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Confirmation

CONFIRMATION PROGRAM OUTLINE – 2026/27 YEAR

    A. INTRODUCTION

    • Confirmation is part of a three-step process, starting with Baptism, whereby we are fully initiated into Christ and the Church and our Catholic Faith. Young people in the Archdiocese of Toronto are ordinarily confirmed in their seventh-grade year.
    • “...by the Sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285).

     B. WHERE THE SACRAMENT IS TO BE RECEIVED

    • Please note that sacraments are to be celebrated in the family’s home parish where the family attends church each Sunday or the parish within whose boundaries they live. 
    • If you live outside the Parish Boundaries, you must be registered with St. Gertrude's.
    • Do not think that all the children of your child’s school will receive their sacraments from one particular church. Rather, as stated, each child will receive the sacrament at their family home parish.  The sacraments have been celebrated by the local church communities from the very beginning of the Church.
    • Click on the link to see the Map of St. Gertrude’s Parish Boundaries on our website: https://stgertrudesos.archtoronto.org/en/contact-us/parish-information/

    C. CONFIRMATION CELEBRANT – FR. LUIS CALLEJA

    • Every three years, we are blessed to have the Bishop, who is the Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation, administer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon our candidates.
      This coming year, Bishop Nguyen has conferred Fr. Luis Calleja to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon our candidates on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 pm.

    D. CAPACITY LIMITS FOR THIS YEAR’S PROGRAM

    • The number of candidates whom we can prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation will be limited.
    • In order to secure a spot in the program, you will need to fill out the online registration form AND attend the Parent Information Meeting (details below).

   E. CONFIRMATION MASS DATE AND REHEARSAL

    • Wednesday April 14 @ 7:00 pm
      • Rehearsal for the above Mass will be on the prior Friday, April 9 @ 7 pm

    F. CONFIRMATION MASS ATTIRE

    • Rental gowns will be provided for the candidates to wear during the Confirmation Mass.
    • The cost of renting the gowns is included in the $130 registration fee.

    G. EXPECTATION AND COMMITMENT REQUIREMENTS

    • Please note that except in genuine cases of sickness, illness or hospitalization, attendance at the Sunday Mass (or Sunday vigil Mass on Saturday evenings) will be expected in order for your son/daughter to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
    • Activities such as sports, or dance or other such commitments will not constitute a valid reason for failing to come and worship God each Sunday at the Holy Mass. This is one of the Ten Commandments.
    • Please keep this in mind as you come to your decision to commit to our parish preparation program and Mass expectation.  Do not take it on if you are not ready to do so.

    H. PARENT VOLUNTEERS ESSENTIAL

    • The preparation sessions will be held in person, which will only be possible if parents step up to volunteer as leader table facilitators, with the help of professional teacher leaders who will do the actual teaching. The volunteer leaders do not have to teach anything; they just ensure that the children are participating and they facilitate table discussion groups. It is also a great opportunity for the parent volunteer to journey with their child who is preparing to receive the sacrament.

    I. REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM REGISTRATION

  1. Completed Registration Form 
    • Opening on the parish website on Tuesday at 8 am on September 1, 2026.
    • Registration for Confirmation will remain open until Wednesday at 8 pm on September 30, 2026.

      2. Parishioner of St. Gertrude’s Parish and Proof of Residency

    • During the process of filling out the online registration form, you will be required to provide us with proof of residency by uploading a copy of your Driver’s License or Ontario Identity Photo Card. 
      • You can also bring a copy of your proof of residency in an envelope with the Confirmation Candidate's name written on the envelope, along with a note indicating that it is for the Sacrament of Confirmation, to the Parent Information Meeting.
      • We will not be able to photocopy your proof of residency on that day, so please make sure to photocopy it before attending the Parent Information Meeting.

       3. Baptism Certificate for the one seeking to receive Confirmation

    • Please bring a copy of the Baptismal Certificate to the Parent Information Meeting. Do not bring the original document as we will not be able to make photocopies for you at that time.

       4. Payment of $130 fee, plus additional fees for the retreat 

    • Payment is to be made at the Parent Information Meeting and can be made in cash or by cheque, payable to “St. Gertrude Catholic Church”. Place the payment in an envelope with the Confirmation Candidate's name written on it, along with a note indicating that it is for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
    • Due to limited space, payment on the day of the Parent Information Meeting will be required in order to secure a place for your son/daughter in the program.
    • Please let us know if you have more than one child registering for the program. Also, please let us know in advance of the Parent Information Meeting if you are unable to pay the full fee, so that we can work something out that is manageable for you.
    • PLEASE NOTE: Should any family be experiencing financial hardships in these very challenging times, please do not let this prevent your child from proceeding to prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Church will do whatever needs to be done to make this happen. Let the family do what it can do within its means at this time.

       5. Attendance at one of the Parent Information Meetings

    • Attendance at the Parent Information Meeting will be required in order to secure a spot for your son/daughter in the program.
    • There will be two choices for the one-hour Parent Information Meeting.
      • Friday, September 25 at 7 pm
      • Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 am
    • Only one parent or guardian is required to attend one of the meetings listed above, along with the Confirmation Candidate. 

       6. Reception of the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

    • If your son/daughter has not yet received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, contact us immediately, as these sacraments must be received before he/she can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and the appropriate preparations must take place for him/her to receive these two sacraments during the course of this year’s preparation for Confirmation.

       7. Attendance at all 11 in-person sessions and completion of assigned work 

    • Attendance is mandatory, but if a session is missed due to serious reasons such as illness, then make-up work must be done.
    • Sessions will run from 7:15 to 9:00 pm on Friday evenings on the following dates:
      • October 2, 2026
      • October 16, 2026
      • October 30, 2026
      • November 20, 2026
      • December 4, 2026
      • December 18, 2026
      • January 15, 2027
      • January 29, 2027
      • February 12, 2027
      • February 26, 2027
      • March 5, 2027

       8. Weekly attendance at Mass on Sundays or at the Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings except for serious reasons, such as illness. 

    • Sports and other similar activities do not qualify as reasons to miss the Sunday or Saturday evening Mass. 
    • St. Gertrude Sunday Masses are at the following times: Saturdays at 5 pm, Sundays at 9 am, 11 am, and 6:15 pm.

       9. Attendance at the Confirmation Retreat

    • There will be a Confirmation Retreat on Saturday, April 3, 2027.
    • As mentioned above, there will be a $130 fee for the Confirmation Program, plus an additional $25 fee for the retreat. Payment for the retreat will be collected the day of the retreat; the fee for the Confirmation Program is received separately; do not bring both fees when registering.
    • Further details will be provided later.

       10. Completion of Saint Project

    • Your son/daughter will be asked to research the life of a Saint whom they would like to be their mentor and companion on their journey of faith and to complete a project based on their findings. Details will be given later.

       11. Completion of Sponsor Form  

    • Details about where to fill out the form and how to submit the form along with the required documentation listed below will be given later.
    • Please prayerfully consider whom you would like as your sponsor, noting that a Sponsor for Confirmation is a role model in living the faith for the candidate.
    • Please provide evidence of the sponsor having received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
    • Requirements for Confirmation Sponsors:
      1. Is at least 16 years of age
      2. Is a practicing Catholic
      3. Has received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation (Sponsor is required to provide a Copy of his/her Sacramental Record including Confirmation Date — this is obtained from the Parish where one was baptized)
      4. Leads a life in harmony with the Roman Catholic faith

If you have any questions, please email our Lay Pastoral Associate, Geoffrey Lyn, at: glyn@archtoronto.org.

Click here to register for the Confirmation Preparation Program