Confirmation News

***************************************************************************************************

Confirmation Calendar

****************************************************************************************************

2011-12 Confirmation Program

8th Grade Confirmation Orientation Documents

During the Orientation meeting the following documents were presented and discussed:

     - Meeting Agenda - lists the dates, times & subjects addressed;

     - Parent/Student Survey - used to gain a better understanding of this sacrament and its importance to our faith;

     - Frequently Asked Questions - answers to specific questions about the 8th grade Confirmation Program;

     - Program Calendar - dates, times & topics for each session of the 8th grade Confirmation Program;

     - Specific Documents to be completed & turned in by the 8th grade Candidates;     - Choosing a Name,

                      - Selecting a Sponsor,

                      - Service Description Form, and

                      - Facilitator Sign up (for those who wish to help with the 8th grade Confirmation Program.

***************************************************************************************************

8th Grade November Assignment - The link on the left is for your Advent Confirmation assignment.  It is due December 12.

8th Grade October Assignment - Here is the October assignment to work on.  You may use internet, friends, family, or books to find these answers.  Have the finished assignment in my office (via Holy Spirit Box, snail mail) by October 31 . . . the day before All Saints Day.  Try not to just copy answers from each other but really read the description of the saint and find the answers.  I am trusting you!  Sister Meribeth

****************************************************************************************************

Confirmation dates are 7:00 pm on both Wednesday, May 23, (grade 9 and 10) and Thursday, May 24 (grade 8). Families with two Confirmandi (in high school and grade 8) will be assigned to one night (TBD).

The remainder of the Calendar is listed below. 

How it will work this year 2011-2012!

The Three Tracks (grades 8, 9, 10) will meet on different days each with its own different requirements.

Administration:

Father Chris will administer both 9th and 10th High School tracks. Sister Meribeth will administer the 8th grade track.

Orientation Meetings:

Parent and teen choose one of the following meetings that will explain expectations of student/parent involvement, give you a calendar and answer any questions.

·    Grade 9 and 10 choose one meeting in the Church: December 3 (Saturday) at 11:30 am, OR December 4 (Sunday) at 7:00 pm

·   

  Grade 8 Parent Meetings are complete.  Students who did not attend must contact Sr. Meribeth Rome to schedule an individual meeting.

Registration for Confirmation:

·  Only members of St. Mary Parish will be accepted into the Confirmation Process in any track.

·   Grade 8 and 9 must be receiving basic instruction through SMS day school or a Catholic High School or PSR  (formerly called Teen Faith),  PSR begins September 12, 2011--($10 late fee after Sept. 12)

·   Submit the following items to the ATTN: Religious Education Office

1.      Fill in and submit the completed registration sheet (2 sides),

          (documents can be downloaded from the REO website)

2.      Recent baptismal certificate (if not baptized at St. Mary's), and

3.      Appropriate Fees:

o       10th graders $20

o       9th graders $20  (PSR add $65 or family amount)

o       8th graders $20  (PSR add $65 or family amount)

Instructional Requirements: 

(8th and 9th graders' Catechetical and Sacramental instruction must be simultaneous.)

10th grade: ("grandfathered in" under the past system)

·   Sacramental Instruction

o       attend all Confirmation sessions (December-May)

o       attend the Confirmation retreat

9th grade:

·   Catechetical Instruction

o       Public school students attend bi-weekly Monday night PSR classes. (formerly called Teen Faith)

o       Catholic High School students receive their instruction in the school classroom

·   Sacramental Instruction

o       attend all Confirmation sessions (December-May)

o       attend the Confirmation retreat.

8th grade:

·   Catechetical Instruction

o       Public school students attend all four blocks of Monday night PSR classes. (formerly called Teen Faith)

o       St. Mary School students receive their instruction in the classroom

·   Sacramental Instruction

o       First Semester: privately work on the journal pages that will be given to you at your interview/meeting.

o     Second Semester: attend all Confirmation sessions (December-May)

*************************************************************************************

Questions/Answers

Are service projects required of the candidates?

Yes, 10 hours of service will still be part of the Confirmation process. However, it will be dealt with differently than in the past. Every month the student will come to the session prepared to report and reflect on any service he/she has done since the last meeting. Hopefully the Candidate will grow into seeing possibilities of service everywhere and realize that a Catholic Christian’s life is lived for others….the common good. In other words, the motivation and the attitude are the most important part of service. The 10 hours will be the same for Catholic High School and Public High.

Parents will be asked on occasion to reflect on the changes in their son’s or daughter’s approach to the Christian life.

