Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism and Eucharist. This sacrament is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace and serves as a foundation for a continuum of spiritual growth as one’s life unfolds and matures.
At St. Francis of Assisi, preparation for Confirmation typically occurs in the 9th grade year and the Sacrament is received in the fall of the 10th grade year.
Please note that preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and Youth Ministry are different programs.
Registration details can be found here or for more information please contact the Faith Formation Office at: 515-440-1030.
Helpful links
Preparation for Confirmation-9th Grade
In previous years, Confirmation preparation has taken place in a small group environment, with each group determining its own meeting time. However, we have faced challenges in recruiting enough small group leaders to continue this model. As a result, we will no longer be able to offer preparation in this format.
Instead, we are moving to a large group model, where all students will meet together once a month. These gatherings will take place on the first Wednesday of each month (with some exceptions, see below) from 7:30-9:00pm in the Parish Hall. Students can come a little early and enjoy free snacks in the youth room from 7:00-7:30pm.
We will primarily use curriculum from LifeTeen and Deacon Bill will lead the sessions with help from the FISH team and a few additional adults who have volunteered to help. We could still use more assistance so if you’re willing to step in on these nights, please get in touch!
We should also note that since 7:30-9:00 on Wednesdays is the usual meeting time for our high school youth ministry program, FISH, any high schooler who would like to attend these sessions is more than welcome!
We understand that Wednesdays may present scheduling conflicts for some students due to sports or other activities. We ask that you do your best to prioritize these Wednesday sessions for your student. However, if prioritization proves difficult, we have backup options to ensure your student can still fully participate in the Confirmation preparation process.
Below are the dates of 2024-2025 Confirmation sessions, held from 7:30-9:00 in the Parish Hall:
November 6
December 4
January 8
February 5
March 12
April 2
May 7
In addition, do not forget that the Confirmation kickoff meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 9th from 6:00-7:00pm in the Parish Hall.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We are committed to making this a meaningful and fruitful journey for your student as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
For additional questions about Confirmation, please contact Deacon Bill Richer, Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator, at 515-440-1030.
Please click links below for additional information:
Sacrament of Confirmation-10th Grade
After completing the formation process during their freshman year, students will then be confirmed during the fall of their sophomore year. During their sophomore year, they will also attend the Confirmation retreat prior to receiving the sacrament.
For additional questions about Confirmation, please contact Deacon Bill Richer, Director of Faith Formation, at 515-440-1030.
Adult Volunteers Needed
Adult volunteers are invited to serve as Confirmation mentors (small group leader) for 9th grade students as they prepare for Confirmation during their 10th grade year. As a volunteer, you will have the chance to help the students grow in deeper relationship with God through small group discussions geared at reflecting on how God is moving in their lives. The program’s goal is to help the students create a strong foundation of faith as they’re equipped with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation.
Small groups can meet at church, virtually or in your home. Leaders will be supported through the year with periodic trainings to help them to lesson plan; all materials will be provided to them. Small group leaders receive free Faith Formation tuition for their children.
If you are interested in sharing your time and talents with our youth, please contact Deacon Bill Richer, Director of Faith Formation, at 515-440-1030.