CONFIRMATION HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 CONFIRMATION HANDBOOK CONTENTS: Time and Place page 2 Agenda page 2 Small Groups page 2 Liturgical Involvement page 3 Interview with the Pastor page 3 Confirmation Retreat page 3 Curriculum page 4 Calendar of Topics page 4 Assignments page 5 Sponsors page 7 Frequent Questions about Sponsors page 8 Liturgical Ministry Participation Sheet page 9 Second Year Confirmation Checklist page 10 1

2 TIME AND PLACE - Based on the recommendations of the catechists as well as the diocesan documents governing the proximate year of confirmation preparation I would like to propose changing the time and place of the second-year confirmation class. o Time: 5:30PM -6:45pm each Sunday afternoon. (See calendar for exceptions) o Place: Parish Center Main Room - This allows a big enough space for all the second-year candidates, as well as space to break out into our small groups. - WE DO NOT KNOW THE DATE OF THE CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION YET. This is determined by the diocese. Once we are given the date we will immediately inform you. AGENDA - 5:30pm 5:40pm Opening prayer/activity - 5:40pm 6:15pm Lesson - 6:15pm 6:35pm Small Groups - 6:35pm 6:45pm Assembly prayer SMALL GROUPS - Having all of our second-year confirmation students in one class is challenging. It also poses the problem of intimacy and participation. In order to ensure the best possible experience for our young people we are excited to introduce small groups into the program as a means of fostering discussion and community. - The groups will be divided up by gender. The young gentleman will have a man as a group leader, the young ladies will have a woman as the group leader. - Groups will be no bigger than 10 candidates large to foster intimacy and discussion. - After the lesson portion of the class the groups will gather and discuss the presentation and complete their assignment. - In coordination with the Group Leader, each group will be expected to carry out a service project. This project will be planned, performed and then presented as a group. This service project will take the place of the traditional, individual service hours. The group project will ensure that the service experience will be of substantial value to the candidates and the community. The plans will be discussed in small groups during the class but will be done outside of the normal class times at a date determined by the group. Individual service in other ministries and organizations is encouraged but will not serve as a substitute for the group project. - It may occur that there may be some personal conflict that warrants a candidate to be reassigned to a different small group. If such a conflict arises please bring it to the attention of Patrick Ginty and a solution will be sought. 2

3 LITURGICAL INVOLVEMENT - Holy Mass is the source and summit of our Christian Faith. Everything flows from and leads to this ultimate experience of worship. Attendance at Sunday mass is obligatory for participants in the program. While it is most convenient for the candidates to attend the Youth Mass on Sunday nights at 7:00pm, they can attend any of the weekend masses to fulfill this obligation. - Each candidate for confirmation will be required to sign up for a liturgical ministry and participate on a weekly basis. These include: o Ushers o Welcomers o Desk attendants o Altar servers o Choir members o Lectors - A list will be provided to each confirmation candidate for validation. Candidates are expected to participate in Holy Mass each weekend, but must have 20 validations completed to be admitted to confirmandi (those admitted to confirmation). - Validation can be given with a signature from one of the following: o Priest o Deacon o DRE o Confirmation Catechist o Adult Ministry leader (usher, choir director, etc.) INTERVIEWS WITH THE PASTOR - It is important that our candidates for confirmation sit down and talk with our pastor. This is an opportunity for our pastor to get to know them as well as an opportunity for our youth to ask questions, receive guidance, etc. Fr. Peter will make himself available each Sunday to meet with the candidates. Each candidate is expected to meet with him at least once during the year. SECOND YEAR CONFIRMATION RETREAT - While the details of the retreat are still being worked out we ask you to keep the weekend of January free and clear. While in the past the retreat has been treated by some as a simple obligation to be fulfilled and accommodations have been made for candidates to go to other events in lieu of the retreat, this will not be the case this year. We are working hard with the deanery reps to create an experience above and beyond that of ordinary retreats. For many of our youth the retreat is the pinnacle of the year in which Christ manifests himself personally to them. Please mark your calendars. 3

4 CURRICULUM (approximately 28 WEEKS) - BEGINNING APOLOGETICS VOLUME I (San Juan Catholic Seminars) (5 WEEKS) o A small textbook/workbook program that is a basic course on the teaching of the faith. - ALTARATION PROGRAM (By Chosen) (5 WEEKS) Ascension Press o A 5-session mini course on the mystery of the Holy mass o The video will be shown during the lesson portion of the catechetical session and then the workbook questions will be done during the small group portion. - YOU: LIFE, LOVE, AND THE THEOLOGY OF THE BODY (10 WEEKS) Ascension Press o In an age of selfies and egocentrism, YOU cuts through the noise to present an authentic view of the human person. It presents young people with the extraordinary story of their creation as unrepeatable individuals. But the program doesn t stop there. YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body introduces teens to the truth that life is not, in fact, all about them; it is about going out of themselves to be a sincere gift for others. CALENDAR OF TOPICS # DATE TOPIC CURRICULUM 1 SEPT 10 OPENING CLASS/INTROS ICE BREAKERS ETC. 2 SEPT 17 THE BIBLE SJCS BEG. APOL VOL. 1 UNIT SEPT30 APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY AND THEY PAPACY SJCS BEG. APOL VOL. 1 UNIT 4 4 OCT 8 CREATED FOR LOVE YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 5 OCT 15 NAKED WITHOUT SHAME YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 6 OCT 21 LOVE DEFINED YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 7 OCT 28 HOPE AND REDEMPTION IN CHRIST YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 8 NOV 5 TRUTH AND FREEDOM YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 9 NOV 11 FREE, TOTAL, FAITHFUL, FRUITFUL YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 10 NOV 19 LANGUAGE OF THE BODY YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 11 DEC 3 MARRIAGE YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 4

