Letter to Bishop

As you approach the final months of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is now time for you to officially request Confirmation from the Bishop of The Diocese of Orange who will come to confer the Sacrament. Please carefully read the information below for more details.​ 

Mandatory Guidelines

1. This must be typed out. Handwritten letters, although heartfelt, cannot be accepted.

2. Font must be between sizes 10-13 with normal font size.

3. Length is important. It must be SINGLE SPACED and it CANNOT go beyond one page. 

4. Please address your letter to Most Reverend Thomas Thanh Thai Nguyen

   • *NOTE* Only address the letter to the ONE Bishop for the Mass date you plan to attend.

5. Remember, this is a letter, so all of the sentences should be complete thoughts and not just a list of answers to the questions. 

6. Before you submit, please run a thorough spell check and grammar check. It is recommended that you have your sponsor, parent or Godparent proofread your letter. This letter is serious and therefore deserves great attention to detail. Letters where the word “God, He, Holy Spirit” is not capitalized or when important words like “Confirmation” or “Adoration” are misspelled are problematic.

7. Example of a completed Bishop letter can be found at the bottom

8. How to Submit your Bishop Letter:

   • Select which method that you will submitting your Bishop Letter below

Bishop Letter Outline

Please Follow the Format below.

*NOTE* Only Write to ONE Bishop for the Mass day you plan to attend.

At the top:

Your Name and Confirmation Saint Name together (ex. Lisa “Catherine” Tran)

Date (ex. January 20, 2024)

CHOOSE ONE: Most Reverend Thomas Thanh Thai Nguyen

Your Excellency,

Paragraph one: Introduction

• Introduce yourself – include the fact that you’re in year 2 of the Confirmation Program at Holy Spirit Church

• Tell the Bishop why you are writing this letter: You are asking to complete your Sacraments of initiation through the Sacrament of Confirmation and therefore will become a fully initiated Catholic.

• What does it mean to you to make this Sacrament?

Paragraph two: Sharing Your Spiritual Journey

You can write about ANY of the following points:

• Who was God at the beginning of this process and who is God to you now?

• Share about one or two of your most meaningful Confirmation experiences (ex. retreat, time with your classes, prayer experiences, service projects, etc. How did this event impact you?

• What has been a spiritual challenge that you have overcome in Confirmation? How?

• Who helped you grow in faith during these two years? Share about who they are and how they helped you.

Paragraph three (This paragraph is mandatory): Gospel Reflection

The Bishop has requested that all candidates for Confirmation write a reflection based on the specific

Gospel that would be read at the Confirmation Mass. This is a chance to spiritually prepare for the Mass as well as reflect on the Scriptures.

Gospel: Luke 8:4-15

When you hear this passage, what does it mean to you? (Possible reflection points below)

• When you read this scripture passage, what are your thoughts on it?

  • When you read this scripture passage, what are your thoughts on it?

  • What spiritual message do YOU receive from this passage?

  • How does this relate to your life, especially as you prepare for Confirmation? Be specific and you can talk about a specific issue in your life.
    
    

Paragraph four: Conclusion

Express why you have made the decision to become a fully initiated Catholic and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

• Share about your desire to continue to grow in faith and relationship with God.
  How do you plan on being a disciple of Jesus in the future?
  End with a formal declaration of your desire to be Catholic and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. (i.e. I ask you, Bishop Nguyen, to confirm me on May 19, 2026)​

Closing: Sign this letter with YOUR Name along with Confirmation Saint Name (from your Saint report)

Sincerely,

(Your Actual Signature that will be taken during class)

First name “Saint Name” Last name

Updated: January 20, 2026