Receiving the sacrament of confirmation strengthens young people's relationship with the Holy Spirit who is already working in them and who they received at their Baptism.
To be eligible to prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, a young person must be a Baptised Catholic who is in school year 10 or above and they must be registered on the parish database for more than a year, involved in parish life, including attending Mass weekly.
Attending Mass weekly should not just be an aspiration but a lived reality. If this is not yet the case for you and your family, please defer your expression of interest until such a time as you have started practising your faith on a weekly basis at Sunday Mass.
What do we offer in Guildford?
We no longer offer a standalone programme.
Recognising each young person as an individual with their own unique relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, we are embracing a more personalised approach to preparation. We firmly believe in being guided by God's timing and respecting each person's journey on their path of faith. We trust that this new approach will lead to a more authentic and spiritually enriching Confirmation experience for all involved.
In acknowledging the uniqueness of each young person's spiritual journey, we want to emphasise that not every participant may be confirmed after expressing an interest. This decision is rooted in our commitment to honouring the diverse paths and timings that God has set for each individual.
As we navigate the journey of faith, the pillars of prayer, formation, and mission stand as the foundations that continually shape and strengthen our spiritual lives.
Prayer holds a pivotal role in our connection with the divine. Regular attendance at Mass becomes a central practice, providing a sacred space where we can unite as a community to worship, reflect, and commune with God. Through this collective act of devotion, our individual prayer lives find sustenance and depth. We invite you to attend Mass weekly.
Formation is a continuous process, and our parish is blessed to offer a weekly program tailored for young people in school years 10-13 every Friday, 7-9 pm, at Focus. This unique opportunity allows our youth to delve into conversations that explore and form their faith. Through fellowship, dialogue, and shared experiences, they are equipped with the tools to navigate the complexities of their spiritual journey.
Mission is the outward expression of our faith, a call to proclaim His presence and serve where He is to be found. Embracing our missional life involves actively engaging with the world around us. One impactful avenue for this is through serving others. Quite a few young people already serve the parish through singing in a choir, altar serving, and helping with the younger youth groups. This is something that will be encouraged at this time. We invite you to consider how you can serve in the parish.
Meeting the Priest Some candidates who have expressed an interest in Confirmation preparation will be invited to meet with Fr Tristan. Mass attendance and motivation will be discussed at this meeting with the prospective candidate and their parent/guardian.
Baptism Certificate As part of the expression of interest process, we will need your child's date and place of Baptism and, if they were not baptised within the Catholic Parish of Guildford (at St Mary's, St Joseph's, St Pius X's or St Edward's), we will need see a copy of their baptism certificate. This is required by Canon Law and must be seen before your child begins the process of enquiry.
How can I express an interest?
Each autumn, the parish newsletter will announce the opportunity for parishioners to express their interest in Confirmation. Interested individuals can do so by sending an email to the Confirmation team, who will then provide them with a link to the expression of interest form.
Attending Mass weekly should not just be an aspiration but a lived reality. If this is not yet the case for you and your family, please defer your expression of interest until such a time as you have started practising your faith on a weekly basis at Sunday Mass.
Please note, expression of Interest for school year 2024-2025 will be opened in September 2024.