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CONFIRMATION MINISTRY

There’s a God who loves me.  He lives within me.
There’s a world that needs Him. So He sent me to them. 

This final Sacrament of Initiation helps us practice our Catholic faith daily and live out our baptismal call to witness Christ in every situation.  At St. Barnabas Church, youth are confirmed upon completion of the two-year Confirmation Ministry, in 10th grade or later.  The Sacrament of Confirmation is needed “for the completion of baptismal grace” (Catechism, 1285) and signifies the commitment of an individual to live out, in a permanent way, their Catholic faith.  Confirmation is a release of the Holy Spirit in our lives and gives us the grace to live the Christian life as well as become witnesses to Christ in the world.  Knowledge about the Catholic faith and the experience of living as a committed Catholic Christian is crucial.  Both ingredients – understanding and experience – are necessary before one is admitted to reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

For that reason, part of the preparation is monthly participation in our Sunday Life Nights (Year One) and Confirmation Small Christian Communities (Year Two).

Life Nights are large group gatherings, beginning with Sunday 5:30pm Mass. The group then meets for dinner in the St. Barnabas cafeteria, followed by games and a speaker. We generally break into small groups to discuss the proclaim and end the evening with prayer. Teens will be dismissed to the south parking lot at 8:30pm. Life Nights are open to EVERYONE in grades 9-12. Teens are welcome to bring friends who are not parishioners of St. Barnabas (they don’t even need to be Catholic - as long as they are in high school).

Confirmation Small Christian Communities (SCCs) are groups of 6-8 teens who meet monthly with two Confirmation Catechists in Year Two of the Confirmation Ministry.  In these smaller gatherings, faith sharing and discipleship is much more likely to take root than in a large group format. 

year one

(generally freshmen)

  • Completed eight years of PSR, EDGE, Family Catechesis, or Catholic Grade School*

  • Introductory Night (meeting for parents & teens beginning with 5:30PM Mass on September 17th)

  • Life Night Kick Off

  • One Life Night per month, Sept - May

  • One St. Barnabas Life Teen retreat (during Year One or Year Two)

  • Two service projects (see details below)

*If you have not completed eight years of PSR, EDGE, Family Catechesis, or Catholic Grade School, contact the StBLT Office to find out what additional catechesis may be necessary. We want to work with you to make this possible!

year two

(generally sophomores)

  • Introductory Night (meeting for parents & teens beginning with 5:30PM Mass on September 17th)

  • Confirmandi & Sponsor Afternoon (for teen & sponsor)

  • One Small Christian Community meeting per month, Sept - March

  • One St. Barnabas Life Teen retreat (during Year One or Year Two)

  • Two service projects (see details below)

  • Confirmation Interview

  • Confirmation Rehersal (for teen & sponsor)

Service Projects

Our call as Catholic Christians is to strive to become more like Christ.  One of the most important aspects of the life of Jesus was his compassion for others, especially the poor, the sick, and the outcast.  With this in mind, service is an important part of Confirmation preparation.  It is our hope that these service projects will not be one-time affairs, but rather will become a regular part of all of our lives.

StBLT will not organize service projects (other than your SCC service in Year Two). Part of the experience is for YOU to build the life-long skill of discovering how to find service opportunities. You are responsible to find your own ways to serve. We will, however, share some parish service opportunities when parish groups ask Life Teen for help.

Two different service projects are expected each year of the Confirmation Ministry. The project must last at least two hours (or be done multiple times, such as those who serve as ushers at 5:30pm Mass).  A written description of the service project, along with the supervisor’s signature and contact information is needed. The Service Project Description Forms are available on our website and in the Life Teen Lounge.

In Year One of the Confirmation Ministry, one service project must be done in service to the parish, and one must be done in service to the greater community.

In Year Two of the Confirmation Ministry, one service project must be completed with your sponsor and one with your Small Christian Community.



Registration CHANGES

The Confirmation Ministry is under the umbrella of St. Barnabas Life Teen.  Registration will be completed online. Registration opens mid-July and is due August 29th.

There are three different choices for registration:

  • Confirmation Ministry Year One - fee of $65** (generally freshmen)

  • Confirmation Ministry Year Two - fee of $65** (generally sophomores)

  • StBLT Youth Ministry - fee of $25** (those already confirmed, getting confirmed at their home parish, or not interested in being confirmed)

If you are unable to register online, please contact the StBLT Office for help: tondracek@barnabasohio.org.

**NO teen will be excluded from participating in St. Barnabas Life Teen because of an inability to pay.  If the fee is a financial burden to your family, please contact the StBLT Office and we will confidentially explain how to register and pay whatever your family can afford: tondracek@barnabasohio.org.