Adult Confirmation Information Booklet

Transcription

1 Adult Confirmation Information Booklet Adult Confirmation Process for Adults 18 and over who have been Baptized and have celebrated their 1st Communion in the Roman Catholic Church. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a welcoming community of prayer, worship and service seeking to teach and reconcile God s people through Jesus Christ.

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3 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Welcome to the Adult Confirmation Process! In this booklet you will find: General but important Information about the ministry A complete calendar A description of our Adopt A Family community uutreach service Description of the process used at the Formation Sessions along with a reading and journal entry schedule Description of how to choose a sponsor Instructions for registration Our prayers are with you. In Christ, Claudia Avila Torres Director of Evangelization Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 2

4 About Our Ministry Confirmation is one of three Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Catholic Church. The other two are Baptism and First Holy Communion (also known as First Eucharist). These Sacraments lay the foundation of Christian life. In the Sacrament of Confirmation one is sealed with the Holy Spirit and strengthened by the Spirit s Gifts to live the rest of one s life at the service of Jesus mission. The Cathedral s Confirmation process is a time of extended prayer that seeks to provide adults with an opportunity to grow in all aspects of faith life so that they may reach the day of their Confirmation Celebration looking forward to a life of Missionary Discipleship. Four Pillars that Guide our Adult Confirmation Process Faith and Spiritual Formation Liturgical Spirituality And Life of Prayer Community Life and Mission The Moral Life and Discernment Our faith and spiritual development is not a specific time in our lives but instead an ongoing, lifelong process, where one matures in one s understanding of faith and deepens in one s relationship with God. The liturgical rhythm of the Church guides the Church in its formation, reflection and celebration of the mysteries of God. To have a liturgical sensibility is to be connected to the communal life of prayer the Church. It is not only I who has a relationship with God but We. Our Adult Confirmation Process is also an introduction to small community faith sharing. One get an opportunity to meet other adults journeying together to the celebration of Confirmation, learning how to share one s faith with others. Together all are invited to serve the community. Throughout the process, as one deepens one s understanding of the faith and relationship with Jesus, one grows in the ability to discern the call of God in life and to make life choices rooted in the faith. Who can participate in the Cathedral Adult Confirmation Preparation Process? Adults (18 years or older) who were Baptized Roman Catholic AND who have celebrated their First Communion may participate. If you have not celebrated either or both of the mentioned Sacraments then you are invited to join our Cathedral RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. What is the commitment? This process has a total of 10 formation sessions, 1 outreach service opportunity, the Holy Week celebrations, a rehearsal night and the Confirmation celebration. Participants must attend ALL the dates listed on the calendar. There are no opportunities for make-up sessions. Absence due to emergency are handled on an individual basis. You and your chosen sponsor will be expected to attend both the rehearsal and the actual day of your Confirmation celebration and your sponsor will attend a sponsor meeting. What else will be provided? You will receive a copy of Joe Paprocki s, A Well Built Faith, Loyola Press, along with other miscellaneous material provided at each session. Parking will be validated. 3

5 Process Calendar Event Date Time Location Orientation/Registration Night Monday, October 15, PM 8:30PM Room 2/3 Formation Session 1 My Journey of Faith Formation Session 2 What we believe: The four pillars of our faith, the Bible and Tradition Formation Session 3 The Trinity and the Church Adopt A Family Community Outreach Project Formation Session 4 Sacramental/Liturgical Life Formation Session 5 Confirmation and the 7 Gifts of the Spirit Formation Session 6 The Mass in Slow Motion Formation Session 7 Life of Discipleship Formation Session 8 Life of Prayer Formation Session 9 Lenten Reflection and Penitential Service Monday, November 5, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Monday, November 19, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Monday, December 3, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Saturday, December 15, 6:30AM 12PM Cathedral 2017 Monday, January 14, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Monday, January 28, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Saturday, February 9, AM 11AM St. Vibiana Chapel Monday, February 25, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Monday, March 11, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Monday, March 25, PM 9PM Room 2/3 HOLY WEEK Palm Sunday Mass Sunday, April 14, AM Mass Cathedral Chrism Mass Monday, April 15, PM Mass Watch the live stream online from home Holy Thursday Mass Thursday, April 18, PM Mass Cathedral Good Friday Service Friday, April 19, 2019 Attend any Good Friday Service or Mass at Cathedral or local parish Easter Vigil Mass Saturday, April 20, PM Mass Cathedral Easter Sunday Mass Sunday, April 21, 2019 Attend any Mass at the Cathedral or at a local parish. Formation Session 10 Monday, April 29, PM 9PM Room 2/3 Easter Reflection and Pentecost CONFIRMATION Sponsor Meeting (Sponsors Only) Friday, May, PM to 7:30PM Room 2/3 Prayer and Rehearsal Monday, May, PM 8PM Cathedral Confirmation Sunday, May, AM Mass Cathedral 4

