About
Confirmation of Teens is offered for those young adults, grades 8 through high school, wishing to complete their Initiation into the Catholic Church. The two-year preparation process usually begins in grade 7, and is completed at the end of the eighth grade year. The sacrament is traditionally celebrated during the Easter Season. These parishioners (from Sts. Joseph and John School, St. Joseph PSR, and other area parochial schools) take part in a 2-year, parish-based preparation process for the reception of this sacrament. Contact the Faith Formation Office for more information.
Welcome to our 2026 Confirmandi
Confirmation 2026
The Sacramental Intent Form helps us create our contact list for the Confirmation group. The Sacramental Intent Form for Confirmation 2026 has been emailed to our PSR and SJJ school families. If your child is being schooled elsewhere (IWA, homeschooling) you may access the form here.
If you have any questions about Confirmation, contact Linda Zvoncheck at lzvoncheck@sjohio.org.
Please check your email, including your spam folder, regularly. Email will be our primary means of communicating with our Confirmation group.
Upcoming Dates for Confirmation 2026
Here are all the dates for Confirmation preparation.
The Sacramental Meeting for Confirmation candidates, their parents and their sponsors (if they are available) will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:30pm in the HFC.
The Confirmation Mass will be on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00pm with Bishop Edward Malesic presiding.
The Red Confirmation Folder 2026
The Red Confirmation Folder will be given out at the Sacramental Meeting on September 16th. The contents will be reviewed with the candidates. Here are the basics for the parents:
1. The folder contains the important dates for Confirmation preparation. You may access these dates here.
2. The folder contains a page to get the Confirmandi to start thinking about their Confirmation Sponsor. The requirements for being a Confirmation Sponsor are here.
3. The folder contains a page called the Bishop Barron Assignment. It talks about choosing a Confirmation Name. There is also an assignment to watch a video and write a reflection. You may access this page with the assignment and the video link here. You may access just the Bishop Barron video link here.
4. The folder contains a page asking for the final decision on Confirmation Name and Sponsor. You may access this page here.
5. The folder contains a page explaining the Confirmation Service requirement. This page also explains what the Service Reflection (written assignment) should contain and when these assignments are due. You may access this page here. NOW is a great time to start serving others!!
6. The folder contains a page called Sponsor and Candidate Conversation Questions. These are questions to facilitate a conversation between the Confirmation candidate and their Sponsor. When the Confirmation candidate asks their sponsor to answer these questions, we hope they will be having a thoughtful conversation with one another. You may access this page here.
7. The folder contains a page called Confirmation Sponsor Responsibilities. This will help sponsors understand how we hope they will participate in the Confirmation preparation process. You may access this page here.
Letters of Hope
A Letter of Hope is an encouraging, heartfelt letter written by a parent or sponsor to the Confirmation Candidate. In the Letter of Hope, parents or sponsors can share prayers for the candidate, express support for their faith journey and tell of their pride in them and their accomplishments as they proceed toward Confirmation. Parents and sponsors may also share parts of their own faith journey with the candidate or discuss what their own relationship with Jesus and the Catholic Church has meant to them over their lifetime. The best letters are personal and from the heart. Letters of Hope can be challenging for parents and sponsors to write, but they are often very meaningful for the Confirmation Candidates to read. We hope that our parents and sponsors will take the time to share their personal faith experiences with their Confirmation Candidate, write the Letter of Hope, and give it to the Candidate just before Confirmation.
Confirmation Sponsors
A Confirmation Sponsor is someone who:
- is over the age of 16
- has been fully initiated in the Catholic Church (has been baptized in the Catholic Church, received First Communion and has been Confirmed themselves)
- is a practicing Catholic who participates in the sacraments regularly (attends Mass, receive Reconciliation and receives Eucharist)
- if married, is in a valid marriage (was married by a Catholic priest or deacon; marriage is recongnized as valid by the Catholic Church)
- strives to live out their commitment to Christ and to the community life of the Church every day
The candidate’s parent cannot be their sponsor.
Sponsors must get a Sponsor Certificate from the parish at which they are currently registered and practicing their faith. If the sponsor is currently registered at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the certificate mandate is waived.
Appropriate Dress for Confirmation Mass
Confirmation is a significant event in every Catholic’s faith journey. We expect the attire worn by both the Confirmation Candidates and their Sponsors to be respectful and to reflect the importance of this occasion. Boys and men are asked to wear dress pants or uniform pants, dress (non-athletic) shoes, a shirt with a collar and a tie. Girls and women are asked to wear skirts or dresses no shorter than just above the knee, or dress pants. Make certain all aspects of your outfit are church-appropriate. Contact the Faith Formation Office if you have questions.
Confirmation Service Component
Service to God and one another are essential to being Catholic Christians. Information on Catholic Social Teaching is available here. Students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Joseph Church are asked to participate in at least 4 different service experiences, in the following categories: 2 experiences here at St. Joseph Catholic Church; 1 experience at your home or for a family member; and 1 experience in the wider community. After completing your service, we ask you to reflect thoughtfully on those experiences, to put those reflections into writing and to turn them in to the Faith Formation Office. To help you put your experience into words, use this sheet to prepare your written Service Reflection. Just to be clear: we do not track service hours; we expect 4 different experiences, regardless of length. Type your reflection and turn in the paper to Linda Zvoncheck in the Faith Formation Office as soon as you have completed your service experience. You may turn in your service reflections at any time. Do not delay – write your reflection and turn it in as soon as you are able. If you have questions about the service component of your preparation, contact Linda Zvoncheck in the Faith Formation Office. NOW is a great time to get started with service!!
Service Opportunities
St. Joseph Parish Service Day
Our annual parish day of service will be on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Check upcoming bulletins and this site for information on where we will be serving, what we will be doing and how parishioners of all ages can join in to help.
Help with CLOW
Each Sunday during the school year at the 10:30 AM Mass, young children have the opportunity to participate in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW). Adult leaders take children to the Cave to let them hear the Word proclaimed in a child-appropriate manner. We need teen helpers to assist with these young children. Follow this link for dates and to sign up to help.
If you are interested in getting to know other Catholic teens, check out the By Teens, For Teens Youth Ministry page.
Contact Us
- Linda Zvoncheck, 440-238-5555, ext. 107 or lzvoncheck@sjohio.org