If a candidate had a brother or sister go through the Confirmation process already, can the candidate use the Catholic Youth Bible from his/her sibling instead of buying a new one?

We would hope, that the sibling’s bible would have been so well used that the candidate would actually NEED his/her own. But …in answer to the question… Yes…using the sibling’s Bible is acceptable. The process for distributing these at the ritual during a session is still being worked out. In this case, the cost of the Bible will be returned to the parent.

How many sessions can a candidate miss before being out of the process?

Our hope is that no sessions will be missed. However for unusual circumstances, it will be addressed on a case-by-case basis with Sister Meribeth and the team. This applies to the spring retreat also.

What is the importance of the Spring Spirit Day Retreat?

Its purpose lies in an intense experience of community with those on the same journey in our parish and a deeper sharing of what the Holy Spirit has done so far in the candidate’s life. It is proximate preparation for the sacrament. With that said, it makes very little sense for a candidate to go to another retreat at another parish.

Sponsors?

Sponsors should be practicing confirmed Catholics over the age of 16. If married, the sponsor must be in a valid marriage recognized by the church. Every sponsor will need to submit to our office, a sponsor’s certificate from their parish stating they are practicing members. A non-Catholic may not be a sponsor. A parent may not be a sponsor. A female may sponsor a male candidate. A male may sponsor a female candidate.

Why don’t we have Enrollment this year?

In a way we still do, however the Confirmation process is not about signing up for something new, it is about strengthening the grace of Baptism already received. To be clear, the term “Enrollment” is specifically used in the Rite of Christian Initiation only for non-baptized persons. Our Confirmation candidates are already baptized so it is an inaccurate term in our process.  We have renamed the ritual “Commitment to Continuing the Journey” instead. After this ritual is performed, it is expected that all candidates have made their decision to be receive the sacrament and then LIVE IT in their lives.

Which Bishop will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Bishop John Lennon will confer the sacrament in 2011-12.

Donations to Bishop’s charity

It is traditional that the Confirmandi make a donation to the Bishop’s charity. As the year goes on, the candidates and team will decide how this will be handled.

   *******************************************************************

 Dear Confirmation Candidate:

   What does Confirmation do for us?  What is our responsibility?

The Sacrament of Confirmation increases the grace of Baptism uniting you even more firmly to Christ. It completes your initiation into the Church, and helps you to grow in faith through your involvement in the parish community. Preparing for a sacrament takes time and a willingness to grow in faith. This year you will be given the opportunity to become more familiar with the teachings of Jesus, deepen your prayer life, find your place in the Church, and put your faith into action by being a witness to others.

  Schedule of Sessions

You can find the schedule of all of our monthly sessions and activities online at www.stmarysbereareo.org. Go to the Youth Ministry section and click on Confirmation. If you need a paper copy of the schedule please contact our office. Please mark your calendar with the dates and times so that you can avoid any conflicts with work or extracurricular activities. It is so important that each candidate be present at all sessions. We are a community! 

  Let’s get started!

We will begin our preparation on Sunday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the school gym, with our opening session for parents and candidates. At that time, we will lay out the plan for the year and answer your questions. You will receive all paperwork for the year concerning choosing a name, choosing a sponsor and service hours, that evening.

  Practical Points

The cost for the sacramental preparation is $20. This fee will be used to offset some of the costs for Catholic Youth Bibles, textbooks, supplies, speakers and the all day retreat on March 12, 2011. Please return the completed forms, a copy of your Baptismal Certificate and fee*, as soon as possible, so we can prepare for the coming year. If you have any questions, please call or email me at stmarysbereareo@yahoo.com

Peace be with you!

 Sister Meribeth Rome, SND    

******************************************************************************************

 Confirmation is a sacrament that increases the grace of Baptism uniting you even more firmly to Christ. It completes your initiation into the Church, and helps you to grow in faith through your involvement in the parish community. Preparing for a sacrament takes time and a willingness to grow in faith. This year you will be given the opportunity to become more familiar with the teachings of Jesus, deepen your prayer life, find your place in the Church, and put your faith into action by being a witness to others.            

      Preparing for Confirmation is a journey. You have been on this journey since your Baptism. To help you on your journey, we will have sessions and activities. We will meet once a month starting after the first of the year. We have a fantastic new website and you can find the schedule of all of our sessions online at www.stmarysbereareo.org. Go to the Youth Ministry section and click on Confirmation. If you need a paper copy of the schedule please contact our office. Please mark your calendar with the dates and times so that you can avoid any conflicts with work or extra curricular activities. It is so important that each candidate be present at all sessions. We are a community!   

*************************************