Sacrament of Confirmation 

Jesus calls us into a lifetime of discipleship, and Youth Ministry can provides several opportunities for service. Candidates may also be given various service opportunities at their Catholic School or during their Faith Formation classes. When looking for service project ideas, a great guideline is performing Corporal Works of Mercy which include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, burying the dead, giving alms to the poor. But most importantly, modeling service is important and begins in the home. We encourage all of our candidates to find ways to help serve in both their faith and wider communities, with the help and companionship of family members and friends. 

A service element needs to be a part of the Confirmation preparation, as this sacrament is a call to discipleship! The idea is to "go out" into the community to help others and share God's love.

If you would like to hear about opportunities through Youth Ministry, please reach out to our Youth Ministry coordinator, Stephen Hartle, by emailing shartle@saintmark.org for more information.

Additionally, there are many other ways that you can volunteer and perform service. Here are some examples of service:

1. EDGE Service Events - Check the calendar for events, dates, and times

2. Atria's Senior Living Center - Help with Bingo and other events (under 16 must have a parent present)

3. St. Vincent de Paul, Butler—work in stockroom

4. The Lighthouse Foundation – stock supplies

5. Kilian Cupboard Fellowship dinners – Prep or serve, signup online

6. The Saint Mark Fish Fry – MANY opportunities to volunteer

7. The Saint Kilian Parish School Celtic Way 5K in the fall has 3 days where volunteers are needed

8. Family Fun Day for special needs families, put on by Cranberry Township

9. Special Olympics volunteer

10. Rosecrest Assisted Living – spend an hour on Thursdays with residents. Activities are provided

Catholic Faith Encounters are events or devotions that bring you into the life of the Church. As you approach your Confirmation, it is important to become an active member of your Catholic community and contribute in some way to the Body of Christ. The purpose of this element of Confirmation preparation is to bring you into contact with the various ways that we express our faith as Catholics through traditions, devotions, sacramentals, and community interaction. Opportunities for Catholic Encounters are numerous and are not limited to what happens here at the parish level.

All Confirmation Candidates are encouraged to experience many different Catholic Encounters in the YEARS and MONTHS to their Confirmation, as well as the YEARS and MONTHS after.

The following are some examples of Catholic Encounters:

1. Participating in the Living Stations Ministry

2. Praying the Stations of the Cross as a group

3. Visiting a National Shrine or a Basilica

4. Attending a Catholic program, workshop, or lecture with a qualified guest speaker

5. Visit travelling relics

6. Attend a Catholic retreat

7. Go on a pilgrimage

8. Participation in a healing Mass

9. Participation in a group Catholic bible study

10. Attend the March for Life with a group

11. Visit the relics at Troy Hill

12. Attend a Festival of Praise

13. Attend Adoration for a minimum of 30 minutes

14. Attend an Ordination ceremony

15. Attend a Chrism Mass

16. Take a Mission trip

17. Join and participate in a prayer group

18. Attend "The Silver Ring Thing"

19. Participate in a Taize service at our parish

CLICK to Access any of the FORMS or DOCUMENTS Below:

Confirmation Information Form

This form is required and assists in our collection of data that is needed in advance for each Confirmation Candidate.  This is an online (electronic) form and should be completed (parent and candidate together) by the deadline given to parents at the Fall Virtual Parent Meeting for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Confirmation Sponsor Requirements

The above linked document is a guideline concerning who can and who cannot stand as a sponsor for the Confirmation Candidate. Please consult this information before choosing a sponsor and ensure they meet the criterium given to avoid any last minute sponsor complications.

Confirmation Sponsor Form

If the selected sponsor is from a different parish, he or she should contact the pastor at their home parish to secure a sponsor letter or form.  Most parishes have their own template for these forms but the document MUST be signed by the pastor, the sponsor, AND have the raised parish seal.  For those who wish, clicking the link above will take you to the Saint Mark the Evangelist form, which can also be used at the sponsor's home parish.

Choosing a Confirmation Name

The choice of the confirmation name is an important one and should be made by the candidate after proper discernment and prayer.  This is an opportunity to select the name of someone who stands as a heavenly sponsor for the child at confirmation and in the years after.  It is most typical to select the name of a saint, but candidates may also opt to use their baptism name. Feel free to click and save the document linked above for more information about this decision.

Student Confirmation Name Report

The report template linked above can be used by students who are asked to write about their choice of confirmation name.

Confirmation Study Guide

The study guide linked above has a wealth of information about our Catholic Faith that all confirmation candidates should be familiar with.  Feel free to access the file and save it for reference or study purposes.

Confirmation Dress Code

The document linked above offers guidance for those participating in or attended a Celebration of Confirmation.  It is important to remember the purpose this sacrament, where it happens, and how it is dispensed.  All should dress accordingly.  In this day and age it seems that how we dress is blurred and sometimes confusing.  Please consult the guide for advice if needed, whether for your family or your guests.

Prayer, Worship, and Service

The above linked document offers more information and guidelines about the practice and expectation of prayer, worship, and service for our confirmation candidates.

CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETING DATES

Parent Meeting dates for Fall 2026 are virtual. 

Parents should choose 1 meeting option to attend for important information about Confirmation at our parish.

Virtual Parent Meeting Option #1: Sunday, November 8th, 2026 at 3:30 PM

Virtual Parent Meeting Option #2: Wednesday, November 11th, 2025 at 6:30 PM.

CONFIRMATION INFORMATION FORM

Due no later than January 15, 2027

SPONSOR VERIFICATION FORM (For sponsors outside of our parish)

Due (signed hard copy with parish seal) no later than February 15, 2027

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

Specific and detailed instructions or guidelines for families who are participating in this sacrament will be communicated close to Easter. 

At Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish, the Sacrament of Confirmation typically occurs in the Spring. Dates for Confirmation are usually announced by February and are set by the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Parents are emailed once we receive that information. The Rite of Confirmation does not include a Mass and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Sign-in and final preparation for the candidates and their sponsors will take place prior to the celebration.

All questions about confirmation for youth may be directed to Mary French, the Director of Faith Formation  by calling (724) 625-1665 x 2122 or by emailing mfrench@saintmark.org.

Adults interested in receiving this sacrament should email Deacon Ralph Bachner at rbachner@saintmark.org for more information.