Confirmation Mass Info 2023
CONFESSION: The last opportunity to confess is tonight 3/15 at 6:30 pm during Adoration.
GETTING THERE
ADDRESS: St. John the Evangelist, 301 Sheppard Ct. Waynesboro, VA 22980
There is plenty of parking at the church itself. Families should go inside and sit down immediately. Please do not gather in the small lobby area.
Candidates and Sponsors should arrive at 6:15 pm, and the Mass itself starts at 7:00 p.m.
CHECK-IN
Candidates need to check in with me when they arrive ( the room to the left when you walk in the lobby). They will pick up their name tag and their gift.
PHOTOS
There will be a professional photographer capturing the Mass and each individual Confirmation. No one should approach the altar to take their own pictures during Mass.
The photographer will also take parish group pictures and will be available for individual family portraits with the Bishop after Mass, free of charge. Please listen out for instructions at the end of Mass. Do not rush the Bishop or the altar for a picture. All pictures will be available to download for free within a couple months of Confirmation.
CLOTHING
Boys should wear either a jacket or a tie (both if they want) and no jeans, sneakers, or hats. Girls can wear dress pants or a skirt or dress. Again, no jeans or sneakers. Parents should clear what is or isn't appropriate for Mass. Typical colors worn for Confirmation are red and white, but these are not mandatory.
CERTIFICATES
Confirmation Certificates will be available for pick up within a few weeks of Confirmation. This is an important document to keep with your child's baptismal certificate. I will be in touch when they're ready! The office is open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.
RECEPTION
St. John's doesn't have any kind of gathering space and our Mass starts late in the evening, so there will not be a reception.
Are you Ready for Confirmation?
Welcome to the Confirmation Process at Blessed Sacrament! We are excited to have you join us! The Confirmation process begins for teenagers in 10th grade and is a one-year-long process.
There are three typical misconceptions about Confirmation:
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Misconception #1: You Become an Adult in the Church with the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Sacrament used to be celebrated at birth and now varies in age as to when someone is confirmed. It marks a sign of spiritual maturity, but not being an “adult” in the eyes of the Church.
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Misconception #2: The Sacrament of Confirmation is about “choosing to be Catholic” by “confirming” your faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation is about strengthening and completing the grace given at Baptism. While you must discern if you are ready for this sacrament, you are not “choosing” to become Catholic or making your faith your own. Your baptism made you a Catholic forever. The Lord gives us free will every day to “choose” if we are going to be Catholic or not.
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Misconception #3: You graduate from religious education once you are confirmed and can now choose what is right for you in your faith. Confirmation is a sacrament of initiation. Our faith is a lifelong journey. We can always experience deeper conversion, and Jesus is continually calling us to a deeper relationship with Him.
So then, what is Confirmation?
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It’s transformative: This is the last of the Sacraments of Initiation. This sacrament leaves an indelible mark, which means it’s unremovable. You are marking your soul for eternity. You are activating the grace you received at your baptism and becoming the person Christ created you to be.
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It’s missionary training: By being Confirmed, you are taking the mission of the Catholic Church on as your own: “to go and make disciples of all nations” – Matthew 28:20
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It can be life-changing: This process has the power to change your life. Many teens have begun the Confirmation process unsure if they wanted to be Confirmed or even wanted to remain Catholic after being Confirmed. Many have ended up falling deeper in love with the Lord despite their initial reservations.
Please know the whole CORE team is here to help you! We are here to serve you and your family!