6 Each Session includes Prayer Group Faith Sharing Presentation by a Facilitator Reading BEFORE each session Spiritual Journal Entry AFTER each session Description of Formation Sessions Process And Reading and Journal Entry Schedule Reading BEFORE each session You will be provided with a copy of Joe Paprocki. A Well Built Faith: A Catholic s Guide to Knowing and Sharing What We Believe, Loyola Press, (DO NOT purchase this yourself) Spiritual Journal Entries AFTER each session The Tuesday after each Session you will receive an with a link so that you may submit a journal entry online. In these journal entries you are invited to reflect on your faith and your relationship with God. You may be asked to write about what is something new you have learned or what in the reading or the session impacted you or stayed with you in a particular way. You might even be asked to reflect on how the reading or the session is inviting you to grow. Schedule of Readings and Journal Entries Reading Journal Entry Assignment Due Date Received on: None Monday, October 22, 2018 Monday, November 5, 2018 Introduction & Chapters 1-3 Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Monday, November 19, 2018 Chapters 4-6 Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Monday, December 3, 2018 Chapters 7-8 Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Monday, January 14, 2019 Chapters 9-11 Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Monday, January 28, 2019 None Tuesday January 29, 2019 Saturday, February 9, 2019 Chapters Tuesday, February 12, 2019 Monday, February 25, 2019 Chapters Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Monday, March 11, 2019 Chapters Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Monday, March 25, 2019 Conclusion pg. 157 Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Monday, April 29, 2019 None Tuesday, April 29, 2019 Monday, May 13,

7 Adopt-A-Family For over twenty-eight years, the Cathedral Adopt-A-Family Program has made it possible for struggling families with children to have a magical Christmas and experience the Light of Christ. The program has assisted families in one of the poorest areas of our city. These families face unimaginable obstacles and challenges on a daily basis. For this reason, we are personally seeking out these families to assist them. The lives of these children can be most bleak. They live in hotels and apartments, often crowded in one room units with brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, and other family members. Surrounded by drug dealing, prostitution, violent crime and poverty, there are very few comforts. Very few have refrigerators; fewer have stoves; and bathroom and kitchen facilities are often down the hall and shared with neighbors. Despite such dire circumstances, many of these families are outside of the help of government and other charitable programs. It is for these struggling families that the Adopt-A-Family Program was created. Recently we have served over 500 families each year. How does the Adult Confirmation ministry group get involved? Our Adult Confirmation Group adopts ONE family in November. We receive a list of the family s needs and each member of the Adult Confirmation group volunteers to purchase items on the list to gift to the adopted family. In December we collect all the gifts for this one family. On Saturday, December 15, 2018 the Adult Confirmation group gathers at the Cathedral to volunteer in the delivery of gifts to all the families that were adopted that year. After delivering gifts, we gather for a time of prayer and reflection on the day of service. 6

8 How to Choose a Sponsor What requirements and qualities should I look for in a sponsor? Choose only one persons who is at least 16 years old. This person should be a practicing Catholic who has been fully initiated into the Roman Catholic Church, which means that he or she has celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation and if married, that they have made Sacramental Vows in the Church. The qualities that this person should possess are qualities that you admire because of their unquestionable faith; someone who walks closely with God, and lives their life according to our Gospel teachings. Our Baptism and Confirmation are intimately connected, therefore, it is appropriate to ask one of your Baptism Godparents to be your sponsor (CCC 1311), however this is not required. This sponsor must be able and ready to help [you] on the road to Christian life. (CCC, 1255) You may not choose a parent or your spouse (or future spouse) to be a sponsor. Your Sponsor should be able to attend the Sponsor Meeting, the Rehearsal Night, and the Confirmation Mass. Can I choose a sponsor who lives far away? Ideally a sponsor should be someone who lives nearby and belongs to your parish. The sponsor is a person who represents the worshipping community. However, the most important aspect of your relationship with your sponsor is that you can see it developing into a long-term commitment with each other. This is a person with whom you can share your faith, and other personal aspects of your life. The time commitment for a Confirmation sponsor is ongoing. Can you see this person as being there for you when you need them? Is this person someone who can celebrate your new life in Christ throughout the coming years? Is this person a person of prayer who can journey with you in the Roman Catholic tradition? If you can answer these questions in a positive way, then this person would be an excellent sponsor for your journey through life with the Holy Spirit as your guide. What if I don t know anyone who fits this description and requirements? Being a sponsor for Confirmation is a great honor that comes with great responsibility. If you do not know anyone that can serve as your sponsor, let the Director know and she will assist you on your search. 7

9 How to Register 1. Register for our Orientation Night which will take place on Monday, October 15, 2018 from 7PM to 8:30PM in the Cathedral Conference Center by following this link: At this Orientation you will be introduced to the process and register that night. 2. Bring the following items to the Orientation Night on October 15, 2018 : Copy of Baptism Certificate (Not the original) Copy of your 1 st Communion Certificate (Not the original) $100 check made out to Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels with Adult Confirmation on the memo line. What if I don t have copies of my Baptism or First Communion Certificates? Contact the parish (here in the U.S. or in another country) where you were Baptized and/or celebrated your First Holy Communion and request a copy or letter. If after contacting the parish you have issues obtaining it, feel free to contact the Cathedral s Director of Evangelization for further assistance at cavilatorres@olacathedral.org. 3. After the October Orientation Night you will be ready to begin on November 5th! A Copy of this Book will be provided to you at the Orientation Session. 8

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12 Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 555 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA Tel: