Confirmation Preparation - Upcoming Changes!

  Upcoming Changes in the Journey towards Confirmation (2026-2031):   Bishop William Joensen recently shared a message with all the faithful regarding a significant and joyful shift in the sacramental life of the Church in central and southwest Iowa. Over the next 3-4 years, the age for the celebration of Confirmation is gradually moving from high school down to the 6th grade.   This change comes after a year of intense study, national review, and deep prayer by a diocesan task force, who recommended the move for three key reasons:

• Heart-Level Receptivity: Young people at this age are uniquely receptive to a personal, life-changing encounter with Jesus that seals their identity as disciples.
• Spiritual Armor for Adolescence: We want our young people to have the full gifts of the Holy Spirit before they begin to face the heavy cultural realities, scheduling pressures, and challenges that arise during adolescence.
• Equipped for Mission: Confirmation strengthens baptismal grace, anchoring a young person’s identity in Christ and equipping them to live as Jesus did and share his love.

Current Journey towards Confirmation (2026-2027): Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church offers a partnership with parents, catechists, sponsors and youth to offer a 2-year preparation process during a youth's 9th-10th grade years, with the celebration of Confirmation taking place in the Fall of their 11th grade year. To ensure a smooth transition to our new 6th-grade Confirmation model, we are adjusting the timeline for our current high schoolers. Our incoming 9th graders will now follow a 1-year preparation process beginning this Fall. This allows them to receive the Sacrament in the Fall of 2027 alongside our current 10th graders, who are completing their traditional 2nd year.

What will our 9th & 10th Graders be doing for preparation this upcoming year?

9th & 10th Grade -Curriculum: "YDisciple: Never Alone" - An invitation to know and be known by the Holy Spirit. This Fall, both incoming 9th graders and 10th graders will be engaged in 1 year of study, service and prayer and will deepen their understanding of the Holy Spirit through discussion & scripture study.

Youth Ministry Opportunities:

GLUE, Weekend Opportunities:  Growing in Prayer, Growing in Fellowship, Growing in Service!  Many opportunities are available throughout middle school and high school. McKenna Smith is our Coordinator of Youth Ministry!                      

EVERYTHING BELOW HERE APPLIES TO 2025-2026 (UPDATING SOON)

 Staying on Course in the Process:

 As you progress along your journey as a 9th grader or as a 10th grader there are steps along the way for the parent, student and sponsor.  Please provide OLIH with what is needed as indicated in the check-list below!

Check-list for Confirmation Candidates: 9th Grade Year & 10th Grade Year

9TH GRADE CHECK-LIST

✅ Youth & Parent Meeting –

✅ Service & Reflection – Complete three service projects between November 2025 and August 15, 2026. Submit your service reflections by CLICKING HERE.

✅ Parents Please submit Baptismal Information for your 9th grader by CLICKING HERE – Due by March 15, 2026 

10TH GRADE CHECK-LIST

✅ Youth & Parent Meeting – Monday, November 3, 2025, 7:00–8:30 PM at OLIH Room 15.
✅ Service & Reflection – Complete two service projects between November 2025 and August 15, 2026. Submit your 2 service reflections by CLICKING HERE.

✅ Attend the Confirmation Retreat – Thursday, January 22, 2026, 6:30–9:30 PM at OLIH. Sign up/registration deadline for this retreat is December 15th. CLICK HERE to Register!
✅ Choose Sponsor ASAP and have your Sponsor Submit Sponsor Information- CLICK HERE (Sponsors complete this) – Due by March 15, 2026 .
✅ Sponsors come for an Orientation – Monday, April 13, 2026, 7:00 PM at OLIH in the Banquet Room.
✅ Meet with Your Sponsor – 3-5 times between April and August 15, 2026.
✅ Parents Please Submit a Photo – Email Picture by May 15, 2026 to Connie Gorius, Administative Assistant (for the Confirmation banner & prayer).
✅ Finish All Sponsor Meetings – By August 15, 2026. After your last meeting together your sponsor needs to complete their online evaluation and recommendation by CLICKING HERE.

