Grades 7-12

Faith Formation for 2025-2026

 

Our Grades 7-12 Faith Formation classes take place on Sunday evenings in the Rowley Church Hall (196 Main St) on an alternating schedule.

Class begins promptly at 5:00pm, pick up at 7:00pm.  

CLICK HERE to view our Calendar

REGISTRATION FOR CONFIRMATION IS CLOSED

 to find information regarding registration (including for Catholic School Students).

 

Class is Mass

 Mass is part of our Faith Formation and students will attend our 5:30pm Youth Mass as part of their class.  Student

Parents, you are the most important part of your child's faith journey. We strongly encourage you to attend this 5:30 Mass.  

 

About the Program - Confirmation Requirements

ALL FAMILIES MUST BE REGISTERED AT ST MARY's IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASS.  IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE AREA OR HAVE NEVER REGISTERED PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BEFORE YOU SIGN UP FOR CLASS

Join us in person!

Last year we discontinued our homeschool option. Our program requires in person attendance for our class sessions.

Requirements for Confirmation

All 9th graders will be eligible to be confirmed in May of this year. We will accelerate the program for these 9th graders; however, confirmation prep is a two-year program.  If you would like your 7th and 8th graders to be confirmed next year they must attend pre-confirmation. If your 9th or 10th grader has not completed religious education in the previous year, they will be expected to complete part of their program at home to be confirmed in the spring.

 ALL students will be expected to do some homework preparation as a confirmation requirement. Much of the preparation will be completed during class time, with the exception of the volunteer requirements.

  • Choose a Confirmation sponsor
  • Confirmation name (that of a Saint): write a few paragraphs for the reason for their choice.
  • Write a letter to Bishop Hennessey expressing their desire to be confirmed. 
  • Attend Confirmation Retreat in the Spring.
  • Finally, they will be required to complete community service work, which will include their participation in the following:
    • 5:00pm Mass
    • Youth Stations of the Cross 
    • Volunteer at a Parish Event (example: Christmas, Cookies with Santa/ Easter - Easter Egg Hunt, VBS).
    • Group Participation in a Corporal Work of Mercy (will be discussed in class)
    • Complete 1 act of Spiritual Work of Mercy - Write a short paragraph about this act (will be discussed in class)

 Confirmation will be held on Saturday, May 23rd at 10:30am.

If your child attends a catholic high school, he/she will not be required to attend classes; however, they will need to attend the retreat and submit the homework prep detailed above.  Sacramental Fee $75. Please go to our registration page for information on payment.

 

Confirmation Year for Grades 9 & 10

 

Last year, Cardinal Sean O'Malley made the decision to lower the normal age of reception of the sacrament of Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Boston from around the age of 16 (or 10th or 11th grade) to around the ages of 13-14 (or 8th grade). 

Lowering the age of Confirmation will:

  • Decrease the gaps between the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation).
  • Increase and strengthen the role of families in the faith formation of their young teens.
  • Make the grace of this Sacrament available to our young people in greater numbers, and at a critical time when they begin to encounter the demands and challenges of adolescence

 We have begun the transition this year and will be Confirming 9th and 10th Graders.

All 9th graders will be eligible to be confirmed in May of this year.  We will accelerate the program for these 9th Graders.  

This will involve a 2-year transition from our current Confirmation program.  We have renamed our 7th & 8th Grade Program to Pre-Confirmation as part of this transition.   

Pre-Confirmation: Grades 7 and 8.

Confirmation II: Grade 9 & 10+

Volunteers Needed

Our program isn’t possible without volunteers. There are many ways to get involved.  If you are interested in volunteering in our program in some way, please indicate this when you register and I will reach out to you.

 

Questions? Please call the office