The Sacrament of Confirmation is typically received by teenagers who have been baptised in the Catholic Church, attend Sunday mass regularly and are in Year 10 of their school life.
Registration normally takes place in the December prior to reception of the Sacrament in July the following year.
If your circumstances are not typical, eg in Year 11 or 12, or baptised in an Eastern Church then please contact the catechetical team via the parish office as early as possible. We will try to help. If you are aged over 18 years of age please see the section in the website on RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Confirmation preparation is very much a matter for the young person, but they still require the support and guidance of their Catholic family who are the prime educators of their child.
A copy of the programme for 2025 is included below to give visitors to this site an idea of the programme and level of commitment required.
God bless you and thank you for visiting this page.
St Raphael’s Parish Confirmation Programme 2026
St Raphael’s Parish Confirmation Programme 2026
CONFIRMATION MASS DATE Saturday 4th July at 12 noon.
Celebrant: Bishop James Curry
PART ONE: CARITAS PREPARATION & SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
| Wednesday 28th January 2026 | 7.00pm- 8.00pm | Meeting for parents and candidates in parish centre |
| Wednesday 11th February 2026 | 7.00pm 8.00pm | Meeting for candidates only. |
PART TWO: EDUCAREM COME FOLLOW ME PERIOD OF DISCERNMENT
| Wednesday 15th April 2026 | Session One Sacraments of Initiation | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Saturday 18th April 2026 | Half day retreat followed by all candidates preparing for and attending the parish mass at 7.00pm. All parents are expected to join us at 7pm for mass. | 3:00pm to 7:45pm Including Mass at 7pm |
| Wednesday 22ndApril | Session Two The Church | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Wednesday 29th April | Sessions Three Gifts of the Holy Spirit | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Saturday 9th May | Visit to Westminster Cathedral. Meet at Hayes and Harlington 9.30am. | 9.30am to 2pm |
| Wednesday 13th May | Session Four Witness | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Sunday 17th May | Rite of Enrolment Mass | 10.30am PARENTS & CANDIDATES CHURCH |
| Wednesday 2Oth May | Session Five The Mass | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Wednesday 28th May | Half Term | |
| Wednesday 3rd June | Session Six The ceremony and its symbols Sacraments of Vocation | 7.30pm to 9.00pm |
| Break 10th,17th And 23rd June | ||
| Sunday 28th June | Rite of Election | 10.30am PARENTS & CANDIDATES CHURCH |
| Wednesday 1st July | Reconciliation. | 7.00pm to 9.00pm |
| Friday 3rdJuly | Rehearsal for Confirmation Mass | 8.00pm Candidate plus sponsor to attend. |
| Saturday 4th July | Confirmation ceremony 12 noon | Everyone to be seated by 11.45am |