Confirmation and

High School Religious Education

High School Religious Education and Confirmation

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown requires a 3 year preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in the 9th grade and continues through the 11th grade.  Please find below the information about the 3 years of formation culminating in the receipt of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic faith.  

9th and 10th Grade Confirmation Program

For questions or more information please contact:

Anne Bord

                            directorccd@ourladyofvictory.com

814-237-7832 ext. 421

11th Grade Confirmation Program

For questions or more information please contact:

Deacon David Lapinski

dcfl@ourladyofvictory.com

814-237-7832 ext. 259

Confirmation Forms 

Also found in the Church Forms section of this website

9th and 10th Grade Confirmation Program

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Ninth & tenth grade students CCD (public) students will meet with their teachers each Sunday at OLVCS from 10:30am-11:20am.  St. Joe's Students are not required to attend Sunday classes as they receive catechesis on a daily basis during the school week.  However, they are welcome to come on Sundays if they wish.  Please see requirements below for ALL public, private, and home educated Confirmation Track Students.

 9th & 10th Grade Required Components for ALL Students

*Requirements as per the Code of Canon Law: 

A. Only one male sponsor or one female sponsor for a Confirmation candidate is to be used. 

B. Must have completed the sixteenth (16) year. 

C. Must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Most Holy Eucharist & Confirmation. 

D. If married, must be a Catholic who has received the sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Church.

E. Must be a Catholic who leads a life in harmony with the Catholic Church (registered and active [going to Sunday Mass] in a Catholic Church). 

II. Documents Required from the Sponsor of a Person to be Confirmed: 

A. A copy of sponsor’s Baptism Certificate, First Communion Certificate, Confirmation Certificate and if married, a copy of the Marriage Certificate. 

B. A letter from the pastor where the sponsor is registered and active, stating he or she is registered and active and qualifies to be a sponsor.

25 Hrs. Total of Community Service

Get involved with parish life to continue your journey after you are Confirmed as an adult in our church!

15 hours of individual community service
 

             a. Serve mass. Older altar servers are great models to help train the younger students.

             b. Be a lector, commentator or usher at mass.  Please contact the Parish office at 814-237-7832 if interested.


             

            c.  Serve as a volunteer for the Jared Box Project: Mrs. Cindy Kolarik needs volunteers for data entry work        

               regarding contacts across the country for the Jared Box Project: https://thejaredbox.org/This is great for those

               who need flexible volunteer hours.  Please contact her if you are interested: cindy@thejaredbox.org.


            d. Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: https://www.stvincentstatecollege.org/

          10 hours of group service projects 

        Community Service Hours Form This includes a description of what you did and a brief reflection regarding how you felt about serving others.  This form must be signed by a parent.  Hours do not have to be in addition to required hours for school.

   a. Participate in the Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by OLV CCD Confirmation Track Students; 01/20/24.

    b. Serve as a volunteer for Vacation Bible School & Earn 15-20 service hours for the year by volunteering for that week.

    c. Volunteer at the Parish Bazaar the first Saturday every November.

               d.  Serve as a volunteer for parish parties, such as the All Saints & St. Nicholas Parties. 

               e.  Sing with the church choir Are you in choir or band at school?  You can earn your community service hours using your  talents as a volunteer for our parish music ministry.  Be a cantor, sing with the choir, play your instrument at one of our masses with or without the choir.  Contact our music director, Joe Malafarina: joem@ourladyofvictory.com if  you are willing to volunteer.


               f.  Participate in Living Stations during the months before Easter.  Earn ALL your service hours for the year! Contact the coordinator, Mrs. Sue Clement, for more information: sueseitzclement@hotmail.com 

                *Non-Speaking Actor

                *State Crew

                *Narrator  


        g.  Volunteer with the Knights of Columbus at Penn State Home Football Game Concession Stands.  Monies earned fund K of C projects which benefit our parish.   If you are interested and available please email: koc.volunteers@gmail.com Here are some things to consider when thinking about volunteering:

9th & 10th grade contact; Anne Bord: directorccd@ourladyofvictory.com


Q: Why are there all these requirements for my child to be Confirmed?


