• Families who participate in Ignite must be registered parishioners.

• Since Axis (10th Grade religious ed) has already started, register by calling the office at (757) 421-7416.
• If your teen attends Catholic high school or is home schooled, please email Youth Director. 

• $60 Ignite fee + $180 overnight retreat fee (bus, meals, and lodging) 
• If your teen is unable to attend the overnight retreat, a Diocesan Day Retreat is available. Email Jessica for information and payment link.
• Depart SSM parking lot on January 25 at 7:30 AM . Return to SSM parking lot on January 26 at 2:30 PM.
• Request a reduced rate if you are experiencing financial hardship.

Baptism at St. Stephen Martyr

• If your teen was baptized at St. Stephen, Martyr, simply email Jessica your teen’s name and baptism date.

Baptism at another Catholic Church

• If your teen was baptized at a Catholic church other than SSM, contact that church to request an Official Copy of your teen’s Sacramental Record which includes both Baptism and First Eucharist information (date, church, city and state). 
  • The Official Sacramental Record remains at the church your teen was baptized for the rest of their life. 
  • It is not the certificate you have at home. 
  • An Official Sacramental Copy must include both front and back sides and have a raised seal and be issued within six months of Confirmation. 
  • If the church of Baptism does not have your teen's First Eucharist notation, then you must also call the church they received First Eucharist and ask they provide that information to the church your their baptism. The church of baptism can then send the Official Copy to SSM with the First Eucharist notation on the back.
  • Churches get this request frequently, so they’ll know exactly what to do. Ask that it be mailed to SSM: 
  • St. Stephen, Martyr Catholic Church
    Attn: Jessica Kohan
    1544 Battlefield Blvd. South
    Chesapeake VA 23322

Baptism at US Military Installation

• If your teen’s baptism was performed on a U.S. Military Installations, request an official copy of Military Sacramental Records from the Archdiocese of Military Services. Request that it be mailed to:
• St. Stephen, Martyr Catholic Church
  Attn: Jessica Kohan
  1544 Battlefield Blvd. South
  Chesapeake VA 23322

Non-Catholic Baptism

• If your teen has a non-Catholic baptismal certificate, mail a copy to SSM or email it to Jessica. Provide the date, church, and city and state they received their First Eucharist. 

Missing Sacraments

• If your teen has not yet been baptized and received Reconciliation and Eucharist, contact Jessica.
  

At least one parent must attend the: 

• Ignite Parent Session on Sunday, October 6th from 4:15 - 5:15 PM.

• Confirmation Interview Sign up for a 15-minute Confirmation Interview between 6:00 - 8:30 PM on Thursday, October 17, or Tuesday October 22. 

You should choose your sponsor now and have conversations with him/her over the next several months.

• Tell them Saturday, March 22 at 1:00 PM is Confirmation Practice at Prince of Peace and Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 PM is Confirmation at Prince of Peace.

• Give your sponsor the Sponsor Attestation form. After the sponsor fills it out, it must be signed by their parish priest. The sponsor then mails it to the address below or emails it to Jessica.
  
  

A sponsor is a spiritual mentor who will coach you over the next several months on the art of living a Catholic life. The current Rite of Confirmation recommends that the sponsor for Confirmation be the baptismal godparent. Sponsors must be:

• At least 16 years old (unless the pastor has granted an exemption for a just cause)

• A Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist

• Not bound by a canonical penalty

• Leading a life of faith befitting the role to be undertaken (for example, regularly attending Sunday Mass; if married, be in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church)

• Not a parent of the confirmand

Sign up for 15 minute interview between 6:00 - 8:30 PM on Thursday, October 17 or Tuesday October 22.

The beginning of the Confirmation preparation is known as the Inquiry Phase.  During this phase, the parents and the candidate should discern the teen's readiness and disposition to receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. An essential requirement of the Inquiry Phase is an interview with the pastor or his designated catechist.  During the 15 minute interview, the pastor or catechist will meet with the candidate and his/her parent to discuss the candidate's:

• spiritual development

• understanding of the Catholic faith, and 

• regular participation at Sunday Mass.

Knowledge of the faith is important, but more important is a proper disposition demonstrating a willingness or eagerness to growing closer to Jesus through the sacrament of Confirmation.

Since Confirmation stands in relationship to Baptism, any discussion of a Confirmation name must be placed in that context. The current Rite of Confirmation recommends that the sponsor for Confirmation be the baptismal godparent. It presumes that the candidate for Confirmation will be addressed by his or her baptismal name. Nowhere does the rite mention the custom of choosing a separate Confirmation name; neither does the Code of Canon Law. Only in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is there mention of a rite whereby a catechumen may receive a “baptismal name.” 

While the affirmation of one’s baptismal name is thus preferred, one could choose another saint’s name or a mystery of the Lord to be pronounced by the bishop in addition to—not in place of—one’s baptismal name (e.g., “John Sebastian Smith” or “Jane of the Incarnation Smith”). There is no restriction as to the sex (male or female) of the saint, just as in many cultures baptismal names may be combined (e.g., “Peter Mary” or “Ann Daniel”).

The custom of choosing a patron saint or taking an additional name for the Rite of Confirmation should be accompanied by catechesis regarding the communion of saints. The candidate should demonstrate knowledge of the saint or mystery of the Lord that he or she has chosen. It should be emphasized that if a name is chosen, it is to honor a saint or mystery of the Lord, rather than to honor a loved one.

Email Jessica sharing your choice of confirmation name:

• Baptism Name
• Saint's Name
• Mystery of the Lord

Candidates and their sponsors (or proxy) must attend Confirmation Practice on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 1:30 - 3:000 PM  at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.

Sponsors must be:

• At least 16 years old (unless the pastor has granted an exemption for a just cause)

• A Catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist

• Not bound by a canonical penalty

• Leading a life of faith befitting the role to be undertaken (for example, regularly attending Sunday Mass; if married, be in a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church)

• Not a parent of the confirmand.

A sponsor is a spiritual mentor who will coach the conferment over the next several months on the art of living a Catholic life. You will meet with your confirmand over the next several months to guide them along their spiritual journey.

Confirmation Practice is Saturday, March 22 at 1:30 - 3:00 PM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 621 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322

Confirmation is Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 PM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.