Session 14

Catechist and Candidates will freely discuss the retreat experience. After discussion Candidates will write their letters of intent in class using the following documents and examples as a guide:

You are free to respond to God’s call to live your faith more deeply – to worship, witness and
serve as a confirmed Catholic Christian. If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,
write a formal letter of request to Bishop Burns stating your desire to be confirmed. Follow these
guidelines:
GREETING
Begin your letter with the greeting: Most Reverend Edward J. Burns or Dear Bishop Burns.
BODY OF THE LETTER
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself. Say something about your family or your background.

Paragraph 2: Request the sacrament. Give several reasons why you would like to be confirmed.

Paragraph 3: Explain how you have prepared for the sacrament. It is important that you tell about
specific parts of your preparation: your prayer life, your celebration of the other
sacraments, your service to others exercised at home, in the community and in the
parish, etc.

Paragraph 4: Tell how you will continue to carry out your life of service to God and others
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Tell how you plan to make your Confirmation
in the Faith real and alive in your life.

CONCLUSION
Conclude the letter, and handwrite your complete signature.

Thank you for all your hard work and efforts to prepare yourselves for this important part of your
faith journey.


SAMPLE LETTER #1
February 8, 2014
Dear Bishop Burns,
My name is Jackie Johnson and I am a 10th grade student at Holy Family Catholic Church in
Lake Crystal, Minnesota. I am currently preparing for Confirmation and I wanted to share a
couple of my experiences.
We were asked to select a sponsor at the beginning of the Confirmation process. I thought it was
difficult at first to ask someone to fill this role. But then Tricia, a friend of the family, said yes.
During the process, Tricia and I attended a retreat, participated in sponsor and candidate sessions
and volunteered to do service work together. I particularly enjoyed the time we spent serving a
meal for the local soup kitchen. It was then that I realized, again, how fortunate I am to come
from such a good family and live where I do.
I am the oldest of three children. I enjoy participating in cheerleading, soccer, drama, and the
youth events at my parish. My parents are involved in the parish as Eucharistic ministers. They
have been good role models for what it means to live out my faith.
I want to be confirmed to publicly state that my faith is important to me, and it’s something I
plan to work on the rest of my life.
I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
[Hand Written Signature Here]
Jackie Johnson


SAMPLE LETTER #2
February 25, 2014

Most Reverend Edward J. Burns,
Hello. My name is Mark Smith and I am currently preparing for Confirmation. I am 16 years old
and I am a sophomore at West High School in Mankato, MN. I have been preparing for
Confirmation at St. Joseph the Worker for almost two years now, and I want to be confirmed.
I want to be confirmed because I have been preparing for this sacrament, and I am ready. I have
learned that Confirmation is not the end of my faith life, but just the beginning. I am ready to
take my faith seriously, become active in my parish, and live out my faith through service.
I have had several service experiences throughout the past couple of years that have been very
meaningful to me. One service project in particular was important to me. I had the opportunity to
go on a mission trip with my parish youth group to Texas. There we built houses for people in
need. The days were long and the work was hard. But at the end of the trip I could look back on
what we accomplished and I realized that we had done a lot for someone in need.
Confirmation means that I am ready and willing. I am ready to live out my faith with the help of
the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I feel that I have been well prepared for Confirmation through all of
the classes, service projects, faith sharing and small group sessions I have attended.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Hand Written Signature Here]
Mark Smith
You are free to respond to God’s call to live your faith more deeply – to worship, witness and
serve as a confirmed Catholic Christian. If you wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,
write a formal letter of request to Bishop Burns stating your desire to be confirmed. Follow these
guidelines:
GREETING
Begin your letter with the greeting: Most Reverend Edward J. Burns or Dear Bishop Burns.
BODY OF THE LETTER
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself. Say something about your family or your background.

Paragraph 2: Request the sacrament. Give several reasons why you would like to be confirmed.

Paragraph 3: Explain how you have prepared for the sacrament. It is important that you tell about
specific parts of your preparation: your prayer life, your celebration of the other
sacraments, your service to others exercised at home, in the community and in the
parish, etc.

Paragraph 4: Tell how you will continue to carry out your life of service to God and others
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Tell how you plan to make your Confirmation
in the Faith real and alive in your life.

CONCLUSION
Conclude the letter, and handwrite your complete signature.

Thank you for all your hard work and efforts to prepare yourselves for this important part of your
faith journey.


SAMPLE LETTER #1
February 8, 2014
Dear Bishop Burns,
My name is Jackie Johnson and I am a 10th grade student at Holy Family Catholic Church in
Lake Crystal, Minnesota. I am currently preparing for Confirmation and I wanted to share a
couple of my experiences.
We were asked to select a sponsor at the beginning of the Confirmation process. I thought it was
difficult at first to ask someone to fill this role. But then Tricia, a friend of the family, said yes.
During the process, Tricia and I attended a retreat, participated in sponsor and candidate sessions
and volunteered to do service work together. I particularly enjoyed the time we spent serving a
meal for the local soup kitchen. It was then that I realized, again, how fortunate I am to come
from such a good family and live where I do.
I am the oldest of three children. I enjoy participating in cheerleading, soccer, drama, and the
youth events at my parish. My parents are involved in the parish as Eucharistic ministers. They
have been good role models for what it means to live out my faith.
I want to be confirmed to publicly state that my faith is important to me, and it’s something I
plan to work on the rest of my life.
I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
[Hand Written Signature Here]
Jackie Johnson


SAMPLE LETTER #2
February 25, 2014

Most Reverend Edward J. Burns,
Hello. My name is Mark Smith and I am currently preparing for Confirmation. I am 16 years old
and I am a sophomore at West High School in Mankato, MN. I have been preparing for
Confirmation at St. Joseph the Worker for almost two years now, and I want to be confirmed.
I want to be confirmed because I have been preparing for this sacrament, and I am ready. I have
learned that Confirmation is not the end of my faith life, but just the beginning. I am ready to
take my faith seriously, become active in my parish, and live out my faith through service.
I have had several service experiences throughout the past couple of years that have been very
meaningful to me. One service project in particular was important to me. I had the opportunity to
go on a mission trip with my parish youth group to Texas. There we built houses for people in
need. The days were long and the work was hard. But at the end of the trip I could look back on
what we accomplished and I realized that we had done a lot for someone in need.
Confirmation means that I am ready and willing. I am ready to live out my faith with the help of
the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I feel that I have been well prepared for Confirmation through all of
the classes, service projects, faith sharing and small group sessions I have attended.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Hand Written Signature Here]
Mark Smith