Confirmation, along with Baptism and First Communion are all "sacraments of Christian initiation."

Confirmation, then, allows for the completion of the grace that you recieved during your Baptism.

"For 'by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.'" Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 1285

First year begins no earlier than 8th grade and no later than 11th grade. This still holds true if your child was advanced or held back a year. Policy is to place the child in the grade that they are currently in.

Your Sponsor can be any practicing Catholic that you feel will help on your faith journey for the rest of your life. The basic requirements to be a Confirmation Sponsor are as follows:

• They are a baptized member of the Catholic Church
• They are at least 16 years old
• They have made their First Communion  and have been Confirmed
• They are not married outside of the Catholic Church (justice of the peace, marriage by friend, or other pastor from a different faith tradition), and are not cohabitating (living with someone)
• They normally attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, receive the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) at lease once a year, and receive Holy Communion at least once a year in the Easter Season.

No, parents are not allowed to be Sponsors for their own children.

You are only allowed one Sponsor unless your Baptismal Godparents will be your Confirmation Sponsors. Then you may have two.

Not necessarily, but there are some cavaets. If your child is currently attending a private Catholic school, they must speak with the Formation Office to ensure completion of all necessary religion classes via letter from the school or report card. Then, once the student is in 9th grade, they can be registered in our Confirmation 2 class. To be Confirmed, all students must participate in Confirmation 2 the year of their Confirmation. 

Further, Archdicesan policy states:

12. ... The norm in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is for Confirmation preparation to be a minimum two-year formation program that is made up of three phases and will include the following:

      12.1 Prior to entrance into the final preparation period for Confirmation, young people should have recently completed at least one year of catechesis or religious formation at the parish. Known as the Learner Phase of the Comprehensive Model for Youth

Ministry, this first year may take place for adolescents in 8th grade.

    12.2 A final period of Confirmation preparation is the Disciple in Training Phase, it is one year long, and is held at the local parish for all candidates, including those attending Catholic high schools (9th thru 12th grade). This preparation is to include orientation, catechesis on the Sacrament of Confirmation, spiritual and community outreach activities, retreats, and the practical and liturgical arrangements for the celebration.

12.3 During the final period of preparation for Confirmation, sessions will be included, using faith sharing and other adult formation methods, for parents and sponsors; thereby enabling parents and sponsors to better fulfill their mentoring roles.

Further clarification regarding Catholic Schools and Confirmation by the Archdiocese was given on Septemfber 1, 2025:

The 2019 Archdiocesan Policy for Youth Confirmation paragraphs 12.1, the Learner Phase or Year 1, may, however, be fulfilled by daily religion classes at a Catholic school since faith formation in Catholic

schools goes beyond simply learning facts about the Catholic faith. It also aims to help students develop a personal relationship with God and integrate their faith into their daily lives. The parish is to include those youth who attend Catholic school and who are entering into the Learner Phase of preparation for Confirmation in scheduled retreats, service opportunities, and other community building activities. The final preparation prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Disciples in Training Phase, is to be completed at the parish.

Nope! Your Confirmation is your agreement to fully take up the responsibility that Jesus gave to his disciples to "go forth and make disciples of all nations." You are now called to use your time, talent and/or treasure to help build up the Church!