The Milestones: Sponsor Led

The Five Sponsor-Teen Milestones – Summary and Goals

Milestones are topics of conversation between the candidate and their chosen sponsor. Each milestone topic consists of a goal with suggested conversation material, activities, and prayer opportunities. While Milestones are completed at the pace of the candidate and sponsor, target timeframes are suggested to encourage the best spacing while staying on course to complete preparation in one ministry year. Some candidates take more than one year to prepare, and that is okay too.

(Below are summaries. Actual milestone instructions will be emailed once all paperwork is received by parents and sponsors.)

Milestone #1 – Personal Prayer

Target Timeframe: Due by December 31
Goal: To build a relationship and lay a foundation of trust between the candidate and the sponsor and to increase the teen’s desire to pray.  
Summary: The sponsor and candidate will watch a video on Prayer. Sponsors will pause the video at different spots to discuss questions posed in the video. After watching the video there will be discussion questions around what prayer is, why it matters, and how to do it. Then the sponsor with dive deeper into the candidate’s thoughts on prayer. They will discuss different types of prayer and set a challenge to pray until they meet again.

Milestone #2 – Mass

Milestone #3 – Mary and the Saints

Target Timeframe: Due by February 28
Goal: To have a conversation about who/what are the Saints and why they are important. Candidates will be encouraged to find a Saint to walk with and pray with during this process of discernment.
Summary: This milestone will introduce the candidate to young people in recent history who are on their way to becoming Saints. This conversation will spark additional questions on the church’s process of how to become a Saint and the difference between a “saint” and a “Saint”. Lastly, the discussion centers around Mary – the greatest Saint. At this point, candidates begin to decide their Confirmation Name.
 

Milestone #4 – Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Target Timeframe: Due by March 31
Goal: To learn and recognize the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in ourselves and others.
Summary: This milestone starts with reviewing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. After some discussion on each gift, the candidate and sponsor will watch a series of videos and short stories from popular culture. The candidate and sponsor will try to guess which Gift of the Holy Spirit is being represented and discuss how they can apply it to their life.
 

Milestone #5 – Confirmed – Now What?

Target Timeframe: Due by April 10
Goal: For the Candidate to express their readiness to be confirmed and continue on their lifelong journey to discipleship.
Summary: The candidate and Sponsor will discuss the signs and symbols of what they will see at the Confirmation Mass and begin to discuss what the mass will look like. Then they will watch an interactive presentation in order to explain the fruits of receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. This last milestone also serves as a review of their Confirmation Journey.
 

Target MILESTONE Timeline

Period of Invitation: Prior to Starting Milestones

• By October 16: 
  • The candidate comes forward by completing the Confirmation Seekers Card; 
  • Necessary information is turned in to youth ministry staff*
  • *Completing forms and paperwork in a timely manner keeps candidates on the proposed time schedule.

Period of Formation: Milestones Start 

• December/January: Milestones 1 and 2 
• February/March: Milestones 3 and 4
• April: Milestone 5 
• April 10th: All Milestones, Steppingstones, and Service Opportunities are to be completed to be Confirmed in the 2024-2025 Ministry Year

Period of Reflection and Celebration:

• Next Confirmation Mass Opportunity: Saturday, May 10, 2025

The Confirmation Journey Overview [Download Full Handout]