August 14, 2024:
(Sponsor eMail) Sponsor Equipping Meeting Information

This email was sent directly to sponsors via the email addresses provided on your child’s Saint and Sponsor Form.

Dear Confirmation Sponsors,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Marissa Dawson and I am the Coordinator of Youth Discipleship at St. Patrick Catholic Parish, where one of my responsibilities is overseeing youth Confirmation preparation. I want to thank you for the commitment you’ve made to the young person who asked you to be their Confirmation sponsor!

I am reaching out to you regarding an upcoming preparation requirement which the Confirmation candidate you're sponsoring will need your help to complete. In short, each candidate is required to meet independently with their sponsor at least one time prior to Confirmation (*see note at the bottom of this email). The purpose of your meeting together will be to discuss the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, and other topics related to a life of discipleship. To help shape your conversation, a set of engaging videos and accompanying discussion guides will be provided.

Additionally, each sponsor will need to attend a “Sponsor Equipping Meeting” before getting together with their candidate. One of the objectives of the Sponsor Equipping Meeting is to prepare you for these conversations with your candidate and empower you to customize the experience for them. We will also provide insight into your role as a Confirmation sponsor and the vital role that your accompaniment can play in their spiritual growth.

This Sponsor Equipping Meeting will be offered on three separate occasions in an effort to accommodate your busy schedule. Additionally, two of the offered meetings will take place over Zoom Meeting (video conference) so that everyone is able to participate, regardless of location. Please click here to view the available dates/time and sign up for the Sponsor Equipping Meeting you plan to attend. If you are unavailable for all three dates/times, please let me know so that we can arrange an alternative method for you to receive this information and support.

I look forward to meeting with you and helping you support your candidate on their journey to Confirmation.

In Christ,
Marissa Dawson

*Please note: We’ll be encouraging everyone to complete this requirement in whatever manner best suits the unique relationship and circumstances of each candidate and sponsor pair. We expect that reviewing and discussing the provided materials together should take approximately 3-4 hours. Some pairs may wish to watch and discuss everything in one sitting, while others may choose to set up multiple shorter meetings. The meeting environment/method might also vary depending on your location- sponsors and candidates may have their conversations over video or phone if distance prevents you from meeting in-person.

  1. Each sponsor attends a 2-hour Sponsor Equipping Meeting.

    There are three dates/times to choose from - two of the meetings will be offered online via Zoom Meeting, and a third will be offered in-person at St. Patrick:
    Saturday, September 28th, 10 AM-12 PM (ET): Online

    • Monday, October 7th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM (ET): Online

    • Saturday, October 12th, 10 AM - 12 PM: In-person

  2. This meeting is only for the sponsors, not the candidates. Sponsors will receive an email from us, shortly, about their role in this requirement and how to RSVP for which Sponsor Equipping Meeting they will attend. Parents will receive a copy of this information, as well.


2. Each sponsor will schedule time to get together with their candidate for reflection and discussion based on provided materials.

  • We ask that each sponsor and candidate spend approximately 3 hours together on the provided materials. This might be done all in the same day, or broken up over more than one meeting. We encourage everyone to do this in whatever manner best fits their relationship with their sponsor and their availability.

  • We recommend meeting in-person, but if your child’s sponsor lives far away, this could be done through Facetime or Zoom. If you’re concerned about this, please let me know- I’m happy to help brainstorm a solution that will work.

  • Sponsors will be prepared during the Sponsor Equipping Meeting to guide their candidates through the materials. We'll also provide suggestions for how they might personalize the experience to make it more impactful.


3. Each candidate will submit a 2-page reflection about the time spent with their sponsor. 

  • Prompts/reflections questions will be provided to help guide the candidate in writing their reflection.

  • Candidates will be asked to submit their reflection via an online form by January 1, 2025.

As stated above, we will be communicating directly with your child’s sponsor this week about signing up for one of the available Sponsor Equipping Meetings in September/October. You will receive a copy of this email when it goes out so that you may follow up with your child’s sponsor about it. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we strive to make Confirmation preparation a more fruitful experience for all involved. Should you have any questions or concerns about this change, please do not hesitate to let me know.

In Christ,