Confirmation (for teens)

"The Spirit of the Lord breaks down the horizons which limit his activity.
Here dwells with him a power which urges him to go beyond."
Pope Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens, 1971

(adults wanting to be Confirmed should click here!)

What's happening with Confirmation this year?

There's a lot we don't know - but the important stuff we do.  Confirmation prep will begin digitally, with an all-new model that builds on HT's successful one-year process and allows candidates to work through the concepts at their own pace.  These materials will be produced a little a time, with the first batch dropping at the beginning of October.

When Oregon's restrictions lift and we're able to begin gathering in small groups, the platform will shift slightly.  The material will continue to be made available online for those who prefer to continue distancing, and there will be an option to meet at HT with the program leaders to explore the content in a more social setting.

If your child is interested in pursuing Confirmation this year, please take the following steps:

1.) Read the FAQs at the bottom of this page. There's important information there about who is elligible and what you'll need to provide to the parish for our records.

2.) Join the email list to get an announcement when the first materials are ready. There's a short form to fill out just below this message.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email. Come Holy Spirit!

~Chris

Who can be Confirmed?
There are a few basic requirements.  In the Archdiocese of Portland, Confirmation is offered to students in high school (grade 9 or above) to people who have already been Baptized.  If you or your child haven't been Baptized yet, send Chris an email to discuss that first step.


What is the cost?

Sacramental classes are free for families that have been registered and active in the parish for one year.  Other candidates will be asked to contribute to the cost of the program with a one-time registration fee of $200.


What do I need to do to get ready?

You can start doing some of your homework:

1. Locate your certificate of Baptism

   If you can't find your certificate, please call the church where you were Baptized and ask for a replacement (there shouldn't be a charge for this).  PLEASE NOTE: We will keep your baptismal certificate, so please don't bring the original. A legible photocopy, scan, or fax is sufficient.

2. Consider who you would like your sponsor(s) to be

Canon law requires each candidate to be sponsored by a fully initiated and practicing Catholic. Many candidates choose to have a sacramentally married couple instead of an individual, which is also allowed.  A sponsor should be someone Catholic, 25 years or older (18+ if it is a close family member), already Confirmed, and someone you are comfortable having thoughtful and personal conversations with.  Parents are not permitted to sponsor their own children for this sacrament.

Since the days of St. Paul converting the Greeks (who were customarily named after pagan gods), Christians traditionally adopt a "saint" name when they are initiated into the Church. The class spends a lot of time learning how to identify relevant saints, and it's a lot of fun.