Program Vision

Consistent with the vision of St. Ignatius Parish’s broader Faith Formation Program, the Confirmation Program aspires to be a process of personal and communal formation for the Sacrament of Confirmation that fulfills the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Boston and invites candidates into a process of authentic discernment as they make the active choice to be confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church.

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This formational process is enlivened by the distinct character of St. Ignatius Parish as a Jesuit parish, intentionally integrating consistent exposure to the Ignatian spiritual tradition, experiences of service and social justice, opportunities to grapple with the central beliefs of the Catholic faith, and the facilitation of a community of candidates as they build the foundation for a mature and lifelong faith.

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Confirmation I - Called to be Catholic

St. Ignatius Parish’s Confirmation I curriculum invites candidates into a personal and communal exploration of the foundational beliefs of the Catholic Church, including but not limited to Revelation, Scripture, Tradition, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Church, the Sacraments, the Moral Life, and Catholic Social Thought.  Amidst these topics, candidates will take part in a dynamic community of prayer and self-reflection that challenges them to integrate these foundational beliefs into their own life of faith.

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Confirmation II - Confirmed in the Spirit

St. Ignatius Parish’s Confirmation II curriculum invites candidates into a process of intentional formation for the Sacrament of Confirmation that emphasizes self-reflection and Ignatian discernment with a particular emphasis on claiming their faith as they make the active choice to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church.  The second year of formation strives to simultaneously build upon the foundational beliefs explored in Confirmation I. This integration is accomplished through community development during Confirmation sessions as well as the required program retreat.

Typical Session 

• Check In ~ [5-10 minutes]
       Meeting in regular small groups to talk about lives outside St. Ignatius and build community

• Prayer ~ [5-10 minutes]
      Rotating types and styles each week that are intentionally paired with the theme

• Lesson ~ [15 minutes]

• Small Group Discussion Time ~ [20 minutes]
      Consistent small groups, changing at semester

• Journal takeaways/Closing Prayer ~ [5 minutes]

Eligibility

Students in Grade 9 and above are eligible to begin preparation for Confirmation and will typically receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the spring of Grade 10. The expectation is that youth entering this program have received the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist, and are actively practicing their faith. Beginning 2019-2020, we implemented a new comprehensive two-year Confirmation program to ensure adequate sacramental preparation for our young people to become active members of our Catholic parish faith community.  As part of this program, we have hired trained catechists and require all students, including those attending a parochial school, to complete both years of Confirmation preparation. If there are special circumstances that have impacted their sacramental preparation, please contact Andrea Miller, Director of Faith Formation at millbav@bc.edu or 617-552-6103 before registering for Confirmation.

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Above all, it is our expectation that youth preparing for Confirmation are active participants in the Sunday liturgy at St. Ignatius and Confirmation classes throughout the year. Consistent class attendance is required in order for youth to be on track to receive the sacraments. Please consider their sport and extracurricular schedule and ensure that your family can commit to the Faith Formation program at this time. If there are other circumstances that might impact your teen’s attendance, please contact us upon registering so that we can make necessary arrangements. After two absences during the fall semester, teens and their parents will be asked to attend a meeting with the Director of Faith Formation to discuss their intention to continue Confirmation preparation at that time.

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Schedule

There are two sections of Confirmation I and two sections of Confirmation II. Each section meets weekly on Sundays for one hour and is offered at both times: 

• 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

• 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. 

 

Tuition

In order to ensure high-quality catechists to facilitate the Confirmation program, we are charging a $125.00 registration fee per student in addition to the tuition fee. The Confirmation II Spring Retreat is currently scheduled for November 18-20, 2022 and will be billed separately for those student participants.