Registration will begin on Monday, August 24th for 2026-27. We are using the Chosen program again this year. Sessions will be offered weekly to be completed at home, with a Sunday monthly gathering at the parish center, 10:30 am-noon (schedule below). The best way to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and hear the Word of God at Mass each Sunday with family and community. First in-person gathering TBD.
Registration will be offered under Faith Formation tab; nothing to print, just fill out and submit! You can stop by starting Aug. 24, 2026 during regular office hours M-W & F 9:30 am – 4:00 pm also. Completed forms and payment are expected before sessions begin. Payment can be made via on line giving, checks are to be made out to: Good Shepherd Parish, or pay with cash. A new medical information/student release form & electronic release form have to be filled out each year, and please upload or bring a copy of the child’s sacrament certificates: if he/she wasn’t baptized here on Martha’s Vineyard, and/or First Communion, if celebrated off island.
2026-27 Registration fees: $100/child or $200/family maximum and should be paid before sessions begin, or make a payment plan with the office. Additional sacramental fee of $50 will be paid in the spring to cover the cost of additional expenses and robe rentals.
Contact the parish office 508-693-0342 for more information. Sue Pagliccia and Esther Teves are the faith formation leaders.
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Sunday Mass attendance is mandatory. God’s Third Commandment is to keep holy the Lord’s Day. The sign-in book will be at the Church main entrances beginning Sept 5/6 for students who will then also give responses to 3 questions about the weekly Gospel and Father’s homily via website at https://goodshepherdmv.com/student-sunday-mass-questions/. If families are off island, the student is expected to bring a bulletin signed by the priest at the off-island Church with doing the Mass Questions. Students (ideally with his/her family) will be expected to come to the Sacrament of Confession at a minimum during Advent/Lent, Stations of the Cross at least once, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration and give some time in service to the parish and/or community. Video links and workbooks will be provided at our first session.
Confirmation is currently celebrated in ninth grade. The diocesan requirement is 2 years of preparation prior to receiving the Sacrament, which is typically in the spring of freshman year; otherwise Confirmation will be delayed until obligations are met. If a ninth grader or older is seeking the Sacrament, without completing faith formation in 8th grade, he/she will do Encounter/the Great Adventure series the first year, and Chosen in the following 2nd year, along with other above-listed expectations. In addition to completing the weekly videos/workbook and attending monthly gatherings. Date and Location for Sacrament of Confirmation TBD.
Confirmation Prep: CHOSEN Schedule 2026-27 TBD
In-Person: 10:30 am-noon Parish Center, or time as noted when at St. Augustine’s
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Congratulations to our high school students, who were confirmed Sunday, April 12th during the 9:00 am Mass with Fr. Joseph Pasala: Addison Blake, Miguel Lima, Joy MacMillan, Maggie and Kelly Pacheco, Penelope Coimbra Rodrigues, Charlie Sebastian, Maria Silva and Autumn Wiggin.
2027 Date for Sacrament of Confirmation: TBD
Lessons must be completed each week, both videos & workbooks.
Sunday Mass attendance is mandatory. Sign in at the main entrance at either St. Augustine’s or St. Elizabeth’s every week. Remember to fill out the 3 Questions form online, regarding that Mass, https://goodshepherdmv.com/student-sunday-mass-questions/ and submit to Ms. Sue by Tuesday of same week. If off-island, bring in a Church bulletin, signed by the priest there & answer the Q’s. Answer also if watched remotely, or missed.
Sacrament of Confession mandatory at least one time during both Advent and Lent. (regular times, or as scheduled)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, outside of Sunday Mass is mandatory, minimum of 2x as scheduled.
Stations of the Cross mandatory at least one time during Lent, as scheduled.
Community Service mandatory whether through our parish, or out in wider island community. 10-20 hours
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Thank you for praying for our high school students confirmed April 12, 2026. Lord, You send out Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people, so that they may believe in You and in Jesus whom You sent. Look kindly on all candidates for Confirmation as they listen to Your voice. Open their hearts to Your Spirit and bring to fulfillment the good work that You have begun in them. As we prepare these students for Confirmation, make each of us an instrument of Your love. Teach us to appreciate what is holy in others, and to be patient with what we do not understand. Deepen our faith in the Gospel and help us to pass it on by our example. We pray that You will continue to guide us and sustain us. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
