Mentorship

​Parents (Life-Long Mentors) – Parents are the first and primary teachers of the faith and are vital role models of our faith.  Parents are encouraged to be strong leaders by continuing to learn, grow, and be active in their own faith.  Our Faith Formation Staff stands ready to support parents with whatever material (or answers to those tough questions) needed.
 
During the preparation process we are asking teens to make a journey of discovery.  A journey to discover the faith of our ancestors, the truth of God’s Word, and the reality of our faith lived out daily. We hope candidates will discover their own purpose and respond to God’s outpouring of love and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

Parents of these candidates are asked to support them by demonstrating the following:

• Make time to pray for their son/daughter each day.
• Attend and participate fully in weekly Liturgy together.
• Help their son/daughter choose a sponsor.
• Help their son/daughter research a Saint/choose a confirmation name.
• Help monitor their son/daughter’s progress toward completion of the Confirmation preparation commitments.
• Provide a copy of the their son/daughter’s Baptismal Certificate (if he/she was not baptized in one of the parishes of our Area Faith Community).
• Model Christian charity (love) and discipleship.

Sponsors (Spiritual Mentors) – Candidates will select a Confirmation sponsor during their first year of preparation.  Sponsors play a crucial role on the faith journey in providing spiritual mentorship that will last for years to come.  Candidates should take care in selecting their sponsor.  The Church views the role of godparents and sponsors as a ministry, not simply an honor or title.  

A sponsor is asked to help guide his/her Candidate in the following ways:

• Attend the Candidate/Sponsor Session (on a Sunday in the Spring of Year I).
• Attend the Confirmation Retreat (on a Sunday in the Fall of Year II).
• Meet individually with the Candidate at least 4 times before Confirmation. During this time Candidates and Sponsors are asked to share their faith stories with one another.
• Monitor and help the Candidate keep his/her Confirmation preparation commitments.
• Attend the Confirmation Rehearsal (Wednesday evening prior to Confirmation).
• Attend the Confirmation Celebration (on a Sunday usually in February of Year II). 
• Continue a faith relationship with his/her Candidate following the celebration of Confirmation.

​Catechists (Faith Mentors) – Candidates participate in the Confirmation program at one of the Faith Formation Sites (Our Lady of the Lakes or St. Mary) for their ongoing faith formation.  The groups formed in their first year will continue to meet together through their second year of Confirmation preparation.  The relationships built between the teens and their catechists in these small faith-sharing communities often last well beyond Confirmation.

Saints: (Unseen Mentors) – Confirmation Candidates will choose a Saint of the Church to be their unseen mentor. Candidates will research the stories of Saints to choose one whose story impacts the candidate in a significant way.  The chosen Saint’s name becomes the candidate’s Confirmation name.  

The significance of taking on the name of the Saint follows many examples in Scripture. Throughout Scripture, God changes the name of people at a crucial time in their lives. God changed Abram's name to Abraham when a covenant of faith was made and Abraham became the “father of many nations”; and God changed Saul's name to Paul after he experienced a conversion of heart and became one of the greatest missionaries of the early Church.

Candidates seeking the Sacrament of Confirmation commit to completing the following Mentorship milestones:

Sponsor Information

Choosing a Confirmation Saint Name

Sponsor Selection Form

Candidate/Sponsor Faith Sharing Questions

Confirmation Saint Name Form