-
- Registration
- Purpose of Preparation
- Important Dates
- Confirmation Dress Code
- Download Parent Handbook
- Download Service Hour and Task Log
- Choosing a Saint
- Candidate and Sponsor Retreat
- Reconciliation
- Discernment Meetings
- Sponsor Packet
-
Confirmation February 21, 2026 at 1pm (NEW DATE)
Confirmation is traditionally celebrated in eighth grade. A year of formal faith formation is expected prior to the Sacramental preparation year. The current class is preparing for the Sacrament on February 21, 2026 at 1:00pm (NEW DATE) in Saint Bernadette Church.
Register Online Here
Please Note: Unless baptized at Saint Bernadette, Mother of Good Counsel, or Transfiguration of Our Lord, we will need verification of your child's Baptism. A scanned copy or picture of their certificate is acceptable. If the certificate is unavailable, please contact the church of your child's Baptism and ask them to mail a new copy of the certificate to the Parish Office, c/o Children's Faith Formation.
-
Purpose of Preparation
“Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christ’s life. To this end, catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.”
- # 1309 Catechism of the Catholic ChurchAll the elements of our preparation for Confirmation are intended to be means through which our youth are led “toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit” so that they may be “more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life.”
Participation in Confirmation preparation is necessary and expected because it is meant to help the candidates be opened to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.
-
Important Dates 2025-26
- Parent and Child Meeting - 6:30 pm on April 28, 2025, in Church
- Registration Form - Due May 1, 2025
- Copy of Candidate's Baptismal Certificate - Due May 15, 2025
- Name of Sponsor Chosen - Due June 1, 2025
- Sponsor Statement Form Submitted - Due June 30, 2025
- First Sponsor/Candidate Conversation - Due August 1, 2025
- First Discernment Interview - September 2025
- Saint Profile Report (Saint Name Chosen) - Due October 31, 2025
- Confirmation Retreat -Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm in Church
- MANDATORY FOR CANDIDATE AND SPONSOR
- Second Sponsor/Candidate Conversation - Due November 15, 2025
- Second Discernment Interview - December 2025
- Third Sponsor/Candidate Conversation - Due January 15, 2026
- Service Packet and Summary - Due January 15, 2026
- Final Discernment Interview - January 2026
- Confirmation Rehearsal - February 6, 2026 at 6:30pm
- MANDATORY FOR CANDIDATE AND SPONSOR
- Parents may stand in if needed.
- NEW DATE: Rite of Confirmation: Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00pm
-
Confirmation Dress Code
It’s a big day and a holy ceremony, please follow these guidelines explaining how to dress modestly and symbolic of this holy Sacrament.
Sunday Dress for Gentlemen:
- Button-down dress shirt & dress slacks (no jeans) or Suit
- Tie or Sweater optional
- Dress shoes, no sneakers
- No t-shirts, shorts, sagging pants
- No specific color is required
Sunday Dress for Ladies:
- Blouse with dress pants - OR - Modest Dress - OR - Suit - OR Blouse with a skirt which meets the following criteria:
- No Strapless
- No Spaghetti straps (must have a cardigan or jacket)
- No backless
- No low-cut fronts
- Length must be at your knees. Anything shorter is NOT modest enough.
- The following must be covered: Shoulders, belly, back, mid-thigh, and chest.
- No specific color is required
If you have already purchased an outfit for Confirmation that does not meet these criteria, consider a different outfit or (ladies) find a nice sweater (Cardigan) that can cover up the shoulders, etc.
-
Download Parent Handbook
-
Click Below to Complete
-
Retreat, November 8, 2025
Why attend a retreat?
The retreat atmosphere provides youth with a deep experience of PRACTICING Prayer and Sacraments. Retreats can be turning points in one’s life and are great opportunities to refocus or center one’s life on Jesus in a sincere and profound way. All youth preparing for Confirmation and their Sponsor are expected to attend retreats as part of their preparation.
During a retreat, you will spend time in prayer, listen to engaging presentations, discuss issues important to your life, experience God in nature, and receive HIS grace through the sacraments, singing, playing, eating, and resting.
What if I can’t /didn’t attend the retreat?
If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you did not/cannot attend, it will be your responsibility to participate in an alternate retreat experience.
Contact other area parishes and ask to speak to the person responsible for Confirmation preparation. Ask for details about their Confirmation retreat and ask if you could participate. Please notify us if you plan to attend another retreat and with what parish so we can make a note of it.
-
Reconciliation
Why go to Reconciliation before being Confirmed?
“To receive Confirmation, one must be in a state of grace.
One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order
to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit.”- Catechism of the Catholic Church #1310
Why is the Sacrament of Reconciliation Important?
No matter how alienated we feel because of our sins, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are concretely, surely reconciled with Christ and His Church. Through the priest, we get to experience God’s mercy, love, and peace. Getting into the habit of going to Confession once a month, whether we have committed a serious sin or not, helps us stay on track in our relationship with Him. But at the minimum, we should confess whenever we commit a mortal sin, or once a year and before receiving a Sacrament such as Confirmation.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Locations & Times
- Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm at Saint Bernadette in Church
- Click here for other days/times in the Archdiocese
-
Discernment Meetings
What is it and why do I need to do it?
A discernment meeting is a chance to talk with a Confirmation Prep Team Staff member to share your thoughts about your faith and the experiences you’ve had during your time of preparation for Confirmation. It is an opportunity for you to express and explain why you would like to be confirmed. It is also a chance for the staff and volunteers to answer any other questions or misunderstandings you may have about Confirmation or your Faith and determine how we can best support you. All candidates are expected to complete 3 discernment meetings.
What sorts of questions will be asked during the Discernment Meeting?
Examples of the types of questions that may be asked during the discernment meeting might be:- How have you prepared for Confirmation? (Refer to your Confirmation Booklet)
- What was the best part of your preparation experience?
- How do you plan to continue your faith journey after you have received the Sacrament?
- Looking at the Gifts of the Spirit, how might you be called to share your gifts?
- What does it mean to follow Jesus as a disciple? What are the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus?
- Do you want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation? Why or Why not?
-
Go to Sponsor Page