Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics pass in the process of their religious upbringing. It is the Sacrament that completes initiation into the Catholic Church. According to Catholic doctrine, in this sacrament, baptized Catholics are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and are strengthened in their Christian life. This strength will help one to be a disciple in the world and to become a more active member of the Church.

For 20 years, St. Veronica Parish has been privileged to host a Special Education Faith Formation Program for children and youth.

Our program is open to any child of the Archdiocese, regardless of the parish with which the family is affiliated. We welcome you and your child!

Generally, the program meets twice monthly on Saturday mornings from 10:30-11:45. We will begin the 2020-21 year in September. Our classes meet in the St. Veronica School classroom building.

We prepare the children for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. Our enrollees are welcome to continue attending the program as long as they like!

Our catechists are educational specialists in the field of special education and parents of special needs children. They bring an unsurpassed dedication and love of teaching to the program.

Through the generous support of the Knights of Columbus, there is no tuition for this program.

Please fill out the registration forms and return them to us as your earliest convenience. You can mail them to the Faith Formation Office or drop them at the Pastoral Center offices. Our parish address is 434 Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080.

Watch the parish bulletin and website – stveronicassf.com – for information and the start date.

Children in the St. Veronica customarily celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and Communion for the first time around the age of 7 or 8 – which is normally when the child is in second grade. As a general rule, however, children should celebrate these sacraments when they are best prepared to do so, regardless of their age or grade level.

It is the policy of the Archdiocese of San Francisco that children celebrate Reconciliation before First Communion.

Expectations

To begin preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion,

• The child must be baptized.
• The child must be in 2nd grade or older.
• He/she must also be enrolled in a Catholic school or a religious education program.
• At least one parent must be a practicing Catholic who is registered in a local parish.

The most important criteria for a child’s preparation is the religious environment in the child’s home and the family’s participation in the spiritual and sacramental life of the Catholic faith community. Parents should be providing a nurturing environment for Catholic faith and values and should be actively participating in their child’s faith formation.

Click here to download a checklist of expectations about the family’s participation in the Catholic faith community.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a human person “has in his heart a law inscribed by God,” “calling him to love.” This is a person’s moral conscience. (#1776)

The moral conscience urges a person “to do good and avoid evil;” it also judges particular choices, approving those which are good and disapproving those which are evil. (#1777) Our conscience enables us to understand the principles of morality, decide how to apply those principles in specific circumstances, and judge the moral status of concrete acts. (#1780)

The human person “has the right to act in conscience and in freedom” and “must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.” (#1782, 1790)

The Catechism says a person’s moral conscience must be informed and enlightened so that it “formulates its judgments according to reason, [and] in conformity with the true good” willed by God. (#1783) Shaping a well-formed conscience is a lifelong task which is rooted in the Word of God, assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.(#1784-1785).

Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example by others, enslavement to one’s passions, a mistaken notion of autonomy, rejection of the Church’s authority or teaching, lack of conversion or charity may all be a source of errors in moral judgment. “One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.” (1792, 1793)

The Catechism says that individuals are “sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult.” In such situations, a person “must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law.”(#1787) In this effort, a person “strives to interpret the data of experience and the signs of the times” with the assistance of “the virtue of prudence, … the advice of competent people, and … the help of the Holy Spirit….”(#1788)

Old (Hebrew) Testament 

• Deuteronomy 6:3-9—Love the Lord your God with your whole heart.
• Sirach 28:1-7—Forgive your neighbor when he hurts you, and then your sins will be forgiven when you pray.
• Isaiah 55:1-11—Let the wicked man forsake his way and return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him because he is generous in forgiving.
• Jeremiah 7:21-26—Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people.
• Ezekiel 18:20-32—If a wicked man turns away from his sins, he shall live and not die.
• Hosea 14:2-10—Israel, return to the Lord your God.
• Joel 2:12-19—Return to me with your whole heart.
• Micah 6:1-4, 4-6—Do right and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
• Psalm 25—R. (16a): Turn to me, Lord, and have mercy.
• Psalm 51— R. (14a): Give back to me the joy of your salvation.
• Psalm 95—R. (8a): If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
• Psalm 130—R. (7bc): With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

New (Christian) Testament

• Matthew 3:1-12—Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
• Luke 19:1-10—The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.
• John 8:1-11—Go and sin no more.
• Romans 6:16-23—The wages of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-21—God reconciled the world to himself through Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1-14—You were once in darkness; now you are light in the Lord, so walk as children of light.
• 1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all injustice.

Facts About Reconciliation

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation is officially called the Sacrament of Penance.  In the past, it was commonly referred to as “Confession” because the main emphasis was on the confession of personal sins.  The changing names for this sacrament reflect a growing appreciation of the need for reconciliation which requires more than simply confessing our sins.
• There are various formats for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Some Catholics prefer a more personal occasion when they meet privately with the priest–this is called Individual Confession; others prefer a more public occasion when the parish community gathers to celebrate together–this is called Communal Penance. 
• In either case, the person’s confession of sin always takes place privately with the priest.  You may do this face-to-face or behind a screen in the Reconciliation Room.
• Catholics are required to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and confess their sins to a priest when they are guilty of mortally sinful behavior. However, most Catholics today celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation because they want to, not because they have to. (See “What Is Mortal Sin?” below.)
• Up to half of active Catholics celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis, in the majority of cases once or twice a year.  Some do so more frequently; about a fourth do rarely if ever.
• The most popular times for Catholics to celebrate Reconciliation are during the seasons of Advent and Lent, in preparation for Christmas and Easter.
• Many Catholics today prefer to celebrate Reconciliation with a priest they know and who knows them.  In fact, many Catholics find Reconciliation most helpful when it takes place in the context of continuing spiritual direction with a priest they know and trust.
• You may participate in a Communal Penance Service even if you are not obligated or do not intend to confess your sins privately to a priest.
• Most parishes schedule an opportunity for individual confessions about 45 minutes before weekend Masses; most parishes schedule communal celebrations during Advent and Lent.
• You may celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation anytime by making an appointment with a parish priest.
• In the absence of mortal sin, you do not have to confess all your bad behavior. You may choose to confess the behavior which is most hurtful to yourself, others, or society; the behavior you are most sorry for; the behavior which is most frequent; or the behavior you most want to change.
• You may always visit with the priest about important issues or questions in your spiritual or personal life, but it is best to do this at a time when others are not waiting to see the priest.
• You should find the Sacrament of Reconciliation a helpful spiritual experience.  You should always come away from Reconciliation with a sense of God’s mercy more than a sense of your own guilt.  Pope Francis has said: “The center of confession is not the sins we declare, but the divine love we receive, of which we are always in need.”
• (See Special Conditions below for special situations)

