Confirmation and Crew Program Information
Confirmation Year 1:
Confirmation is a 2 year program at HNOJ. During Year 1, students will attend Formation Sundays, and their choice of retreats to help acheive their 2-retreat requirement by Spring of 2027. Retreat requirement includes 1 overnight retreat (can be during Year 1 or Year 2) and 1 one day retreat (during Year 2 of prep). The 1 day retreat focuses on Confirmation so it is important teens attend the 1 day retreat even if they choose to do multiple overnight retreats. Teens also have the oppoutunity to participate in Life Nights and Middle School Discipleship team, more info below.
Formation Sundays: Featuring Catholic youth speakers, transformational prayer, scripture, adoration, and small groups, Formation Sundays will inspire our teens to enter into a deeper relationship with Christ. They are allowed to miss two of these Sundays per year without an emergency excuse. These dates are Oct. 12, 26, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, 14, Jan. 4, 25, Feb. 1, 22, Mar. 8, 15, Apr. 12, and 26. Meetings are held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Introduction to Confirmation Parent and Student Meeting (Required): There will be a meeting for students and parents on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 4:00 p.m.- 5:15 p.m. This meeting is required for all First Year Confirmation students and their parents.
Retreat Options (Registration to be released at a later date):
Fall Retreat: Nov. 21-23, 2025
Winter Faith Camp: Feb. 13-17, 2026 (President’s Day Weekend)
Spring Retreat: Spring 2026- Dates TBD
Steubenville: July 2026- Dates TBD
Life Night:
Teens are invited to join us for Life Night this year! These events are for teens to grow in community, and prayer! We will have plenty of opportunities for games, hanging out, prayer, etc.!
Life Night begin with 5:30 p.m. mass, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and programming for the evening to follow. The night will end at 8:30 p.m.
These dates are Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 2, 16, Dec. 21, Jan. 11, 18, Mar. 1, 22, April 19, May 17, 31, and June 7. Teens are encouraged to attend 5:30 p.m. mass together, followed by dinner and programming until 8:30 p.m.
Middle School Discipleship Team: High School teens dedicated to aiding middle schoolers in their faith journey. Expectations of those wishing to serve on Middle School Discipleship Team. Teens in MSDT are expected to receive in order to give of themselves in service.
Ways to Receive:
- Attend Formation Sundays
- Attend Life Night
- Attend a High School Retreat of your choice
Ways to Serve:
- Attend Friday Night Alive (FNA): (High Schoolers arrive at 4:30 p.m. to help with set up. Event runs until 8:30 p.m. High Schoolers will help clean up after and then be dismissed)
- Attend Middle School Retreats: Psalm 78, Luke 18, and Extreme Faith Camp- Dates TBD (Spots are limited. High Schoolers will apply for a spot on Extreme Team or Prayer Team at EFC. It is expected that teens who apply for EFC, are involved in MSDT. This gives the middle schoolers an oppoutunity to know the high schoolers before camp)
- Attend MS Crew on Wednesday evenings: (Post Confirmation Students- You are invited to lead a small group of middle schoolers, 9th and 10th graders, you are invited to be a part of a small group, be present to the Middle Schoolers, but you would not be the primary leader.)
If you are interested in serving on Middle School Discipleship team, please contact Luke Klavins for more details.
Confirmation Year 1 Pricing
April-July 31 > Early Bird Pricing $150
Aug. 1 – Sept. 13 > Normal Pricing $200
Questions? Contact Eve Anders.
Confirmation Date: TBD
Year 2 Confirmation Prep
Consists of attending Formation Sundays, Retreats, choosing a sponsor, choosing a confirmation saint, writting a letter of intent, and attending an exit interview. Retreat requirement includes 1 overnight retreat and 1 one day retreat to be completed during Year 2.
Formation Sundays: Featuring Catholic youth speakers, transformational prayer, scripture, adoration, and small groups, Formation Sundays will inspire our teens to enter into a deeper relationship with Christ. They are allowed to miss two of these Sundays per year without an emergency excuse. These dates are Oct. 12, 26, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, 14, Jan. 4, 25, Feb. 1, 22, Mar. 8, 15, Apr. 12, 26, and May 3. Meetings are held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Parent/Candidate Meeting (Required): September 28 from 6:45-8:00 p.m.. This meeting is required for all Second Year Confirmation students and their parents.
Sunday May 3, 2026- Students will attend 5:30 p.m. Mass where the Rite of Sending will take place. Following mass, we will go over all logistics for the Confirmation mass. Parents, students, and sponsors should all attend. This date is subject to change if the Archdiocese schedules our Confirmation before this day.
Retreat Options (Registrations to be released at a later date):
Fall Retreat: Nov. 21-23, 2025
Winter Faith Camp: Feb. 13- 16, 2026 (Presidents Day weekend)
Spring Retreat: Dates TBD
Steubenville: July 2025 (Dates TBD)
One Day Retreat Options:
Sunday, Sept. 21
Sunday, Feb. 8
One Day retreats will run 9:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. at HNOJ. Registration will open at a later date.
Please mark your calendar now for one of those days. These are the only two options for One Day Retreats this year. Your teen MUST attend one of these two retreats.
Life Night:
Life Night:
Teens are invited to join us for Life Night this year! These events are for teens to grow in community, and prayer! We will have plenty of opportunities for games, hanging out, prayer, etc.!
Life Night begin with 5:30 p.m. mass, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and programming for the evening to follow. The night will end at 8:30 p.m.