A: The idea is to get your child involved in parish ministry and life of the church.  If they do this when they are young, and it becomes part of their life, they are more likely to continue to serve their parish and our church, wherever they live in the future.  Our kids are the future of our church.  They need to serve the church as the church will need to minister to them.  A relationship takes work from both groups; the church and its people.  Our goal is to prepare Confirmation Track students to be an active parishioners the rest of their lives.  We want them to feel welcome and see the spiritual and social benefits of being involved in parish ministry.  Self-giving is an important lesson that needs to be taught early.  Confirmation is not graduation from the Catholic Church.  It should be the beginning of life as an adult within our church!

11th Grade Confirmation

09/10 (Mandatory meeting for ALL parents & Confirmandi)

*All 11th graders preparing for Confirmation*

  (SCAHS, St. Joseph Catholic Academy & Homeschooled Students) 

are required to attend an opening class on Sept. 10th, 2023 from 1:15pm-2:30pm in the church.

Eleventh grade students CCD students will meet with Deacon David Lapinski, according to his schedule for two Sundays each month: 09/24, 10/08 (Eucharistic Procession is in lieu of class), 10/15,10/29, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3, 01/07, 01/21, 02/04, 02/18, 03/10, 04/14 & 04/28 (1:15pm-2:30pm at the Activity Center or Church). ALL Eleventh grade students are who are in the OLV religious education program are required to attend these classes.  St. Joseph's Catholic Academy & Homeschool students are welcome to join.

11th  Grade (SCAHS, St. Joseph Catholic Academy & Homeschooled Students) Grade Confirmation program required components:

25 Hrs. Total of Community Service

Get involved with parish life to continue your journey after you are Confirmed as an adult in our church!

15 hours of individual community service
 

             a. Serve mass. Older altar servers are great models to help train the younger students.

             b. Be a lector, commentator or usher at mass.  Please contact the Parish office at 814-237-7832 if interested.


             

            c.  Serve as a volunteer for the Jared Box Project: Mrs. Cindy Kolarik needs volunteers for data entry work        

               regarding contacts across the country for the Jared Box Project: https://thejaredbox.org/This is great for those

               who need flexible volunteer hours.  Please contact her if you are interested: cindy@thejaredbox.org.


            d. Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: https://www.stvincentstatecollege.org/

          10 hours of group service projects 

Community Service Hours Form This includes a description of what you did and a brief reflection regarding how you felt about serving others. This form must be signed by a parent.  Hours do not have to be in addition to required hours for school.

 a. Participate in the Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by OLV CCD Confirmation Track Students; 01/20/24.

    b. Serve as a volunteer for Vacation Bible School & Earn 15-20 service hours for the year by volunteering for that week.

    c. Volunteer at the Parish Bazaar the first Saturday every November.

               d.  Serve as a volunteer for parish parties, such as the All Saints & St. Nicholas Parties. 

               e.  Sing with the church choir Are you in choir or band at school?  You can earn your community service hours using your  talents as a volunteer for our parish music ministry.  Be a cantor, sing with the choir, play your instrument at one of our masses with or without the choir.  Contact our music director, Joe Malafarina: joem@ourladyofvictory.com if  you are willing to volunteer.


               f.  Participate in Living Stations during the months before Easter.  Earn ALL your service hours for the year! Contact the coordinator, Mrs. Sue Clement, for more information: sueseitzclement@hotmail.com 

                *Non-Speaking Actor

                *State Crew

                *Narrator  


        g.  Volunteer with the Knights of Columbus at Penn State Home Football Game Concession Stands.  Monies earned fund K of C projects which benefit our parish.   If you are interested and available please email: koc.volunteers@gmail.com Here are some things to consider when thinking about volunteering:

          9. Rite of Sending Forth

11th grade contact; Deacon David Lapinski: deaconl@ourladyofvictory.com

Confirmation Rehearsal: 05/08/24 @ 6:30pm Our Lady of Victory Church

Confirmation Date: 05/13/24 @ 6:00pm Our Lady of Victory Church


Q: Why are there all these requirements for my child to be Confirmed?


A: The idea is to get your child involved in parish ministry and life of the church.  If they do this when they are young, and it becomes part of their life, they are more likely to continue to serve their parish and our church, wherever they live in the future.  Our kids are the future of our church.  They need to serve the church as the church will need to minister to them.  A relationship takes work from both groups; the church and its people.  Our goal is to prepare Confirmation Track students to be an active parishioners the rest of their lives.  We want them to feel welcome and see the spiritual and social benefits of being involved in parish ministry.  Self-giving is an important lesson that needs to be taught early.  Confirmation is not graduation from the Catholic Church.  It should be the beginning of life as an adult within our church!