30th August 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I write to you at the beginning of this school year in relation to the Registration & Request of your child for the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2024. Your child must have been baptised as member of the Roman Catholic Church in order to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the final step of commitment in faith in our loving God as members of the Roman Catholic Community. This is a good time for your family to consider if this is the right decision for the young person who is presenting for the Sacrament of Confirmation. If they are not sure of their belief or if they feel that they are not ready for such a decision, they may postpone until any later stage in life. Does the young person concerned believe in God, wish to be committed to a promise of lived faith in God and wish to be an active member of the Catholic Church? Please make an honest decision which respects the integrity and values of your own family.

In order for Confirmation to occur it is necessary to make a formal application using the Registration & Request Google Form, while you remain free to withdraw from this decision up to the day of Confirmation.

All Registrations & Requests for the Sacrament of Confirmation are now made online by means of a Registration & Request Google Form directly to the parish. In some family situations, both parents / guardians may wish to ‘Submit’ a Registration / Request Google Form with your contact details.

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Please ‘Submit’ this Registration & Request Google Form immediately or at the very latest by 15th September 2023.

Your Child’s Baptismal Certificate from the Parish of Baptism will be needed, as evidence of Roman Catholic Baptism. If you do not have a copy of the Baptismal Certificate, please contact the parish of your child’s baptism for a Baptismal Certificate immediately. For children baptised in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Firhouse, we will once again check the baptismal details of all children baptised in Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Firhouse.

If you wish to email me the Baptismal Certificate, use the email address firhouseparishsaf@gmail.com to send a scanned copy or a photo of the Baptismal Certificate to me directly please. As the Google Form requires you to give me a contact email address, I will be able to contact you by email if I need to.

Regarding preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are delighted to be taking part in the new Seeds of Faith programme of preparation which is being piloted by the diocese. It is a programme which the young people will enjoy and will provide parents with supports through which to engage in supporting the young people. We will inform you of the cost of the course of preparation when registration is complete.

In order for safeguarding to be protected it will be necessary for two parents to be present in the building where the Seeds of Faith catechesis will occur. We are obliged to conform with this necessity. Please indicate, on the Registration & Request Google Form, if you can be available to be rostered for presence at some of the classes.

The Seeds of Faith classes will begin in the first week of October (date / date to be confirmed) and look forward to meeting you at the Preparation Meeting for all parents in a few weeks.

I encourage you, either in your own parish or another parish, to partake in Saturday Evening or Sunday Mass as your family with your child prepares to celebrate their Sacrament of Confirmation.

With every good wish.

Yours sincerely,

Peter J Reilly

Fr Peter Reilly PP