CONFIRMATION 

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “by Confirmation, [the baptized]are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.”(CCC 1285)

At St. Thomas Aquinas, we believe that Confirmation is a beautiful and powerful Sacrament given to us to enrich our faith journey, which is just beginning for these young people.

The list below details our expectations for those hoping to begin the formal Confirmation process. If you have any questions about any of the following, please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Evan Swindle.

• For each individual seeking Confirmation, they must be baptized and have received their First Communion and Reconciliation, and according to the direction of the Diocese of Dallas, must be at minimum in their 8th grade year of school. 

• They must have an active relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church, meaning they are following the Precepts of the Church, which are: Attending Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently, receiving Christ in the Eucharist at minimum once a year, and adhering to liturgical feasts of fasting and abstinence. (CCC 2041-43)

• We ask for a basic knowledge of the Catholic Faith. There needs to be an understanding of why they are Catholic, as well as a desire to go deeper and learn more. 

• We ask that the person to be confirmed is able and encouraged to live out their faith actively within their family home, and that his or her family is following the teachings of the church; Weekly Mass attendance, regular Confession, and a life of active prayer and service as a family.

• We ask that the person to be confirmed is active in a faith based peer group of some kind. Our faith is not meant to be practiced alone. It is necessary to be in community with others who are in pursuit of truth and life in Christ. (Learn more about our STA Young Catholics Small Groups here!)

• The person to be confirmed requires a mentor, or what we call in the Catholic Church, a sponsor - a person over the age of 16, who is living an active Catholic faith. A sponsor’s role is to support the Confirmand not only on that day of Confirmation, but for the rest of their lives as a faithful Catholic man or woman. 

• Finally, we ask that the individual is involved in active service within their community. 

We want to support and walk with you and your family as you grow together in holiness. If, for example, you read through the above points and discern that your teen could benefit from more mentorship before beginning the formal process of Confirmation preparation, we would love to support you in that journey. Please let us know how we can serve you.

If however, you have read through the above points and you and your teen wish to proceed with the formal Confirmation process, please continue to read below for more information:

Confirmation Services are celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish three times a year. We have two services in the fall and one service in the spring.

The dates for Confirmation for the 2023-2024 year are:

• Monday, November 27 at 6:00pm and 8:00pm

• Tuesday, November 28 at 6:00pm

• Saturday, May 18 at 6:00pm

NEXT STEPS:

• Register for our 7-12th grade ministry STA Young Catholics program HERE. This will provide us with your information so we can effectively partner with your family to equip, disciple, and provide opportunities for encounter with Christ and His Church.

• Submit a copy of your teen’s Baptismal Certificate if they were baptized at another parish. If your teen was baptized at St. Thomas Aquinas, this step is not necessary.

• Submit a Confirmation Sponsor Affidavit of Suitability (downloadable version here). This affidavit will only be complete with the signature of the sponsor’s pastor as well as the parish seal. If the sponsor is a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas, you may submit to the parish offie without a seal or signature.

• Register for one of three Confirmation Masses at St. Thomas Aquinas. The links to do so will be sent out via the Young Catholics Flocknote in the fall.

• Both the Baptismal certificate, if needed, and the Confirmation Sponsor Affadavit of Suitability must be submitted at the same time in person or via the following link.

• The deadline to submit all documents and registration for Confirmation Masses, is Wednesday, November 1, 2023, for Fall Confirmation.

• The deadline to submit all documents and registration for Confirmation Mass, is Wednesday,April 3, 2024, for Spring Confirmation.

FINAL DETAILS:

• Once you submit your registration for our STAY program, someone from our office will be contacting you directly. We will set up a meeting with you and your child who wishes to be Confirmed to discuss the sacrament and at-home preparation. 

• Mark your calendar for our Middle School and Confirmation Retreat on October 13-15, 2023. More details will be provided closer to the date.

• If your teen is receiving Confirmation in the fall, we will have a rehearsal the day prior to the Confirmation Services. The rehearsal will be on Sunday, November 26, from 2:00-4:00pm in the main church at St. Thomas Aquinas.

As parents, you are the primary educators of your children in their faith. We are here to support and encourage you as you continue to do so!

CONTACT US:

Evan Swindle - eswindle@stadallas.org

Leilani Freitas - lfreitas@stadallas.org