By Brenda Kresky

For The Visitor

Our lifelong journey of faith begins at baptism with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This journey is nourished by participation in the Eucharist and strengthened through the sacrament of confirmation. Every year coordinators in parishes across the Diocese of St. Cloud help young people, typically of high school age, prepare to receive the sacrament of confirmation. The diocese is promoting new guidelines, with an implementation date beginning fall 2012, for the preparation for this sacrament.

These guidelines highlight a network of relationships that engages each candidate in the process of preparation for the sacrament through witness, faith sharing, conversation and activities, using a variety of methods with a variety of people.

This network of support is intended to help candidates in their faith journey now and in the future. Key people are pastors/confirmation coordinators, parents, peers, sponsors and the parish community.  Each plays a significant role, not only in preparation for the sacrament but also for continued growth on the journey of faith. Each relationship aids the candidate in a lifetime of knowing and loving God within the Body of Christ.

Supporting the candidate

These key people have five significant roles, called “elements,” in the preparation of candidates for the sacrament. The elements are: reflective dialogues (with parish personnel), learning centers (with parents), sponsor process (individual sessions with sponsor), retreat (with peers) and liturgical celebrations (with the parish community). Each relationship is intended to hold up and affirm the candidate in a special way.

The National Directory for Catechesis specifically asks that the parents and sponsors be involved in the process of the preparation.  This is an opportunity for them to be a faith witness to the candidate and to share their faith in a personal way. Many times this is sacred time together. Parents and sponsors have the opportunity to help candidates walk through this important time in their lives and deepen their relationship with God as part of that.

A major shift with these guidelines is the time frame with which the preparation takes place. Immediate preparation for the sacrament of confirmation would take approximately 12 weeks using this format. The preparation for the sacrament is exactly that — preparation for a sacrament, it is not an entire faith formation program. Candidates are expected to participate in a broader faith formation program.

Just the beginning

There is a common misconception that confirmation is graduation from religious education. The preparation for the sacrament cannot imply that confirmation is the end of formation. Lifelong faith involves growth at every stage throughout life. All of us continue to learn about and grow in our faith well into our elder years. Treating confirmation as the end of our formal learning suggests that there is no more to learn. Unfortunately, many people see confirmation as an ending rather than a beginning. We do not want to miss out on the gift that faith is throughout our life.

The strengthening of the Holy Spirit celebrated in confirmation helps us become stronger witnesses to the Gospel of Christ. The hope is that these new guidelines will help candidates desire a deeper relationship with God by surrounding them with people that want the same thing. We learn from each other. Each person’s faith journey is different. Each person’s preparation will be different because they will have different conversations due to what is important to him or her.

This opportunity to concentrate on the preparation for the sacrament allows candidates to focus on their own individual questions and passions. This gift, given then, will last a lifetime.

Brenda Kresky is consultant for faith formation with Catholic Education Ministries of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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