FAQ
How and when you can apply to Confirmation Training?
You can apply to Confirmation Training when you wish. The dates of Confirmation trainings are available late spring, year before Confirmation camp part. When you apply to Confirmation training, please use the form on our web pages. After sending the form you'll get e-mail confirmation as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact our office +358 9 622 9670.
Is the Confirmation Training in the Evangelical Lutheran Association for Youth in Finland (Nuorten Keskus) same as in local congregation?
In our Confirmation Trainings we follow the same Confirmation Training Plan as local congregations. Our association is a Youth work serving organisation in the Lutheran Church of Finland. Our Confirmation Trainings are alike as local, when you talk about official parts and Confirmation Training syllabus. Our Confirmation Training is international and we use in our teaching and all other programme both Finnish and English.
Why the participation fee of Confirmation Training is higher than in local congregation?
Our Confirmation Training fee has to cover the expenses of the whole Confirmation Training. The local congregations use the church tax for this and we have not this possibility. You can pay the fee in three parts.
How about Confirmation Training for under 15 year old youngster?
You can come to the Confirmation Training on that year when you have your 15th birthday. If you are under 15 there are some special occasions to come to the Confirmation Training earlier. Please contact the vicar of your home congregation to solve this question.
If the youngster hasn't been baptised, can he come to Confirmation Training?
Yes, you can come to Confirmation Training, of course. Also if you are not member to Finnish Lutheran Church you can come. If youngster wants to be confirmed he needs to be baptised and join/belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the camp part of our Confirmation Training we baptise youngsters every year. If youngster need to be baptised or/and joined to the local congregation, please contact the local church office beforehand and pick up there all the papers needed and fulfil them. Please contact the pastor of you youngsters Confirmation Training for more information and details.
If youngster has been baptised to other Church than in Finnish Evangelical Lutheran one?
If you have been baptised in Christian Church we don't baptise you again. If your baptism is not mentioned in your Church register paper, please send a copy of your baptism certificate beforehand to the office of Nuorten Keskus.
How youngsters take part into the activities of his home congregation when he is coming to Nuorten Keskus Confirmation Training?
You take part of your home congregation activities and response of this is your home congregation. This part is about 20 hours long and it has different variances to do it. From us you'll get first letter in autumn year before the actual camp part of Confirmation Training is. In the first letter is details how you are handling this. The basic rule is that you'll take care this together with your home congregation pastor or youth worker. How to do this, please use the leaflet My home congregation for it.
What if the connection to the home congregation is not working?
The participation in the activites of the home congregations is on local response, but if this is not working you can inform us. We can send you a leaflet about how to do this our way.
What if the youngster is not a member of Church, does he need to take part in the activities?
If you are not a member of the Lutheran Church, the response is the local congregation whose member the youngster will be. So you need to contact the local Lutheran Congregation to solve this problem.
How to take part of activities of local congregation when there is no Christian Churches in the whole country?
When you are visiting Finland you can join Worship Services and other Church occasions. There is also a possibility to join the activities of Helsinki Maunula church via internet.
If youngster hasn't had religious teaching or he has had it only few years?
You need to read To be a Christian in Finland - book, which is telling about the activities of the Finnish Church and local congregations. The book includes also few points what is Finnish faith. You can also read Finnish Catechism . The youngster will get more information and tasks during the Confirmation Training.
What about accommodation at camp?
In our camp centre Pöyhölä you'll have shared housing with 8 to 14 other youngsters. Please read more about the camp centre Pöyhölä from the brochure .
What about food service at camp?
Our camp centre Pöyhölä is serving mostly Finnish home made food. If you have some food allergies or special diets, you need to contact the Pöyhölä staff .
Is there a visitor's day at Confirmation Training?
Yes there is, you'll get detailed information in the last Confirmation Training letter. Visitors are warmly welcome to see how we are in Confirmation Training.
Is there a closing ceremony at Confirmation Training where also relatives can take part?
The closing event is held on the morning of the last day of Confirmation Training, just before Confirmation Mass. All relatives and friends are welcome to this event. Visitors have also possibility to have lunch in Pöyhölä after closing event and before Confirmation Mass. More detailed information you'll get on the last Confirmation Training letter.
When and where is Confirmation Mass?
Confirmation Mass is held in Keuruu Church, on the last day of Confirmation Training. More details you'll have on the last letter.
Are the godparents taking part of the Confirmation Mass?
Yes, one of the godparents is at altar blessing the confirmand. Youngster is asking one of his godparents to this task. If your godparent can't be present, you can ask your relative or very good friend to this task.
What kinds of clothes you were at Confirmation Mass?
For Confirmation Mass youngsters are wearing a white alb, which is borrowed from the Keuruu congregation during the Mass. Otherwise you can think to wear proper clothes keeping in mind the occasion you are taking part. Very bright colors are quite visible through the alb. Please choose socks and shoes carefully. You'll dress up your own full dress in Pöyhölä before closing event.
Where you can organize Confirmation celebrations in Keuruu?
Some of Confimands can have their celebrations in Pöyhölä , please contact to the manager of Pöyhölä to ask this possibility. In Keuruu are several other places to have celebrations, you'll find there also possible accommodations.
Is there joint transportation to the camp center Pöyhölä in Keuruu?
We have not organized joint transportation to Keuruu. You need to organize it by yourself. Trains and busses are coming to Keuruu from different parts of Finland. From the stations easiest way to come to Pöyhölä is taxi . The duration from stations is only about 5 kilometers. When you come with you own care here are the instructions for it.
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