 Confirmation Mass for 10th Graders of 2025-2026 will take place in the Fall of 11th Grade: Saturday November 7th, 2026!

Helpful Resources for parents of youth Grades 9-10

• Prayer to Share Together as Family
• What All Parents should know about Confirmation
• Stages of Development - 9th Grade
• Stages of Development - 10th Grade
• Christian Service
• Choosing a Sponsor
• Your Confirmation Name
• A Walk Through The Rite of Confirmation

IDEAS FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE During 9-10 grade

Not sure what to do for Service? There will always be service opportunities in the weekly Lifelong Faith Formation Update email, however, below is a list of organizations in the Des Moines Metro Area. Gather some friends, your faith formation class or family members and contact the service agency to discover the opportunities they may have available.

List of Service Organizations

Hand-write cards/notes to people in nursing homes, shut ins, rehab centers, hospitals, prisons, or for people in your own neighborhood. Cards can be sent throughout the year for many occasions:

• Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Happy New Year, Epiphany, Thinking of You, Praying for you, etc.
• Consider volunteering to call the homebound to say hello or to learn a little bit more about their life story
• Organize a "cookie bake" and deliver the cookies to your neighbors
• Organize a service event to gather supplies for outreach to those in need.  For instance: Tie Blankets, Health Kits, School kits. Youth Ministry provides many service opportunities throughout the year including a Spring Break mission trip that stays in our local area.  Contact McKenna Smith our Coordintor of Youth Ministry for more information!
• Consider becoming a Cross Bearer, Lector, Hospitality member, Nursery Volunteer or member of the choir and instrumentalists for Mass. Contact Randy Henderson to learn more! 

Sponsors

Role of a Sponsor

As a confirmation sponsor, you will assist the candidate by answering their questions about the Church and helping them become more familiar with the parish community. Additionally, you will introduce the candidate to the parish, announcing their readiness to embrace Christian discipleship and participate in the Church's mission. 

Requirements for Sponsors

• Be a confirmed Catholic
• Be at least 16 years of age
• Be an Active, Participating (Practicing) member of the Catholic Church
• A candidate's parent can not serve as a sponsor
• Sponsors must read and be familiar with the the following documents:  Welcome Letter for Sponsors, Introduction to Confirmation, History and Development of the Sacrament of Confirmation, and fill out the Sponsor Information form.

Sponsor Orientation Materials

• Welcome Letter for Sponsors
• Introduction to Confirmation
• History & Development of the Sacrament of Confirmation
• Catholic Prayers and Practices
• Key Teachings of the Catholic Church

Sponsor Materials to be used when meeting with Candidate

• Important Dates for Sponsors of 10th Graders (2025-2026)
• A prayer for your candidate (for use during your prayer time)
• Tips for Sponsors when meeting with candidate
• Prayer to share with your candidate during 1st meeting
• Sponsor & Candidate Session outline (suggested outline for meeting with your Candidate using the Faith to Faith Resource & Prayer Guide for the Journey)
• Faith to Faith Resource - Part 1 (Conversation Resource to use with Candidate)
• Faith to Faith Resource - Part 2 (Conversation Resource to use with Candidate)
• A Prayer Guide for the Journey 
• Prayer to the Holy Spirit (prayer to use with your candidate at the end of each time you meet)

Helpful Supplemental Resources

• Glossary of terms
• A Walk Through the Rite of Confirmation

What Does the Sponsor Need to Turn in to the office

• Sponsor evaluation and recommendation form

What Does the Candidate need to turn into the office?

 Candidates should have completed the following by August 15th (Summer between 10th & 11th Grade):

• Service Reflections (2 for 9th grade and 2 for 10th grade)
• Attended a Retreat Experience
• Attended Mass Weekly with family or on their own
• Attended regular faith formation sessions
• Provided a picture to the office for the Confirmation Banner
• Provided the office with Baptismal Information
• Provided the office with Name to be printed on name tag for the Confirmation Mass & name to print in the worship aid
• Provided the office with name of sponsor