Dear Holy Cross Parish parents:
 
We are contacting you regarding our Confirmation program. Beginning in the fall of 2022, we will begin the confirmation formation process for students in the 8th & 9th grades. This is a change from our current Confirmation formation process.

After much consideration, Bishop Nickless and I have agreed to move the desired age of Confirmation to an earlier age at Holy Cross. This means that beginning in 2022 we will prepare two classes (8th & 9th grades) for the Sacrament of Confirmation. They will receive the sacrament as 9th & 10th graders on November 5, 2023 (10th graders) or November 19, 2023 (9th graders).

Why are we making this change?
There are many reasons for making this change. The first and foremost is that receiving the grace of the Sacrament at a younger age will equip our youth with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they need to advance through adolescence into adulthood. A younger age also gives our candidates the time to focus on the Sacrament before they are fully engaged in the demands and activities of High School. With your support, I am confident that this change will allow a deeper formation in faith and a stronger relationship with God for your child.

Please be patient with us as we move forward. I encourage you to reach out with questions that you may have. We will do our best to answer them.

The Sacrament of Confirmation
If your 8th or 9th grader wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the fall of 2023, the preparation process begins now. An important informational meeting will be held at St. Michael Church on Sunday, October 16th, 2022.  Check-in will start at 12:00 PM in the St. Michael Parish Center and the meeting will begin promptly at 12:30 PM in the Church. All candidates must check in before the start of the meeting.

At the informational meeting, we will distribute Confirmation preparation materials and we will discuss the calendar, deadlines, and expectations. We ask that the Confirmation candidate attend, accompanied by at least one parent/guardian.  It would be ideal if both parents would attend. We also encourage candidates to invite their Confirmation sponsors to the meeting. 

Sponsors help the students through the preparation process and are willing to spend some time talking with candidates about our faith in preparation for Confirmation. They will stand by the student’s side at the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sponsors appear on the church’s official records and must be confirmed and practicing Catholics but cannot be parents of the candidate.  The Diocese’s Confirmation guidelines suggest that, when possible, a child’s baptismal sponsor or “godparent” would ideally also act as his or her sponsor at Confirmation.

Please find attached a registration form which should be filled out and brought to the registration before the meeting.  It provides us with vitally important information, especially your up-to-date contact information.  In addition, we would be very appreciative if you could bring $20 (check/cash/credit/debit) for the administrative fee.

If you are not registered members of Holy Cross Parish you will need to obtain permission from your Pastor at your parish or if you do not intend to participate in Confirmation next year, please let us know so our list is accurate.  As always, if you have any questions, please call the Holy Cross Office at 712-277-2949 ext. 100.

God bless you, and we look forward to seeing you all at our meeting at St. Michael Church on October 16th!

God Bless you and your family,

Fr. David Hemann
Pastor