Confirmation 2026

Saturday 29 August at 1pm (Catechist group)

At Immaculate Conception Church, 345 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

Contact:

Berny Kirwan

Parish Pastoral Manager 

Phone: 8862 4020

Email: hawthornparishmgr@gmail.com

Confirmation is available to students attending local schools and Candidates need to be in Year 6 or above. Children currently attending St Joseph’s school do NOT need to register.

Please contact the Parish office to register your Child's name and Year Level, school attending, Parents Name, email, mobile number and postal address.

We are taking enrolments from families that live within our Parish boundaries only. If you fall outside our Parish, please call Berny to discuss your involvement.

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Adult candidates for the sacraments please contact the Parish Pastoral Manager.

Important Information

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Classes and Rehearsal

Classes for the children will be in the Parish Centre, 345 Burwood Road (off Lynch St, next to Billy Lids). Children will need to bring their pencil cases.

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Cost

To cover costs we ask that each family contribute a fee per child, which is payable when registering.

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Confirmation Name

Children should start to consider their confirmation name in preparation for this sacrament. This should be a saint’s name. See guidelines below from the Archdiocese.

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Sponsor

The role of the sponsor is to spiritually walk with the candidate during the preparation for the sacrament. They will assist the young person in being a true witness and disciple of Jesus and represent the community when they present the candidate to the bishop. A sponsor will continue to help the young person fulfil his or her baptismal promises after Confirmation with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Please refer below for information from the Archdiocese of Melbourne regarding saints’ names and sponsors.

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Baptismal Certificate

If not previously given, a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate will need to be sighted by myself (and a copy taken) before classes commence.

For previous St Joseph’s children, I do not have access to any information that the school held about your child. This includes their baptism certificate, so you will need to supply this information to me.

N.B. I won’t need a baptismal certificate if your child was baptised at the Hawthorn Parish but please indicate this on the form.

The Hawthorn Parish promotes the safety and well-being of children, Aboriginal, culturally diverse, and vulnerable people.

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Information from the Archdiocese of Melbourne regarding Confirmation

Selecting a Saint’s name:

• Only saints’ names are to be chosen. Alternatively, students may choose their own first name as their confirmation name.
• Ideally, students research and select a saint who inspires them and are able to answer questions about this Saint. 
• Normally, students choose a saint of the same sex as themselves.

Sponsor

• One sponsor only
• Only a confirmed Catholic of at least 16 years of age can act as a sponsor. Normally and ideally, the sponsor should be a practicing Catholic.
• The sponsor should not be a parent of the candidate
• The link between confirmation and the sacrament of Baptism is strengthened if one of the child’s Godparents is the sponsor but this is not a requirement.
• At the celebration of Confirmation, the Sponsor sits with candidate, walks behind the candidate to the Bishop during the Anointing with Chrism and, as the candidate kneels, places his/her right hand on the right shoulder of the candidate.
• At Communion time, the sponsor and candidate proceed together to receive Communion. It is expected that the sponsor will receive Communion