Are you the parent of a youth (17 or younger) that wants more information about preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Congratulations! In the Sacrament of Confirmation, your son or daughter as a baptized person is sealed with the Holy Spirit and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. To journey with adolescents as they prepare for the great gift of the Sacrament of Confirmation, parishes offer formation programs that empower your son or daughter to be whole-heartedly prepared for the celebration of the Sacrament and to live a life of faith as they transition to adulthood.
Please contact your neighborhood parish to learn more about the preparation and process to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation for your son or daughter. Click here to find a parish near you.
Are you a parish minister accompanying youth as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation?
Thank you for your dedicated ministry to young people! What a great honor and blessing it is to walk with young people in their faith journey! As you work to accompany youth in the sacramental preparation process, please keep in mind the different contexts of the young people looking to be confirmed. Many of the Confirmation candidates have been active in catechetical programs throughout their childhood and adolescence. But for many families that have been away from parish life, the Sacrament of Confirmation offers an opportune moment to reconnect with the Catholic Church. We warmly welcome everyone!
Because of the beauty and importance of the Sacrament, a thorough process of evangelization and catechesis for the young Confirmation candidate is suitable. This process works best when the aim is to develop a personal encounter with Christ through the Kerygma proclamation, followed by a period of sacramental formation tailored especially for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is recommended that the Confirmation formation process involves the parents intentionally, as they are the family’s primary faith educators and the designated sponsor of faith companion. A retreat experience for the young candidate and/or parents and formation on the call to missionary discipleship that may include the opportunity for community service are also suitable elements of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. To model the period of Mystagogy in OCIA, systematic and age-appropriate faith formation should be offered after sacramental preparation and reception of Confirmation.
Serving Youth is a priority for the Archdiocese of San Antonio! Let us know how we can help you as you walk with youth in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Some Suggested Confirmation Preparation Resources
Purpose Subscription
Cost: $299 | Publisher: Life Teen
Purpose is a transformative approach to confirmation. Multiple components combine impactful curriculum with a powerful digital tool to enhance communication and ease administrative tasks. Coupled with engaging supplementary material for teens and parents, Purpose is more than just a resource. More Information
Chosen: Your Journey to Confirmation, Starter Pack
(Includes Online Leader’s Access)
Cost: $249.95 | Publisher: Ascension Press
Chosen: Your Journey to Confirmation has been used by thousands of parishes to present the Catholic Faith to teens in a way that keeps their attention as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Chosen was not only created for teens but also carefully crafted with you, the teacher and facilitator, in mind. We know that you live a busy life. The authors of Chosen, who are teachers themselves, have mapped out comprehensive and flexible lessons so that you can spend more time engaging with your students and less time on planning and logistics. Chosen will equip you and your team with all the tools and resources you need to help form young hearts into disciples of Christ, impacting families, parishes, and the Church … one young heart at a time. More Information
Elegido: Tu Camino Hacia La Confirmación (Paquete De Inicio)
Costo: $199.00 | Editor: Ascension Press
El paquete de inicio ofrece los cinco recursos que necesita un líder para transmitir la experiencia de Elegido! contiene un juego de DVD, una guía del líder, un cuaderno de tareas del alumno, una guía del padrino de Confirmación y una guía de los padres. Más información
The Catechist’s Field Guide to Confirmation
Cost: $13.95 | Publisher: Ascension Press
The Catechist’s Field Guide to Confirmation takes the fear and stress out of being a Confirmation catechist. The prospect of volunteering as a Confirmation catechist can be intimidating and even a little confusing. But The Catechist’s Field Guide offers a clear vision of your mission as a catechist and how to achieve it. You’ll come away understanding the who’s, what’s, and why’s of Confirmation prep, confident in your ability to witness the Faith to your candidates and help raise them up into lifelong discipleship. More Information
Decision Point: Program Pack (Free)
Cost: Free | Publisher: Dynamic Catholic
Decision Point is the first Confirmation program specifically developed to engage young Catholics in a meaningful conversation about the genius of Catholicism.
It teaches and inspires teens to respond to God’s grace, and it’s changing hundreds of thousands of young lives. Today, Decision Point is the most used Confirmation program in America. It includes free videos, a Confirmation Workbook, and a Leader’s Guide.
