Youth Confirmation

Welcome! We are excited your family will be joining us for the program!

Youth Confirmation Registration is OPEN!

Welcome to an important and exciting journey of faith! As you begin this journey of preparation for Confirmation, you are taking a significant step in deepening your relationship with God and strengthening your understanding of the Catholic faith. This program is designed to support you in your spiritual growth, to enrich your knowledge of the Church’s teachings, and to prepare you to fully embrace your role as an active member of our faith community.

Youth Confirmation is open to High School Freshman-Seniors starting the 2025-2026 school year. You must also:

• Be Baptized in the Catholic Church and have received your First Holy Communion.
• Attend weekly Sunday Mass.
• Participate in the active life of the church.

Program Objectives:

Deepen Your Faith: To provide a supportive environment where you can explore and deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith, Scripture, and the Sacraments, especially the significance of Confirmation. 

Community Building: To connect you with peers and mentors within the church community, fostering relationships that nurture your spiritual journey and help you grow in faith together.

Spiritual Preparation: To prepare you spiritually and intellectually for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation through prayer, worship, and catechesis.

Service and Witness: To encourage you to live out your faith actively through service projects and community involvement, demonstrating the values and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Commitment to Lifelong Faith Formation: To inspire a lifelong commitment to learning and living out the Catholic faith, empowering you to be a confident witness to Christ in our world. 

We look forward to walking this path of faith with you!

Important Dates

• August 31, 2025 - New Student & Parent Orientation at 7 pm in the Parish Hall
• August 31, 2025: Deadline to register and pay the deposit of $175. CLICK HERE TO PAY and select "Youth Confirmation" in the drop-down menu.
• Complete the Youth Activity Permission Form (online) by August 31, 2025.
• September 30, 2025: All certificates are due. CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD CERTIFICATES.
• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• First Communion Certificate
• October 12, 2025: Year 1 Rite of Welcome. This event is a ceremony at the 5:00 pm Mass and an activity after the Mass.
• November 9, 2025: Deadline to pay remaining balance. The total fee for the year is $325. CLICK HERE TO PAY and select "Youth Confirmation" in the drop-down menu.
• Sunday, November 9, 2025, 7:00 pm: Mandatory Retreat Info Meeting. All parents and students must attend.
• November 14, 15 ,16, 2025: Weekend Retreat at St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, CA.

Confirmation Sessions

Year one students have the option to meet Sundays at 3:30 pm or Tuesdays at 6pm or 7:30 pm. There is limited space available in each group so register early to get your first choice!

There will also be a few large group sessions on Tuesday nights at 7 pm. Sponsors are required to attend these sessions The dates of these sessions are:

• January 20, 2026
• February 17, 2026
• May 19, 2026

Here are the dates for the three Confirmation session options.

*These dates are subject to change between now and August 31st of 2025. A new schedule of dates will be distributed in April of 2026 for year 2.

Attendance & Late Policy

All sessions, small and large group, are required. Students can miss no more than 3 sessions each year they are in the program. Do not be late to any session. Arriving more than 10 minutes late to a session will result in a absence for that session.

Community Service

Students in the Confirmation program are expected to take part in meaningful community service each month, putting their faith into action through acts of love and service. There is a form they will need to fill out online each month by the last day of the month explaining what service they did and what they learned and felt by participating. The minimum time spent each month is one hour. We will provide monthly opportunities for them to sign up for.

Liturgical Ministry

All confirmation students must sign up for and participate in a ministry through the duration of the time they are in the program. The options are.

• Lector at the 5 pm Mass on Sundays (Read the readings at Mass)
• Usher at the 5 pm Mass on Sundays (Help greet, with the collection, the communion line, and hand out bulletins)
• Music Ministry at the 5 pm Mass on Sundays (Sing or play an instrument)
• Altar Serve at any weekend Mass (Assist the priest & deacon on the altar)
• Operate music slides at any weekend Mass (Microsoft PowerPoint)

Please select a ministry in the registration form. Information about that ministry will be shared with you at a later date. 

All students must be signed up by December during year 1. You will also be expected to attend that ministry’s quarterly meetings and keep track of your schedule using the Ministry Scheduler Pro App. An account will be made for you when you join the ministry.

Retreat Info Meeting

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 7:00 pm

This meeting is mandatory for all teens and parents. 

At this meeting, we will review the rules, expectations, and important details regarding the retreat. Missing this meeting will result in exclusion from the retreat. Reminder: Attendance at the retreat is mandatory for all candidates.

Retreat

November 14th, 15th, 16th, 2025

Retreats are integral to the Catholic Confirmation process as they offer a dedicated space for intensive spiritual reflection and community building. Away from daily distractions, the teens engage in prayer, meditation, and discussions, deepening their understanding of Confirmation's significance. The Confirmation students at St. Dorothy are required to attend a weekend retreat each year that they are in the program. Two retreats total before Confirmation.

Parent Meeting

Parents/guardians, the new year of sessions will start in September with small group meet-and-greet gatherings for parents/guardians ONLY! Your teen will not be permitted to begin the program unless you attend the meeting designated for your child’s group. 

Registration Fee

The fee for Confirmation Year 1 is $325.

Deposit: $175 due August 31, 2025.

We are accepting payment ONLINE ONLY. Please CLICK HERE  and select "Youth Confirmation" from the drop-down menu to make a payment.

Email a copy of the payment confirmation to [email protected].

Cell Phone Policy

All cell phones and other electronics will be stored in the designated phone caddy at the beginning of each class session. The phone caddy will be securely managed by our leaders to ensure the safety of participants' devices. There will also be no cell phones allowed on the retreats. This policy aims to minimize distractions and create a focused learning environment conducive to spiritual growth. The teens will be encouraged to fully engage in class activities and discussions without the distraction of cell phones.

Below are some of the benefits of this policy:

• Spiritual Focus: Teens can fully engage in the sessions without distractions from texts or social media, enhancing their connection with God.
• Building Community: Face-to-face interactions foster unity and authentic connections, creating lasting friendships.
• Mindfulness and Reflection: Without technology distractions, teens can focus on prayer, reflection, and the session’s topic, leading to a more profound experience.
• Respect for Sacred Space: Maintaining a cell phone-free environment contributes to a serene and respectful atmosphere during the sessions, allowing everyone to engage fully in spiritual activities.

Dress Code

Modesty: Clothing should be modest and respectful, avoiding excessively revealing or provocative attire.

Neatness: The teens should dress in a clean and tidy manner, reflecting respect for the program and its values.

Appropriate Attire: Clothing should be suitable for a religious setting, no items with offensive slogans or graphics.

Special Events and Masses: For special Masses and events, participants should dress nicer than usual, avoiding jeans, t-shirts, shorts, flip flops, or immodest clothing. There may be events where a specific dress code is expected.

Sponsors

Parents/guardians, please do not select a Confirmation Sponsor with your teen yet. We will spend dedicated time in our Confirmation sessions helping them choose a good sponsor. Their sponsor must be a fully initiated, actively practicing Catholic who can accompany them through this process, and through all of life's big moments and milestones. We will take time in prayer and reflection to help them make this decision. It is important that they make this decision themselves and that you do not make this decision for them.