY! Children in 4th-7th grades are NOT required to prepare for Confirmation in 2026-2027. They are simply INVITED to. Beginning with the 2027-2028 year, Confirmation preparation will be open for 4th-6th grade children to join on a standard basis. Come that time, children in 7th grade and above will be accommodated as needed.

What Will Be Expected of Your FAMILY

Both children and parents are required to participate in the Confirmation Sessions and Retreat (schedule detailed below). Children will need A LOT more support in preparing the sacrament at a younger age.

Faith Formation families: The parent component of our Confirmation program will count as your Faith Formation Parent Session. You will NOT be required to attend on Sunday mornings, unless you ALSO have a child preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

Sponsors: All children must choose ONE sponsor. Sponsors are required to attend a Zoom meeting in January and the Confirmation Mass itself.

2026-2027 Schedule

A printable copy of this schedule can be found HERE.

Parent Meeting: September 1 at 7 PM

Sessions: Fall OR Spring. You commit to ONE set of sessions. Sessions are held from 6-8 PM and dinner is provided.

• FALL - September 22, October 13, November 3, & December 1
• SPRING - January 19, February 23, March 16, & April 6
• Final Session (for all): May 25

Zoom Sponsor Meeting: January 12 at 7 PM

Retreat: April 17 (location and time TBD)

Confirmation Mass (TENTATIVE): May 15 at 4 PM

• Other possible dates are May 8 and May 22.

Required Paperwork

1. Registration and Baptismal Certificate
2. Declaration of Sponsor
3. Saint Project

The Fire Fellowship

This is our program! It is very different from what we’ve done previously in Confirmation preparation. It is much less book based and more hands on. Parent involvement is KEY!

The topics we’ll cover are:
Misconceptions about Confirmation
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Understanding Baptism
Understanding Confirmation
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Registration for 2026-2027 is available below!

Please see below for the What To Know document that was shared at the beginning of the preparation process. This contains the "nuts and bolts" of our program.

Every candidate is required to choose ONE sponsor. Sponsors must meet the minimum requirements (which are set down by Canon Law) as follows:

• 16 years of age or older on the day of our Confirmation Mass
• Has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
• Cannot be the candidate’s own parent
• If married, their marriage is recognized/validated by the Catholic Church.

Sponsors are required to submit a Sponsor Form verifying their eligibility. This form can be found below. Physical copies are available upon request. The form must be taken to the sponsor's parish and signed by their pastor, unless they are registered parishioners of St. Alphonsus (in which case only the top portion of the form must be completed). 

This form must be submitted back to us by the end of February.

All children are required to choose a Confirmation Name. The name they choose is based on a saint of their choosing and is bestowed upon them when they receive the sacrament. This project will help them think about why they chose their Confirmation name/saint. The Saint Project is due by April 17 (the day of our retreat). Complete information for this project is HERE.

Complete details for our retreat will be sent in the spring and the registration will be available below. General information is as follows:

• 9 AM to 2 PM at The Claggett Center (3035 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD 21710)
• Light morning refreshments and lunch are included.
• The minimum attendance requirement for the retreat is the child/children preparing the sacrament and one parent. Both parents are encouraged to attend if possible! Older siblings and sponsors are also welcome. Younger siblings cannot be accommodated.
• There is a SEPARATE retreat fee that will be due by the end of March. The exact amount is not yet determined but is expected to be around $60 per person.