Decision Point: The Complete Series
Cost: $15.95 | Publisher: Dynamic Catholic
Decision Point, the Dynamic Catholic Confirmation program includes: the complete DVD series containing all 72 short films, the student workbook, and the leader guide. More Information
Called To Be Catholic: Director Guide
Cost: $19.99 | Publisher: Loyola Press
Called to Be Catholic gives young people a solid faith foundation on which to build while they progress toward sacramental preparation. Covers the basics of Catholic faith, including Scripture, Jesus, the Trinity, the Church, sacraments, the moral life, social justice, and prayer Inspires young people to deepen their relationship with God through engaging and relevant content Nurtures a lifelong faith through a variety of reflective and active experiences. The Director Guide provides DREs with all the tools needed to ensure a successful program. Various ideas for customizing meetings and retreats are included as well. More Information
Called To Be Catholic: Young People’s Book
Cost: $16.99 | Publisher: Loyola Press
Called to Be Catholic gives a comprehensive introduction to the essentials and key teachings of the four pillars of the Catholic faith. It can be used as the first part of a two-part Confirmation preparation program or a stand-alone resource to fill in faith formation gaps. More Information
Confirmed in the Spirit: Director Guide
Cost: $19.99 | Publisher: Loyola Press
The Director Guide provides Confirmation coordinators and directors of religious education with all the tools necessary to plan and execute a well-run, rewarding, and successful Confirmation preparation program. Spanish version available online. More Information
Confirmed in the Spirit: Young People’s Book and Journal
Cost: $17.99 | Publisher: Loyola Press
Gifted With The Spirit (High School)
Cost: Teaching Guide: $26.95; Candidate Book: $12.45/10+; Journal: $7.96 Publisher: PfLAUM
Older teens will explore prayer, sacraments and service as the framework for a Catholic lifestyle and for strengthening their relationship with Jesus.
Revised edition has new design, content, photos and illustrations. Updated Catechist Edition includes e-blast content for parents and candidates, resources to support requirements for two-year sacramental preparation programs and video links for each lesson. More Information
YOUCAT Confirmation Student Book
Cost: $9.71/25+ Books | Publisher: Ignatius Press
Written for candidates in junior high or high school, YOUCAT Confirmation provides in-depth preparation for receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Designed in the same popular format as YOUCAT, this book has interesting topics and themes to help the student be well prepared to receive the sacrament. It also includes many good questions throughout the book that young people ask about the faith, God, Jesus, the Church and more. Answers are cross-referenced with either the Bible or with YOUCAT. Among the topics covered are: Why the World Is Broken; Jesus: More than a Mere Man; In Search of the Holy Spirit; Prayer: Staying in Touch with God; The Church; Eucharist; Confession; the Rite of Confirmation; and more. The creative design includes many fun illustrations, color pictures, quotes from saints, popes and Scripture, and the favorite moving stick figures at the bottom of each page. More Information
YOUCAT Confirmation Teacher Manual
Cost: $21.21 | Publisher: Ignatius Press
A practical companion for teachers/leaders of the YOUCAT Confirmation course. The Teacher Handbook features fully planned lessons based on the 12 chapters of the YOUCAT Confirmation book. Each chapter includes a brief overview of the session’s theological points as well as a set of activities and the resources needed for the lesson. With detailed lesson plans and supplemental material. More Information
The Search Journal & The Search Videos (Digital Access)
Cost: $19.95 | Publisher: Augustine Institute
The Search is an innovative video series that tackles the key questions of every human heart. In seven beautifully filmed episodes, Chris Stefanick and experts from multiple fields of science, medicine, psychology, art, and religion examine our place in the larger story of existence.
Whether you’re a practiced inquirer or a jaded skeptic, The Search will speak to you. You may be reassured by some parts, and challenged by others. Either way, you’ll find a lot here to think about. And when all is said and done, life’s questions demand to be answered. More Information
THE SEARCH (PAPERBACK)
Cost: $16.95 | Publisher: Augustine Institute
This thought-provoking, approachable paperback book is based on The Search video series—a powerful new Catholic evangelization experience.
It is written to help those who are curious about the Faith but not ready to commit. The Search recasts the vision for what life’s all about to those who’ve walked away and those who are asking big questions. We need to answer them well so they see the Catholic Faith as it truly is. More Information
THE SEARCH (PARISH GUIDE)
Cost: $15.95 | Publisher: Augustine Institute
This Parish Guide is a multi-purpose guide specifically designed to enhance the experience of the individual as well as help a leader facilitate a group.
This guide helps a small group to get to know one another on a deeper level, recall key points from the videos, jot down thoughts, and discuss within the group. Its aim is evangelization. More Information
Signs of Grace: Your are Sent
Cost: Student Book: $14.95; Teacher Guide: $44.95; Activity Book: $7.95; DVD Set: $24.95
Publisher: Augustine Institute
Signs of Grace: You Are Sent prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation by helping them discover more deeply the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that they will receive in order to be sent on mission to be witnesses of Jesus. Parent sessions presented by world-acclaimed theologian and teacher Dr. Brant Pitre will help the entire family learn about the powerful and life-changing Sacrament of Confirmation. More Information
Send Out Your Spirit
Cost: Candidate’s Handbook for Faith: $10.36; Leader’s Manual: $18.36; Sponsor Guide: $3.16
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
This program is a unique format that puts all the content in the Candidate Book, which both provides a comprehensive introduction to key teachings of Catholicism and prepares the candidates for the sacrament. The program is structured so teens first understand the initial requirements for being Catholic and learn or review the foundational elements of the faith. They then learn about Confirmation as a sacrament and are taught the specifics of the rite. More Information
