The Youth Confirmation Program at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church is a series of classes designed to help teenagers prepare to become fully initiated into the Church through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
2025 Confirmation Class Schedule HERE. Classes begin January 14th & 15th. Registration opened Oct. 15th & closes Dec. 15th.
When are the Confirmation classes?
Confirmation class takes place every other week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:00pm in the St. Dymphna Center. Candidates select either the Tuesday or Wednesday class day, whichever class day the Candidate chooses is the class day they will attend for all Confirmation classes. The 2025 Confirmation Calendar HERE. The first classes will start in January (TBD).
Attendance Policies
Only one absence to Confirmation class will be excused.
Students who miss two or more Confirmation Classes will no longer be considered a Candidate for Confirmation as they will have missed crucial parts of the preparation. Since there are only 9 classes, each class is important in forming the Candidate’s understanding of Confirmation. After missing two classes, a meeting will be held with the teen, parent(s) and the Director of Faith Formation to determine if the teen will be able to re-enter the program as a Candidate. This meeting must be initiated by the candidate's parents. Scheduling the meeting is no guarantee of re-admission into the program as the meeting will be used to discern what requirements must be met to re-enter the program.
Tardiness: Students who arrive 20 minutes or later after Confirmation classes begin will be counted as absent for that class.
Is Confirmation class the same as Youth Group?
The high school youth group is different from the Confirmation class. To be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, both programs must be participated in concurrently.
When is registration for Confirmation?
Registration opened October 15th. The registration deadline is December 15th, 2024. This registration is only available for those already enrolled in Emmanuel Youth Group and those in their 2nd consecutive year of Faith Formation.
Two class day options: Tuesday or Wednesday
Tuesdays
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: St. Dymphna Center, Room 8
Calendar:
Wednesdays
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: St. Dymphna Center, Rooms 1 & 2
Calendar:
Curriculum: "The Chosen: Your Journey toward Confirmation” from Ascension Press. Books will be provided.
Confirmation Mass Day: Sunday, May 11 @ 10AM in the St. Dymphna Center by Bishop Vasquez
Only one absence to Confirmation class will be excused.
Students who miss two or more Confirmation Classes will no longer be considered a Candidate for Confirmation as they will have missed crucial parts of the preparation. Since there are only 10 classes, each class is important in forming the Candidate’s understanding of Confirmation.
Tardiness: Students who arrive 20 minutes or later after confirmation classes begin will be counted as absent for that class.
After missing two classes, a meeting will be held with the teen, parent(s) and the Director of Faith Formation to determine if the teen will be able to re-enter the program as a Candidate. This meeting must be initiated by the candidate's parents. Scheduling the meeting is no guarantee of re-admission into the program as the meeting will be used to discern what requirements must be met to re-enter the program.
Each teen candidate is asked to attend a retreat prior to receiving Confirmation. If your child cannot attend the retreat(s) offered by St. Martin de Porres you must notify us immediately so other arrangements can be made.
The following is reprinted from the Pastoral Manual for the Diocese of Austin.
Age of Confirmation
The age for the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation will be the early years of high school between fourteen (14) and sixteen (16) years.
Qualifications of Candidates
A. Each baptized Catholic has the right and the obligation to receive the sacrament of confirmation, but the candidate has the personal responsibility to choose to complete initiation into the faith life of the Church.
B. Candidates may request the sacrament if they:
1. Are baptized and able to renew baptismal promises, unless a grave reason suggests otherwise
2. Exhibit an active faith life and knowledge of the Church
3. Participate in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Mass
4. Are willing to commit to active involvement in the parish confirmation catechesis
5. Are willing to respond to the call to active participation in the Church
6. Are willing to continue to learn and grow in faith following confirmation and throughout their lifetime
Confirmation Sponsors
A. The sponsor represents in a personal way the witness and support of the parish community.
B. Opportunities for catechesis should be offered to the sponsors in order to assist them in fully understanding their role in the ongoing formation of the candidates.
C. The sponsor should participate with the candidates in their preparation as well as the celebration.
D. To perform the role of sponsor, it is necessary that a person:
1. Be designated by the one to be confirmed, by the parents or the one who takes their place, or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing the role
2. Have completed the sixteenth (16) year, unless a different age has been established by the diocesan Bishop or it seems to the pastor or minister that an exception is to be made for a just cause
3. Be a practicing Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with faith and the role to be undertaken
4. Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared
5. Not be the father or the mother of the one to be confirmed
E. A spouse may not serve as a sponsor for their spouse.
The sponsor’s function is to take care that the person Confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfills the duties inherent in this sacrament.
A Sponsor is:
Code of Canon Law # 893 states:
“... that a person who would undertake the office of sponsor must fulfill the conditions mentioned in Can. 874 and that it is desirable that the sponsor chosen be the one who undertook this role at baptism.”
Canon # 874 states:
“ To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:
The Communion of Saints are the persons in heaven who intercede with God on our behalf. Thus, the saints are our patrons in Heaven. In acknowledging the saints, we acknowledge our connection with them through and in Christ and to each other.
Saint Essay
Candidates will be asked to select a Saint to be their patron for Confirmation and write an essay explaining their choice.
Your essay on the selected Saint should include: Name of the Saint chosen, a brief summary of the life of that Saint, and why you selected that saint. This should reflect an understanding of that Saint and how you relate to the person. Essay’s must be typed, a minimum 2 paragraphs and a maximum of 1 page.
We choose a Confirmation saint (like we choose a Confirmation sponsor) not out of due diligence to the “rule,” but rather because we realize how unfortunate it would be to travel alone. We recognize how important it is to know your Confirmation saint not only by name, but also by story. The saints have so much to teach us about this journey.
The following list is for you to use as a starting point in your journey to decide whom your “Confirmation saint-buddy” will be. Pick a saint (canonized, blessed, or servant of God) who speaks to you somehow. Know their story. But, mostly know the power of their prayer. Ask for their intercession like you would ask for the prayers of your friends. Saying “yes” to a Confirmation saint is like saying “yes, you may always pray for my poor and weary soul.”
How fantastic is that!? I pray that in this process you don’t just find a Confirmation saint, but instead an incredible friend.
No, their “superpowers” weren’t designed by fancy machinery or alien power. They were simply receptive to the mighty power of God. These saints stories are incredibly heroic.
Date: January 31 - February 2, 2025
Where: Waco Convention Center
Lodging: St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco, Tx
Cost: $100. Scholarships allowed upon request.
Deadline to register: Sunday, December 22nd (Price may increase after this date)
How to Register :
Online on the parish website HERE, fill out forms at the Parish Office, or request forms at Youth Group.
Registration only through the parish, please do not register through the Diocese.
Eagle's Wings Confirmation Retreat 2025:
When: February 22 - 23, 2025
Where: Eagle's Wings Retreat Center in Burnet, Tx
Cost: $115
Deadline to register: Sunday, December 22nd (Price may increase after this date)
If a Confirmation candidate cannot attend DCYC, they may attend the Eagle's Wings Confirmation Retreat.
Director of Faith Formation - [email protected] | Confirmation Coordinator - [email protected]