Confirmation Preparation

Welcome to the Lumen Christi’s Confirmation Sacramental Preparation Program! We are so grateful that you are choosing to pursue your call as Catholics to lifelong formation.

Our Confirmation program is a three-year program from 9-11th grade, with 11th grade being the year we focus on the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

This year, students preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation will be gathering on Sunday evenings to learn about our rich catholic tradition, experience opportunities for prayer, and build relationships with their peers. Our team of adult volunteers and senior leaders will lead both the classes and the retreats. 

These Sunday evening sessions would not be effective without giving your family the opportunity to participate in the liturgy of the Eucharist. Our Formation program’s expectation is that each student has attended Mass prior to Sunday evening sessions. 

Formation class begins at 6:00pm and goes until 7:30 pm on select Sundays. 

During the fall semester, juniors will all complete a 15-minute confirmation interview which will allow for our ministers to gain an insight into where students are in their faith, allow students to ask questions that staff will work on addressing in class and on retreat, and provide an opportunity for our staff to connect and given additional support to students on their confirmation journeys. 
Students should begin thinking about who they would like to be their confirmation sponsor.  Students should ask someone to be their sponsor no later than January 30th, 2022.

In winter students and parents will meet of January 9th for our mandatory Confirmation meeting. At that meeting, we will review all of the expectations and important dates that are coming up in the winter/spring. 

Students are expected to be on our confirmation retreats, which will be held on February 25th-27th at the Green Lake Conference Center. If a student cannot make our confirmation retreat, they must find another confirmation retreat within the Archdiocese to attend. Our retreats aim to offer a unique opportunity to have time away to reflect on important questions about life, personal faith, and being catholic.

In the spring semester, students will reflect on the retreat, choose a Confirmation name, continue engaging with their sponsor, and fill out a form for the Bishop.  The will also complete their 30-minute spring confirmation interview prior to being confirmed where they will have a final opportunity to ask any questions about confirmation and discuss their final decision with the youth ministers.

Student's will also partake in the Mass of Enrollment with their sponsor. 


Finally, our formation program would not be a complete picture of Catholic identity without 

an element of service to our parish and neighboring community, therefore we require that every student have participated in 10 hours of volunteer service per academic year. We welcome you to choose from our opportunities within the parish, within the greater Milwaukee community, or feel free to create your own! Upon satisfying these hours, we ask you to complete your Service Learning Reflection page, based off your volunteer experiences. Due to many places still not accepting volunteers due to COVID, we also have an alternative service option that focuses on serving family, local community and growing in your own faith.
 
Please know that our mission is to serve the needs of the community, so we are here to serve you.  If you have any questions, or would like to speak to us more about our program, please contact us.

Mandatory requirements for prior to student being confirmed. Please note important dates in your calendar now.

• Participation in 80% of our classes.  Our classes build upon one another, and it is crucial that students be present to form their faith.  If a student misses more than two classes, they are expected to make-up those classes.

• Participation in confirmation retreat: February 25^th-27^th, 2022

• 10 hours of service or the alternative service option

• Fall confirmation interview (15 minutes) and spring confirmation interview (30 minutes)

• Parent/Student Confirmation Meeting: January 9th,  2022

• Mass of Enrollment with sponsor or proxy: March 13th, 2022

• Confirmation Practice (April 21: 7-8 pm) and Confirmation (April 22nd: 7pm)

• Confirmation candidates will also: Choose a confirmation Saint name, choose a sponsor and fulfill the candidate/sponsor activity and conversation requirements.  

*  Please note: Confirmation preparation is a three year process, beginning in 9th grade and extending through a candidate's junior year in high school. As part of their Catholic Formation Program, Juniors participate in a sacramental preparation program which concludes with the celebration of Confirmation in the Spring of their Junior year.

Upon Confirmation into the Catholic Faith, that students  have learned and experienced what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the following ways: 

• An understanding of Mission & Discipleship -- where do we go from here? What is our call as Catholic Christians?

• Discernment of individual gifts, talents and charisms

• Joy in knowing we are a small part of the Communion of Saints

• Conversion of Heart -- formation of true Disciples because of a change in priorities, desires, and outlook

• Practicing a solid Prayer Life

• Belief in God

• Beginning to form a Biblical World View instead of a secular world view

• Living a Sacramental Life

• In addition to in-person classes, we also have a home study option for those who would rather complete their Catholic Formation journey at home.