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| Download Document Dear Confirmation Sponsor, Congratulations! One of our Parish’s Confirmation Candidates values your faith, finds trust in you and knows that you are someone who will care about him or her and his or her faith development. Being a Confirmation sponsor is not all that complicated, but it does take time, a caring heart and a listening ear. Here are a few suggestions on how to be the best possible sponsor for your candidate: • Be a living model of faith. The young person choosing you as a sponsor sees in you a person of faith and that is what he or she needs most of all. This young person needs a living witness of a practicing Catholic who is active in his or her parish, who participates in the Sunday Mass and lives a life that reflects the Catholic faith. This commitment challenges you to get more involved in the life of your parish, to learn more about your faith and to strengthen your spiritual life. However, if after honest consideration you recognize that your life does not reflect the role of the sponsor described above or for some reason you cannot undertake all of the responsibilities of being a sponsor, it may be best to decline the invitation. Being a Confirmation sponsor does not mean that you have to become artificially saintly, but rather requires that your faith is authentic and sincere. • Pray for your candidate and for yourself. As the candidate decides to be confirmed, he or she needs spiritual strength. Your prayers are important, but do not forget to pray for yourself also, that you can share why you value and practice your Catholic Faith. Attend Mass together, spend a day or a short time praying together, or even have the courage to come to Reconciliation together. • We recognize that many sponsors may live out of town. There are many ways you can connect with your candidate. The sponsor's guide has suggestions for one minute ministries that can be shared via email, texting, Face- book, or over the phone. Please take time to communicate with your candidate and ask how preparation is going; has there been a homily that has been especially meaningful or inspirational? Ask your candidate if they have participated in any parish youth activities outside of the classroom preparation. • Work together on a service project. Share with the candidate the importance of serving others. Look for opportunities to help those in need and make a day of it. Afterward reflect with the candidate about how they felt about the experience before and after. Encourage the candidate in reaching out to others in need. • Do not miss the Confirmation Mass. Participating in the Confirmation Mass is the easiest part of being a sponsor. Your basic job will be to place your hand on your candidate's shoulder, and tell the bishop your candidate's Confirmation name. You are there to be a support, but your role on Confirmation day is only the beginning. Here is what Seton Parish Expect of the Confirmation Sponsors: Be available and willing to talk about your faith with your candidate. Accompany the candidate to Confirmation rehearsal Sunday May 6, 2012 at 7:00 Accompany the candidate and present him/her to the Bishop at the Celebration of Confirmation Monday May 7, 2012. Connect with the candidate and be familiar with and share with the candidate reflections and activities from the sponsors guide. This was given to parents at the Confirmation Parent's Meeting. If you did not receive a copy please contact Barbara A. Serrano 614-833-0485 ext 228 or bserrano@setonparish.com Talk to the candidate about the confirmation retreat coming in February (February 19th - 20th). Follow up with them after the retreat and help them reflect on what made it meaningful, how they felt about it and share memories of your own confirmation preparation. Thank you for saying yes to journey with one of our Parish’s Candidates to Confirmation. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me at the Parish Office. You are in my prayers. Sincerely, Barbara A. Serrano Coordinator of Youth Ministry Seton Parish Download Document |
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