5 12 DEC 10 PRIESTHOOD, CONSECRATED LIFE AND CELIBACY YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 13 DEC 17 FRIENDSHIP, DATING AND FAMILY YOU: LIFE, LOVE, TOB 14 JAN 7 QUESTIONS ABOUT MARY SJCS BEG. APOL VOL.1 UNIT 5&6 15 JAN 14 BAPTISM AND CONFESSION SJCS BEG. APOL VOL. 1 UNIT Q. 5&6 AND UNIT 7 16 JAN21 PURGATORY AND SALVATION SJCS BEG. APOL VOL. 1 UNIT 9; Q.7,8,9 17 JAN 27 SATURDAY RETREAT NO CLASS ON SUNDAY EVENING 18 FEB 4 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ALTARATION 19 FEB 11 OUR FATHER S PLAN ALTARATION 20 FEB 18 THE MYSTERY REVEALED ALTARATION 21 FEB 25 WHAT S OUR RESPONSE? ALTARATION 22 MAR 4 THE WHY S BEHIND THE WHAT S ALTARATION 23 MAR 11 PENTECOST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMATION LECTURE 24 MAR 18 RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES CONFIRMATION LECTURE 25 APR 8 THE LAYING ON OF HANDS CONFIRMATION LECTURE 26 APR 15 THE ANOINTING WITH CHRISM CONFIRMATION LECTURE 27 APR 22 GUEST SPEAKER BUFFER WEEK 28 APR 29 GUEST SPEAKER BUFFER WEEK 5

6 ASSIGNMENTS - There are only two assignments that must be completed and turned in at the specified dates. They are very simple but profound in nature. o Patron Saint Short Essay Each candidate must research and then choose their Patron Saint. Once the saint is chosen the candidate must write a short (typed) essay explaining the following: o A short bio of the saint What made this person a saint? How I can follow the example of this saint Letter to the Bishop Write a personal (typed and signed) letter to His Excellency, Bishop Zamara, explaining what the Catholic faith means to me and why I want to be confirmed. 6

7 CONFIRMATION SPONSORS: Each Candidate should choose a confirmation sponsor. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Try and choose someone that you know will be of assistance to you on your journey towards holiness and faithfulness. Canon law says the following about Confirmation Sponsors: Can. 892 As far as possible the person to be confirmed is to have a sponsor. The Sponsor s function is to take care that the person confirmed behaves as a true witness of Christ and faithfully fulfils the duties inherent in this sacrament. Can A person who would undertake the office of sponsor must fulfill the conditions mentioned in can. 874 which reads: To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must: be appointed by the candidate for (confirmation), or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it; be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made; be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared; not be either the father or the mother of the person to be (confirmed). A baptized person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the (confirmation) 2. It is desirable that the sponsor chosen be the one who undertook this role at baptism. 7

8 FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT CONFIRMATION SPONSORS: 1. Can my parents, or one of my parents be my confirmation sponsor? - Answer: No. (see Canon Law above Also the General Norms for the Diocese of Raleigh 3.4 reiterates this prohibition.) 2. Can a non-catholic be my sponsor? - Answer: No. (see Canon Law above.) Seems obvious, especially because the sponsor is someone that is chosen to help you to live your life as A CATHOLIC! 3. Can I have two sponsors? - Answer: Depends. Usually there is only one sponsor for confirmation but when the godparents at baptism are chosen as the sponsors for confirmation, there can be two sponsors. 4. Can two men or two women be confirmation sponsors? - Answer: No. Confirmation, being the completion of the sacrament of baptism follows the same norms as baptismal godparents. Canon Law specifically prohibits two godparents (sponsors) of the same sex. 5. Can a woman be a confirmation sponsor for a man and vice-versa? - Answer: Yes. There is no prohibition of this, though in certain countries and cultures it is not the norm. 6. Can someone be a sponsor if they are living in an irregular, romantic relationship? - Answer: No. (See General Norms for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Formation of Candidates of the Diocese of Raleigh 3.4.6) This includes Catholics married outside of the Church, living in Civil Unions, any type homosexual relationship, and those cohabitating outside of marriage. 8

9 Liturgical Ministry Participation Sheet NAME: MINISTRY: # DATE MASS TIME ADULT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE (ADULT S.)

10 SECOND YEAR CONFIRMATION CHECKLIST All candidates for confirmation will be expected to complete the following in order to be admitted to the reception of the sacrament: o Attend Confirmation Retreat o Fill Out Sponsor Form o Complete Liturgical Ministry Participation Sheet o Complete Patron Saint Essay o Complete Letter to the Bishop o Attend meeting with the Pastor (Fr. Peter) o Participate in Small Group Project 10