These dates are Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 2, 16, Dec. 21, Jan. 11, 18, Mar. 1, 22, April 19, May 17, 31, and June 7. Teens are encouraged to attend 5:30 p.m. mass together, followed by dinner and programming until 8:30 p.m.
Middle School Discipleship Team: High School teens dedicated to aiding middle schoolers in their faith journey. Expectations of those wishing to serve on Middle School Discipleship Team. Teens in MSDT are expected to receive in order to give of themselves in service.
Ways to Receive:
- Attend Formation Sundays
- Attend Life Night
- Attend a High School Retreat of your choice
Ways to Serve:
- Attend Friday Night Alive (FNA): (High Schoolers arrive at 4:30 p.m. to help with set up. Event runs until 8:30 p.m. High Schoolers will help clean up after and then be dismissed)
- Attend Middle School Retreats: Psalm 78, Luke 18, and Extreme Faith Camp- Dates TBD (Spots are limited. High Schoolers will apply for a spot on Extreme Team or Prayer Team at EFC. It is expected that teens who apply for EFC, are involved in MSDT. This gives the middle schoolers an oppoutunity to know the high schoolers before camp)
- Attend MS Crew on Wednesday evenings: (Post Confirmation Students- You are invited to lead a small group of middle schoolers, 9th and 10th graders, you are invited to be a part of a small group, be present to the Middle Schoolers, but you would not be the primary leader.)
If you are interested in serving on Middle School Discipleship team, please contact Luke Klavins for more details.
Confirmation Year 2 Pricing
April -July 31 > Early Bird Pricing $150
Aug. 1 – Sept. 10 > Normal Pricing $200
Questions? Contact Eve Anders
Now that you have received the sacrament of Confirmation, it’s time to put those Confirmation graces into action! 11th & 12th graders will enter into a small group based formation. The intention behind these small groups is to dive deep into discipleship and community. When you arrive on Sunday, you will go straight to your small group meeting locations! These dates are Oct. 12, 26, Nov. 9, Dec. 7, 14, Jan. 4, 25, Feb. 1, 22, Mar. 8, 15, Apr. 12, and 26. Meetings are held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Life Night:
Teens are invited to join us for Life Night this year! These events are for teens to grow in community, and prayer! We will have plenty of opportunities for games, hanging out, prayer, etc.!
Life Night begin with 5:30 p.m. mass, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and programming for the evening to follow. The night will end at 8:30 p.m.
These dates are Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 2, 16, Dec. 21, Jan. 11, 18, Mar. 1, 22, April 19, May 17, 31, and June 7. Teens are encouraged to attend 5:30 p.m. mass together, followed by dinner and programming until 8:30 p.m.
Middle School Discipleship Team: High School teens dedicated to aiding middle schoolers in their faith journey. Expectations of those wishing to serve on Middle School Discipleship Team. Teens in MSDT are expected to receive in order to give of themselves in service.
Ways to Receive:
- Attend Formation Sundays
- Attend Life Night
- Attend a High School Retreat of your choice
Ways to Serve:
- Attend Friday Night Alive (FNA): (High Schoolers arrive at 4:30 p.m. to help with set up. Event runs until 8:30 p.m. High Schoolers will help clean up after and then be dismissed)
- Attend Middle School Retreats: Psalm 78, Luke 18, and Extreme Faith Camp- Dates TBD (Spots are limited. High Schoolers will apply for a spot on Extreme Team or Prayer Team at EFC. It is expected that teens who apply for EFC, are involved in MSDT. This gives the middle schoolers an oppoutunity to know the high schoolers before camp)
- Attend MS Crew on Wednesday evenings: (Post Confirmation Students- You are invited to lead a small group of middle schoolers, 9th and 10th graders, you are invited to be a part of a small group, be present to the Middle Schoolers, but you would not be the primary leader.)
If you are interested in serving on Middle School Discipleship team, please contact Luke Klavins for more details.
Questions? Contact Eve Anders
Key Components of HNOJ Confirmation Preparation:
FAQs about the Confirmation at HNOJ
What is Confirmation? Confirmation is a Sacrament that strengthens us and obliges us to witness to, spread and defend the faith (CCC 1303). Confirmation is not graduation from a life of Christian learning, a mere cultural passage into maturity or an opportunity to choose whether or not to remain Catholic. Confirmation completes our full initiation as Catholic Christians (CCC 1306) and strengthens our ability to be missionary disciples through the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When does Confirmation preparation begin? When does it end? How long does it take? Most teens will begin completing the pre-requisites for Confirmation preparation immediately following their 8th-grade year. Many will choose to complete the process over a two-year period, be Confirmed in their 10th-grade year and continue to be involved in youth ministry in their 11th and 12th-grade years.
Is this preparation process for Confirmation enough? Many teens will find that they desire to grow in their faith in more ways that what is asked in HNOJ's Confirmation preparation process. These requirements are a minimum. We are called to be life-long disciples of Christ who continue to grow in love of God and neighbor through prayer, worship, study and service.
Why is there such a strong emphasis on retreats? Retreats are one of the most critical components of Confirmation preparation through HNOJ. Life can be a little crazy. Rarely do we take the time we need to get away from it all. Retreat experiences with HNOJ CREW are exactly that, opportunities to take a break, relax, think, talk and pray about who we are, why we are here and what our faith in Jesus has to do with it all. Retreats with the HNOJ community provide the environment for young people to have a personal and transformational encounter with Jesus Christ.
