FAQ

“And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8

In early 2003 Bishop Aymond promulgated a new policy on the formation and age of confirmation in the Diocese of Austin. Prior to this policy, the age of confirmation in the diocese ranged from second grade to 11th grade and the formation period ranged from six weeks to two years, depending on the individual parish. The new policy helps to strengthen parish programs by offering a consistency in the age and formation requirements in neighboring parishes and throughout the diocese.

1. When will I be confirmed?
   In light of diocesan policy on confirmation, St. John Neumann will offer confirmation formation in the student’s sophomore year of high school.

1. What is the religious education requirement for confirmation?
   Our hope is that students are continually involved and engaged in religious education, youth ministry and the life of their parish. However, pursuant to the diocesan policy for confirmation, students must have, at a minimum, the two years immediately prior to beginning confirmation formation in a formal parish religious education, comprehensive youth ministry or Catholic school program. At St. John Neumann, since our formation will begin in the 10th grade year, students will have to be active in the program from their eighth grade year until confirmation begins in their 10th grade year.Eighth and ninth grade students should participate in the parish’s ‘traditional’ or Family RE classes or be enrolled in a Catholic school with theology and/or religious education classes.
2. What if I attend a Catholic school?
   All students, regardless of school, will participate in the same parish confirmation formation in their 10th grade year.

1. Who can be a candidate’s sponsor?
   In the past at St. John Neumann, there has been controversy over the issue of candidate sponsors. Canon Law makes this very clear: the official teaching of the Church is that parents cannot be their own child’s sponsor. The Church prefers the sponsor to be the same as the teen’s baptismal godparent, but this is only encouraged and not required. The sponsor must meet these qualifications:a. Must be fully initiated into the Church, that is, must be baptized, receive Communion, and is confirmed
   b. Must not be a parent of the candidate for confirmation
   c. Must be a practicing Catholic in full Communion with the Church.

   This means that there is not impediment to the individual receiving the sacraments in the Church. The potential sponsor cannot be in a non-sacramental marriage, cannot endorse heresy or belong to anti-Catholic groups or societies. The purpose of the confirmation sponsor is to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5) to the candidate. They are to be living witnesses to the Catholic Christian faith. So it makes sense that a Protestant or Orthodox person cannot be a Catholic’s sponsor because they are not in full communion with the Catholic Church in terms of faith. So, too, does this apply in moral matters. If a potential sponsor rejects any of the Church’s moral teachings publicly, then they cannot be a sponsor.