Confirmation for Youth

Archbishop Lori announced the lowering of the age of Confirmation to age 9 by the Spring of 2030. St. Mary’s is using a step-down approach by grade over the next several years to meet the lower age threshold.  

For the 2026-2027 school year, St. Mary’s invites students in Grade 7 and up who have been baptized and have received their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in the Catholic Church to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation.  Siblings in Grade 6 only may also register with their older sibling. The candidate must desire to grow in faith and seek Confirmation of their own free will.  Furthermore, the candidate must understand that Confirmation demands an ongoing response to be nurtured in a lifelong spiritual formation. 

To accommodate the large number of candidates, two groups (or “cohorts”) have been established. Cohort A students begin preparation in September and will be Confirmed in February 2027. Students in Cohort B begin preparation in February 2027 and will be Confirmed in September 2027.  Students may choose which cohort to register for; however, each cohort is capped at 120 students.  

Use the links to learn more information about the preparation process and the calendars for each cohort. Please review the calendars carefully before selecting Cohort A or B.  Candidates are expected to attend all session dates and complete all service, retreat, and Adoration Night requirements before being Confirmed.