
Parish Families: If your child attends a Catholic School other than Holy Sepulcher or Saint Kilian, and he or she should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this coming Spring, we need to know you are out there! Please contact Mary French right away to confirm your child's eligibility and be placed on our contact list for sacrament information.
Confirmation is celebrated within the parish each year. Through this sacrament, the candidate is strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit, made a true witness of Christ in word and deed, and initiated fully into the life of the Church. Confirmation helps to nurture idealism, affirms the promise of the young men's and women's lives, and immerses them into the Christian vision of building a community of love and justice in the world. The candidates are the present, future, and the promise of our Church. It is our responsibility to be role models of the faith and lead them into a life of discipleship.
Confirmation preparation typically takes place during the Middle School years of Catholic school or Faith Formation classes. Also emphasized are regular Mass attendance and participation, elements of service, Catholic encounters, participation in youth group, and diocesan Safe Environment lessons.
Parent involvement is always welcome and strongly encouraged as parents are the first and primary catechist for their children! Engage your child in conversation about the various topics they learn or discuss during their religious education or formation classes, and continue to remain a strong role model of the Catholic Faith.
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 [email protected].
Adults interested in receiving this sacrament should email Deacon Ralph Bachner at [email protected] for more information.
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.
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 [email protected] for more information.
Additionally, there are many other ways that you can volunteer and perform service. Here are some examples of service:
Catholic 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.
The following are some examples of Catholic Encounters:
CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETING DATES
Parent Meeting dates for Fall 2025 are virtual.
Parents should choose 1 meeting option to attend for important information about Confirmation at our parish.
CONFIRMATION INFORMATION FORM
Due no later than January 15, 2026
SPONSOR VERIFICATION FORM (For sponsors outside of our parish)
Due (signed hard copy with parish seal) no later than February 15, 2026
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
TBD