Welcome to the 2nd year of ONE EIGHT (Acts 1:8) Confirmation Preparation at Good Shepherd Parish. Our parish sacrament preparation program follows the norms for Confirmation Preparation as outlined by the Diocese of Sacramento. We have a wonderful group of Adult Mentors and High School Peers on the Core Team of Catechists who will be accompanying your family on this faith journey towards the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Please note: If you completed the first year of Confirmation Preparation at another parish, we will need a Letter of Completion for Year 1 Confirmation Preparation from that parish by August 15, 2025 in order for you to complete your sacrament preparation here at Good Shepherd Parish.
Year 2 requirements and expectations will be shared with you in detail at the Parent Information Meeting in August. A parent (or adult family member) needs to attend this meeting for their child (the Confirmation Candidate does NOT attend this meeting as we will be discussing their upcoming October overnight Confirmation Retreat).
Parent Information Meeting - there are 2 dates to choose from and you pick ONE date to attend:
August 20, 2025 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Parish Hall doors will open around 7:30 PM once the Year 1 Parents have left the Parish Hall)
August 21, 2025 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Parish Hall doors will open around 7:30 PM once the Year 1 Parents have left the Parish Hall)
Some things to help you before the meeting...
Candidates will be required to:
- Attend Mass regularly & receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year and at least once just prior to their Confirmation Mass.
- Attend the Year 2 overnight Confirmation Retreat in October (October 4 & 5, 2025 for Middle School students / October 11 & 12, 2025 for High School students).
- Attend 9 ONE EIGHT Confirmation Preparation Classes between August - May. Two of these classes are considered Teen/Parent Classes which a parent must attend with them. Additionally, complete the 9 ONE EIGHT assignments in Google Classroom that go with these lessons.
- Attend 2 Family Catechesis Nights with their families this year.
- Complete 9 GROVE Youth Ministry credits in Year 2.
- Complete the Year 2 Saint Icon Project (artwork from this project is used to enhance the Church environment at their Confirmation Mass).
- Complete 20 hours of Christian Service that reflect the Corporal Works of Mercy and Principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
- Attend the FIRED UP! Diocesan Confirmation Conference (Date TBD in February) and Sending Mass for this event.
- Complete both an Exit Essay and an Exit Interview with a Core Team Member in April 2026.
- Please note: We do not yet have the date of our Confirmaiton Mass(es). We will be submitting a request for our Confirmation Mass(es) to be in early June 2026, but there's no guarantee of the dates until we see the final schedule from the Bishop's Office which we expect to receive by November 2025.
- All dates & specific information for these requirements will be confirmed with you on the final calendar you will receive at the Parent Information Meeting.
Parents have their own requirements in addition to supporting your child with their requirements above:
- Attend the Parent Information Meeting on either August 20 or August 21 - you choose the date (8:00 - 9:00 PM in the Parish Hall).
- Complete 4 Service Hours for the parish - either at parish events or with parish ministries.
- Complete 3 Parent Workshops - we will provide a list of online & in-person workshop options for you to choose from. Only 1 online workshop my be chosen. The remaining 2 workshops have to be in-person.
Remember, Good Shepherd Parish is committed to a FAMILY Faith Formation model so parents are expected to be intimately involved in their child's formation journey - especially when preparing for the sacraments.