Confirmation 2027

We are so excited to walk with your family during this special time.
Confirmation is a beautiful step in your child's faith journey. It seals them with the Holy Gifts of the Holy Spirit. This year will be full of growth, learning, and community.

Below you will find details on everything you will need to know for the upcoming year.

If you have any questions after reading through everything carefully, please let me know.

I will be meeting with students at our first class on October 7th to go over everything with them. Parents are welcome to join this meeting as well.

God Bless,

Sonya Morris

sonya.morris@duluthcatholic.org

• You must be a Baptized practicing Catholic in good standing who attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
• You must provide a current Baptismal Certificate
• You must attend weekly Confirmation Classes
• You must complete Volunteer Requirements
• You must attend a Diocesan overnight Confirmation retreat
• You must choose a sponsor that meets the criteria given
• You must meet with your pastor to affirm your knowledge in the faith before you are Confirmed
• You must write a letter to the Bishop requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation
• You must attend Confirmation Rehearsal
• You must register for Confirmation through East Duluth Faith Formation
• You must sign and return the Confirmation Expectations Contract (both parents and students)

Both students and parents must sign this form confirming they have have read and acknowledge the requirements and dates associated with Confirmation. The form can be printed using the pdf or can be found at all our parishes. All forms must be turned in by October 21st . Forms can be turned in at Wednesday night class or scanned and emailed to me.

sonya.morris@duluthcatholic.org

If you have not registered your student for Confirmation please do so here.

September - 30th, 6PM Opening Mass & Dinner @ Cathedral

October - 7th, 14th (No Class), 21st, 28th

November - 4h, 11th, 18th, 25th(No Class)

December - 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th (No Class)

January - 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

February - 3rd, 10th(Ash Wednesday Mass), 17th(No Class), 24th

March - 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th(No Class), 31st

April - 7th (No Class), 14th, 21st, 28th (Closing Mass 6PM & Dinner)

5:45 PM - 6:30 PM

Class for grades K-5

meet in SMA Gym

5:45 PM - 6:30 PM

Adult Formation Session 1

in Cathedral Multipurpose Room

6:30 PM- 7:00 PM

Dinner for All Faith Formation Families

SMA Gym

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Class for Middle School & High School Students

Drop off at SMA Gym - Pick up at Cathedral

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Adult Formation Session 2

Cathedral Multipurpose Room

8:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Adoration & Confession in Cathedral

All adults, parents and families are invited to join us for Adoration, Confession & Benediction

Confirmation students are required to be at Wednesday night classes. If a student needs to miss a class they must contact Mrs. Morris prior to class that night.

Attendance is required because the sacrament signifies a personal, adult commitment to the faith, rather than an automatic milestone. We want to ensure candidates understand the foundations of our faith and the sacrament of Confirmation, build community with peers, and actively participate in the worship life of the parish.

SMA students or Homeschool students - At our discretion a student who attends SMA or is homeschooled will be required to attend only the first Wednesday of every month. We strongly encourage everyone to attend weekly classes but understand that in these school settings they are getting catechesis everyday. Approval must be given by Mrs. Morris for a student to only attend the first Wednesday of the month.

Confirmation students are required to volunteer for a total of 6 hours this faith formation year. These hours need to be completed at parish events and can be done at any of the 6 parishes in our mission field. There are numerous events held throughout the year at our parishes. Craft sale, Bingo, fish frys, pancake breakfasts, giving tree, parish festivals etc. Volunteer at the event and have the person in charge sign the form below verifying you were there and volunteered. Forms can be turned into Mrs. Morris

We require volunteer hours to foster active participation in the faith and to put the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy into practice. It helps our students transition from passive observers to engaged community members and integrates them directly into the life of our parishes.

This link will be updated as volunteer opportunities become available.

For Confirmation we require newly issued Baptismal certificates to provide official proof of valid Baptism and to ensure the church has an accurate, up-to-date record of the student's canonical status. A newly issued Baptismal certificate will show any notations such as First Communion.

Please have the church of your students Baptism send us a newly issued Baptismal certificate. Certificates can be mailed to the Cathedral, 2801 E 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812

If your student was Baptized at one of our Catholic Parishes of East Duluth Mission Field Parishes we will get that for you.

All students are required to attend an overnight Confirmation retreat put on by the Diocese of Duluth. This is required because it removes students from everyday distractions, allowing them to step back from busy school routines and focus on their faith. It provides dedicated time for personal reflection, peer bonding, and spiritual growth, transforming Confirmation from something that is just the next step into an intentional, personal milestone.

Students are expected to stay the whole time at the retreat. They may not arrive late or leave early.

Two retreat weekends are offered October 16-18 & March 19 - 21.

Please visit the Diocesan website here for more information and to register.

All students will need to fill out the form found here for who they have chosen as their sponsor. A sponsor acts as a spiritual mentor and role model. They journey with the student through preparation, stand with them at the ceremony, and support their faith journey afterward.

Information on who can and cannot be a sponsor can also be found on that form as well.

Sponsors must be chosen and the required form turned in to Sonya Morris by January 14, 2027.

The attached form below gives you guidelines on responsibilites of a sponsor, requirements of a sponsor and who cannot be a sponsor.

In April students will sign up for a 20 minute slot to meet with one of our priests to affirm their knowledge in our faith and to demonstrate their commitment to receiving the sacrament and to living out our faith. More details on this will be communicated closer to April.

In the Catholic Church, confirmation students write a letter to the Bishop to formally request the sacrament and demonstrate their personal readiness. It serves as a formal introduction, a way to share their faith journey, and proof that they are making the commitment of their own free will.

We will go over details for this in April. Letters must be turned in by April 28, 2027

Confirmation rehearsal attendance is required for both students and sponsors.

If you are not at rehearsal, you will not be Confirmed.

Rehearsal will be on Sunday, May 16th, at 11:30 AM at the Cathedral.

Students and sponsors will meet in the church.

After rehearsal we will have some light snacks and drinks in the social hall for the students.

At 1:00 PM students will meet with Bishop Felton in the social hall.

1:45 PM Sponsors will meet students in the social hall.

Sunday, May 16th, 2 PM @ Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary

Pews will be reserved for our Confirmation students and sponsors. All other pews will be available for families.