Saint Veronica Catholic Church welcomes adult and young adult Catholics who wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Initiation.  Although it may be celebrated at different times, Confirmation “seals” or completes the on-going process of initiation and conversion begun in Baptism and sustained through the Eucharist.  For individuals who were baptized as infants or young children, Confirmation provides a sacramental opportunity to affirm the commitment made on their behalf by parents and Godparents at the time of their Baptism.

Why Be Confirmed?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibly for the preparation of Confirmands” (#1309).

There are a variety of reasons why an adult or young adult Catholic may want to be Confirmed.

• The most important one is that an individual wishes to “confirm” his or her allegiance to the Catholic faith and their participation in the Catholic faith community as an adult person. This may be a decision which the individual was unable or unwilling to make at a younger age.
• In addition, an adult or young adult Catholic may anticipate taking on more responsibilities in the Catholic faith community. In some parishes Catholics are required to be confirmed before they can be married in the Church.  According to universal Church law, a Catholic must be confirmed in order to serve as a Godparent, Confirmation sponsor, or Eucharistic minister, or hold designated positions in parish leadership.

WE BELIEVE in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• God’s effort for our salvation never ends.
• The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity; the Spirit was
  sent by the Father and Son guide each of us and to unite us with
  God’s people in faith.
• The Holy Spirit strengthens our relationship with Jesus and empowers
  us to proclaim and live the mission and ministry of Jesus in the world.
• The Holy Spirit enlightens our choices so that we can do God’s will in
  our lives.
• The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit help us make good choices and live a
  holy life.

WE BELONG to one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

• In baptism become members of the Catholic faith community and are
  called to holiness.
• The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of three sacraments of
  initiation; it completes the Sacrament of Baptism.
• The Sacrament of Confirmation helps us continue on our life-long
  journey of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit.
• Like Baptism, the Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated only once
  in our lives.
• The imposition of hands during the Confirmation ritual symbolizes the
  divine power of the Holy Spirit which we receive in Confirmation.
• The anointing with oil during the Confirmation ritual symbolizes the
  strength given to us in this sacrament.
• Being marked with the sign of the cross during the Confirmation ritual
  is a reminder that we share in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.
• In the Catholic Church, the ordinary minister of Confirmation is the
  bishop, although he may delegate that responsibility to a pastor.
• Confirmation sponsors represent the Christian community; they
  should be models of faith.
• The parish faith community has a responsibility to witness to and
  foster the faith of those who are Confirmed.

WE RESPOND as disciples of Christ helping to build the Kingdom of God.

• The grace of Baptism is deepened in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• When we are confirmed we are empowered with the gifts of the Holy
  Spirit so that we may be better able to participate in the mission and
  ministry of Jesus by sharing his or her faith with others.
• Our faith journey is a lifelong process.
• During the Confirmation ritual our response to the bishop (“Amen”)
  indicates our personal desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and an
  active member of the Church.
• The theological virtues of faith, hope and love are gifts from God; they
  dispose us to live in close relationship with the Holy Trinity.
• The practice of good habits, or virtues, leads to good relationships with
  God, ourselves and others.
• The four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude and
  temperance—guide our conduct in accord with reason and faith.
• When we are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit, we are enriched
  with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
• Through the Sacrament of Confirmation we make a deeper personal
  commitment to become more involved in the life of the Church.
• To understand Confirmation better we should know the Bible story
  about Pentecost.
• To celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in a meaningful way we
  should be able to identify the following terms: Amen, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, holiness, lifelong faith journey, the
  mission and ministry of Jesus, Sacraments of Initiation, sponsor,
  virtue.

Baptized youth who are in grades 2 and older have the opportunity to prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. They must be enrolled in Catholic school, the Religious Education program or an approved home study during the year in which they prepare. Lessons for 2nd graders are done in the classroom and/or at home. Specialized classes using age-appropriate materials are scheduled for youth in grades 3-8. Individualized programs are designed for high school youth.

Unbaptized youth in grades 3 and older may prepare for the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist. An individualized program will be designed based on the age and needs of the youth and his/her family.

High School Confirmation preparation for the St. Veronica parishes is a collaborative effort for students in their junior or senior year. Candidates prepare through a series of classes that take place at the parishes on a rotating schedule, led by a team of adults, including several parish deacons with the focus being on the Holy Spirit, the Creed and Discipleship.

The Catholic parishes in the San Francisco Archdiocese welcome adults and families who are interested in joining the Catholic faith community and anyone who is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. The rites of initiation offer a combination of personal preparation and discernment in a small group format, combined with public liturgical ceremonies which celebrate an individual’s gradual incorporation into the Catholic faith community. The parishes also provide preparation opportunities for baptized and catechized adults and young adults who wish to be confirmed.