PLEASE CLICK BELOW FOR LINKS TO DOCUMENTS

Dates ChecklistClick Here

Sponsor Eligibility Form Click Here (this is an example from St. Bede Parish)  This document must come from

your child's sponsor's parish and must include all the same information along with a visible Parish seal.

Confirmation Saint Project Click Here

Letter to Bishop Cooke Click Here

Service Booklet Click Here

 CONFIRMATION 
GENERAL INFORMATION 
Class of 2025 – 2026  

The Most Reverend Christopher R. Cooke will be conferring the
Sacrament of Confirmation on March 14, 2026

Saint Bede the Venerable Parish 
Office of Religious Education 
1053 Holland Road 
Holland, PA 18966 
(215) 357-2130 
Website = www.stbedeore.org
 
 Shawn P. Tobin - Director of Religious Education, stobin@st-bede.org 
 Rose Nolan - Administrative Assistant, rnolan@st-bede.org
 
Mandatory Requirements: 
+ Attend Mass regularly 
+ Attend Religious Education classes faithfully and on time 
+ Submit Confirmation Seminar Registration to St. Bede’s Office of Religious Education by October 7, 2025 (online completion-instructions provided via parent email)
     + Attend the Confirmation Seminar with at least one parent 
 (Option I = (Saturday) October 18, 2025 (1:30-2:30 p.m.)
  OR   (Option II = (Wednesday) October 22, 2024 (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
+ Attend the Mass for the Presentation of Candidates - November 2, 2025 during the 
   11:00 a.m. Mass 
+ Submit Candidate Profile, Sacramental Fee and Robe Fee to St. Bede’s Office of Religious Education by November 10, 2025 (online completion-instructions provided via parent email)
+ Submit Sponsor Eligibility Form to St. Bede’s Office of Religious Education by 
    December 8, 2025 
+ Confirmation Saint Project = Due December 15, 2025 
+ Letter to the Bishop - Due January 12, 2026 
+ Pass the Confirmation Proficiency Test - Test will be conducted for CCD Candidates during the January 25 & 26, 2026 CCD sessions 
+ Perform a minimum of 20 hours of service - Service Project Booklet due February 2, 2026 
+ Attend Confirmation Retreat – February 14 (2:00PM-5:30 PM, ending with mass at 5:30PM) or 15, 2025 (Beginning with 12:30 p.m. Mass to 4:30 p.m.)

Sponsors:
A sponsor for Confirmation is a public role in the Church.  Before selecting a sponsor, the Confirmation candidate and their parents should reflect on whether the person you are considering meets the requirements.  Family members sometimes feel compelled to ask someone because of tradition or other obligations, unaware that the proposed sponsor no longer practices the Catholic Faith. 
Remember, the issue here for a person who is taking a public role in the Church is not simply whether the sponsor is a good-living person with high values.  That is presumed.  No, it is much more!  Does the sponsor you are considering practice the Catholic faith in accordance with these basic requirements: 
+ At least 16 years of age and fully initiated in the Catholic Church, having received Baptism, Confirmation,   and First Holy Communion
+ Attends Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation 
+ Sincerely strives to follow the moral teachings of the Catholic Church 
+ Was married in the Catholic Church (or with appropriate dispensation).  If single, is living a chaste life and not cohabitating with another person. 
In the event that the person you are considering to be the sponsor does not fulfill these requirements, you could possibly discuss this matter with them.  An invitation to be a sponsor can be a “graced moment,” inviting a family member or friend to turn again to Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church. 
Please note that a PARENT CANNOT BE A SPONSOR for their child.
The SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY FORMS are due to St. Bede’s Office of Religious Education BY DECEMBER 12, 2024. 

TENTATIVE Confirmation Liturgy Assignments (Subject to change): 
10:00 a.m. Mass = SKD students, CCD Summer Session, CCD Family Catechesis and CCD Traditional Homeschool  
2:00 p.m. Mass = CCD Sunday Session, CCD Monday Session, CCD Christian Initiation/Sacramental Prep Students
These assignments are tentative - based on our current numbers and subject to change. 
TENTATIVE Confirmation Practices (Subject to change): 
Note: The practice session needs to match the assigned Confirmation Mass time.
(Wednesday) March 11, 2025, beginning in the cafeteria and ending in the church (5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.) for the 10:00 a.m. Mass 
(Thursday) March 12, 2025, beginning in the cafeteria and ending in the church (5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.) for the 2:00 p.m. Mass 

Confirmation Liturgy Reminders:
All candidates need to keep their forehead clear for the anointing. 
ATTIRE: 
GIRLS:   please wear a dress (moderate length) under your robe.  No jeans, sneakers or flip-flops. Please wear sensible shoes. Please do not wear heavy make-up or extravagant hair styles.  Small earrings may be worn. 
BOYS:   please wear a white shirt and tie (red or black would be nice) along with dress pants.  Jeans and sneakers are not permitted.  Earrings are not permitted.  Hair should be neatly combed and hair should be off of the forehead.