Confirmation is the final sacrament of Christian initiation in the Catholic Church.  The reception of this sacrament is “necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.” Due to the importance of this sacrament, candidates must be “prepared through proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, in accordance with the norms laid down by the competent authority,” in our case the Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh.
 
Confirmation preparation in the Diocese of Raleigh is a two-year program. In the Diocese, the first year (7^th Grade) is typically known as the ‘remote year,’ and the second year of formation (8^th Grade) is known as the ‘proximate’ year.  At Sacred Heart, we label these two years of formation as “Confirmation 1” and “Confirmation 2”. 
 
Requirements:

• Turn in Baptismal Certificate (with annotations) to Religious Education (RE) office.
• Turn in completed Sponsor Form to RE office.
  Attend 80% of classes.
• Perform twenty (20) hours of service each year of the formation period. Half of the hours performed at home, half performed at church/or in community.
• Attend Mass regularly.
• Attend retreats offered.
• Attend (students and parents) designated Parent/Confirmandi meetings.
• Write a brief (1-2 page) report on the life and witness of the Saint they choose as their Patron Saint for Confirmation.
• Successfully complete the Confirmation competency examination.