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certificates of eligibilityAll Catholic Churches in the United States require from Catholics serving as a Godparent for Baptism or a Sponsor for Confirmation a Certificate of Eligibility.
This document certifies that the Godparent/Sponsor is a registered member of the parish, attends Holy Mass, approaches the Sacrament regularly and contributes to the support of the Church via the Sunday offering envelope program.
ONLY Eligible Registered & Practicing Parishioners will be given certification to be a sponsor for Baptism & Confirmation.
Certificate Request
If you are requesting a Certificate of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, the request needs to be made from the parents of the child or the adult person getting married. Please call one (1) week in advance. -
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This page is devoted to the 7th, 8th Grade and High School Confirmation Students
Please see below all updated Confirmation requirements.
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2022/2023 parent letter & DatesDear Parents/Guardians and Confirmation Candidates,
It is a pleasure to welcome you into the Confirmation process here at St. James of the Marches Catholic Community. What an exciting year this will be for you and your family! God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen”.
As volunteer teachers, we give thanks to God for you as parents for teaching the faith to your children. We are praying for you to grow in your faith, hope, and love for God.
Students, you are about to begin a process of deeper initiation into your Christian faith. You have already received God's life and Spirit through the Sacrament of Baptism. You have also received the nourishment of his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. When you were baptized, you became a part of a faith community, the family of God. From that moment on God claimed you as His own. The preparation that you are receiving should help you come to a deeper and more profound understanding of the Christian commitment you are being called to fulfill.
To our 1st Year Students – this is a 2 year program where we will be working together with you, by encouraging and guiding you, to prepare you in accepting your responsibility for your faith and understanding that it is a time to reflect on how you can strengthen your relationship with God and better yourselves as Christians.
To our returning 2nd Year Students – you have already started your journey and in just a few short months, you will receive the sacrament of Confirmation! The desire to be confirmed as an adult member of the Catholic Church will be demonstrated through how you live out your faith.
Each student will be required to complete the following:
- Baptismal Certificate: Students not baptized at St. James of the Marches, need to provide a copy of their Baptismal Certificate.
- First Communion Certificate: Students who have not received First Communion at St. James of the Marches, need to provide a copy of their First Communion Certificate.
- Class Attendance: Students must attend all classes and participate in the discussions and activities. Only two legitimate class absences (illness, special family events) will be allowed per year. One of the teachers must be contacted before class when the student will be absent. If your young adult misses a class, he/she is responsible for making up the lesson.
- Mass Attendance: Students must attend Mass on the weekends and Holy Days. It is very important that the Confirmands join the St. James of the Marches community in practicing their Catholic faith. If you are away and can’t attend Mass at St. James, you are required to attend another Church and have the Parish Priest sign one of their bulletins. You should bring the bulletin to class and give to your catechist teacher. If you are sick or have a family emergency and couldn’t attend Mass, you must contact the Religious Education Office and leave a message why you could not attend Mass.
- Prayer: Students are to pray daily for the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the period of preparation for themselves and their class. Each Confirmand will also have a prayer partner from our parish that will also be praying for them.
- Responsible: Students are to be more responsible in their family, church and community.
- Retreat: There will be a two day retreat each year before the Confirmation ceremony. All students must attend the retreat.
- Community Service: Thirty (30) community service hours and Twenty (20) Parish hours (total of 50 hours) are required to be served from 7th grade up until Confirmation. All hours must be completed before Confirmation takes place. Many hours will be offered through activities organized by the Confirmation class at St. James of the Marches. Outside activities should be recorded on forms available from the Religious Education Office or Catechist Teacher.
- Sponsor: Each student will select a person to sponsor him or her throughout the Confirmation process. This person must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic over the age of 16 and not the young adult’s parents. If the sponsor is not a member of St. James of the Marches, a "Priest’s Verification of Confirmation Sponsor" form must be completed. The forms are available from the Religious Education Office or Catechist teacher.
- Saint Name: Each student will select a saint name. They will need to research the saint and write a paper about it. Students will be encouraged to share their saint paper to the class throughout the second year of class.
- Confirmation Test: Students are required to learn Confirmation material and prayers. Tests will be administered periodically. Each student is required to pass each test.
- Final Exam and Interview: Students who will be receiving their Confirmation are required to take a final exam. Each student will also be interviewed by the DRE and/or Father before Confirmation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. May God bless all of us as we go through this amazing journey together!
Yours in Christ,
Kathryn
Kathryn DiPasquale
Director Confirmation Religious Education
St. James of the Marches
973-790-0288 office
stjameschurch@optonline.net