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Bishop Wack has called our diocese to the Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation. Beginning in the fall of 2028, Confirmation and First Holy Communion will be celebrated together with younger children at the same Mass.
In preparation, each parish has been asked to develop a plan for Confirming children who have already received the Eucharist. Please see details below for both Children's Faith Formation (grades pre-k - 6th) and Youth Ministry (7th+).
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Children's Faith FormationWe're excited to share that current 5th and 6th graders at Good Shepherd may begin Confirmation formation in spring 2026! Formation will include parent meetings, youth and family catechesis, a retreat day, and more. For this group, Confirmation catechesis will be built into their CFF classes, with additional session times offered for youth attending Trinity or Catholic Homeschool.
Families seeking Confirmation are expected to be active in the faith—attending Sunday Mass, celebrating Reconciliation regularly, and participating in faith formation (parish CFF, Catholic school, or Catholic homeschool co-op).
Parent Meetings will be offered beginning the third week of January 2026. ALL families presenting their child/ren for Confirmation are expected to participate in person at one of the 5 sessions offered. Babysitting available with reservation. Click for details on dates/times and to RSVP. (Submit by January 15)
(Please note that there will be ongoing opportunities for various age groups to enter formation and celebrate Confirmation, and your family may choose a future opportunity if now is not the right time for you. Attending this Confirmation Parent Meeting is not necessarily a commitment to participate with this group.)
Youth Catechesis will consist of 4 sessions, each with an at home component, in March and April. Again, options will be available, and all youth are expected to participate in all four sessions.
All families are invited to participate in our ongoing First Friday Family Nights, as well as VBS in summer 2026. Family Nights in June, July, and August will focus on Saints, providing a great opportunity to learn more about Saints that might be considered for Confirmation names.
Family Retreat Days for youth, parent/s, and sponsors will be scheduled for fall 2026 (3 options, choose 1). Confirmation Practices for youth and sponsors (or parent stand-in) will be held within three weeks before Confirmation Masses. Extra opportunities for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered during the days prior to Confirmation.
Confirmation date/s for the current 5th and 6th graders will most likely be late fall 2026. We will know more once plans for the current 7th and 8th grade groups are in place.
After Confirmation, engagement will continue with Mystagogy, a period of "unpacking" the experience, intentionally looking for the effects of the graces received, and exploring the fullness of life as a confirmed Catholic.
We know you’ll have questions—many of which we are still working through, and most of which we should be able to answer at the parent meetings. Come back to this page for the latest updates. For questions about grades 6 and under, email Diana at [email protected].
For questions about grades 7 and up contact our Youth Ministry at [email protected] or [email protected].
Thank you for your patience as we all navigate this transition!
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CLICK HERE for information from Bishop William Wack regarding Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation in our Diocese. ATTENTION 7th and 8th Graders!
Are you interested in deepening your understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation and exploring why many dioceses are
embracing restored order?
You can access “Confirmation - The Sacrament of Evangelization” on Formed.org—absolutely free! (See below for instructions on how to create your own free account.)
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