Several sites were considered and the Arena was chosen because it can accommodate large numbers of people and it is an indoor facility. The May 27 date was the only one available in terms of the Arena's schedule of events as well as the church's liturgical calendar. Bishop McGrath anticipates that this one huge event, focusing on youth, will give the teenagers a sense of scope of the universal nature of the Catholic Church. Also, the Diocese of San Jose is composed of 15 cities and many neighborhoods with great diversity among the people. The entire event, approximately 3 to 4 hours in the afternoon of May 27, will begin with a multicultural and multidimensional prelude, prayerful and spiritual, including some local youth and campus ministry musical groups.
Plans are still in progress regarding the program for the prelude portion of the event.
Then, Bishop McGrath will preside at Mass during which young people will be confirmed by him and priests of the diocese. Parishes are providing names to the committee planning the event regarding the number of confirmands and their sponsors. Also, young children in parishes which are implementing the restored sequence of the rites of initiation will not be confirmed at the Arena. Those will take place at the parishes. Confirmation 2001 will be for all confirmation candidates of parochial schools, Catholic high schools and parish religious education programs, junior high through high school.