ST. DOMINIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 775 Harrison Avenue New Orleans, LA (504)

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1 ST. DOMINIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 775 Harrison Avenue New Orleans, LA (504) May 9, 2018 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students, Thank you for beginning preparations for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Receiving the sacrament completes the initiation into the Church. It is not a rite of passage, but a gift of strengthening where the graces of the Holy Spirit help a person to grow and be a witness to their Catholic faith. The process for preparation at St. Dominic follows the requirements of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and has some flexibility to allow for the differences in schedules among our students. Below is a calendar of events leading up to the Sacrament of Confirmation. REGISTRATION: Bring completed registration form, sponsor testimonial, copy of Baptismal certificate, and program fee to Aquinas Hall on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM OR Wednesday, September 12, 2018, between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM. PARENT & SPONSOR MANDATORY MEETING: Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at 7:00 PM in the cafeteria; students do not attend SPONSOR SELECTION: The sponsor is selected by the candidate and must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic The sponsor may NOT be the candidate s parent (natural or adoptive) Choosing a Godparent is encouraged Sponsors must provide the signed Sponsor Testimonial Form (provided) CONFIRMATION CLASSES: Students must choose either a Wednesday or Sunday series of classes. Attendance is required at all classes in their chosen series. Switching back and forth between series is not allowed once a series begins. Please note that there must be a minimum of 10 students for the Wednesday class to happen otherwise those students will have to attend the Sunday series. If the Wednesday option is important to you, encourage a few friends to also select Wednesday. o Option 1: Five Wednesdays from 7:00pm 8:30pm February 13, 2019 February 20, 2019 March 13, 2019 March 20, 2019 March 27, 2019 o Option 2: Four Sunday evenings from 6:30pm 8:30pm January 27, 2019 February 3, 2019 February 17, 2019 February 24, 2019 RITE OF WELCOME: Sunday, January 13, 2019, at 5:30 PM (CYO) Mass at St. Dominic Church (Mandatory for candidates and sponsors)

2 RITE OF AFFIRMATION: Sunday, March 10, 2019, at 5:30 PM (CYO) Mass at St. Dominic Church (Mandatory for candidates and sponsors) SAINT REFLECTION: Instructions will be given at your first class; due at your third class SERVICE HOURS: Ten service hours, done in support of those in serious need and/or the Church community, are required, and all ten must be completed through service opportunities sponsored by St. Dominic Parish/CYO between June 1, 2018 and April 6, All Confirmation candidates, whether a member of CYO or not, will receive the CYO semester calendar and monthly newsletter and are responsible for signing up for service opportunities according to instructions and deadlines provided in the monthly CYO Newsletter. No space is being held; most projects have limited space. Plan ahead. INTERVIEW: A short interview to assess readiness for the sacrament will be required for each candidate in February or March per a schedule to be announced. Candidates who are active members of St. Dominic CYO (monthly participation and/or active on a leadership group such as Youth Board or Peer Ministry Team) may be exempt from the interview by virtue of their being active in parish life and known to parish staff. RETREAT INFORMATION: See the attached Retreat for Confirmation explanation. A retreat from among these choices is mandatory. A school-based retreat is not part of Confirmation preparation. There are options spread out through fall and spring; one must be selected for participation. There are one, two, and three day options. CHOOSE CAREFULLY. Further instructions and permission/medical forms will be sent approximately one month advance of your chosen retreat. CONFIRMATION DRESS CODE: Boys: Dress shirt & tie, dress jacket, long pants and dress shoes & socks Girls: Dresses, skirts & blouses (all shoulders covered) and dress shoes or sandals REHEARSAL - MANDATORY: Monday, April 8, 2019, at 7:00 PM in St. Dominic Church SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:00 PM, with Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes COORDINATOR: John Smestad, Jr. at or info@stdominiccyo.org ; Laurie Neely at This is a very special time on your faith journey. We know we can count on your cooperation and support as we help everyone prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. To receive this Sacrament is a serious undertaking. Students are called to affirm their faith and make a deeper commitment to living Gospel values through the strengthening grace of the sacrament. Yours in Christ, John Smestad, Jr., M.R.E. Youth Minister/Confirmation Coordinator

3 ST. DOMINIC PARISH RETREAT FOR CONFIRMATION 2019 Please read carefully Each student preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation must participate in a retreat experience. Such an experience will include witness talks about the Catholic faith, time for reflection, and an opportunity to be with peers for further discussion and community-building as the Body of Christ. The retreat experience is important also because it takes time away from daily routines and responsibilities and allows for a better focus on one s faith journey. Finally, the Archdiocese of New Orleans Confirmation policy requires a retreat experience that is done through the parish during formation. Retreats done through school are not the same as a parish or larger archdiocesan faith community experience. Candidates should choose ONE of the following options. Please read each carefully and make an informed choice based on what program you might enjoy most and what fits best in your schedule. We are offering these various options in the hope that no one has to participate in something that they would find overly inconvenient. Please understand, though, that no matter which option you choose, we request full cooperation and participation. If not, you may be sent home without completing the retreat. Lack of a retreat may result in your not being able to receive the sacrament on time. OPTION #1 St. Dominic CYO Winter Retreat on Thursday, December 27, 2018 Saturday, December 29, This is a TWO-DAY/TWO-NIGHT retreat experience facilitated by the CYO Peer Ministry Team and adult advisors. It includes three presentations, small group discussion and activities, recreation time, Reconciliation, and Mass. It is held at Camp Abbey Retreat Center in Covington, LA. Other CYO members besides Confirmation candidates will be at this retreat; total attendance is about 100 teenagers. Lodging, meals, and bus transportation are included. OPTION #2 Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Retreat on Saturday, January 19 Monday, January 21, TEC is a national Catholic retreat program for older adolescents that centers on the Paschal Mystery, and is held at Rosaryville near Ponchatoula. It is a challenging, but affirming THREE DAY/TWO-NIGHT retreat sponsored by the Archdiocesan CYO Office and facilitated by a team trained by that office. The overall attendance includes high school juniors and seniors from across the archdiocese, so it is an opportunity to meet others. The retreat includes formal presentations, prayer services, small group discussion, recreation, Christian music, Reconciliation, and Eucharist. Lodging and meals are included, but NOT transportation. If you choose TEC, you will have to complete your own registration through but St. Dominic will send the payment. OPTION #3 St. Dominic CYO Spring Retreat on Saturday, March 30 Sunday, March 31, This is a TWO-DAY/ONE NIGHT retreat experience facilitated by the CYO Peer Ministry Team and adult advisors. It includes three presentations, small group discussion and activities, recreation time, Reconciliation, and Mass. It is held at Camp Abbey Retreat Center near Covington. Other CYO members besides Confirmation candidates will be at this retreat; total attendance is about 80 teenagers. Lodging, meals, and bus transportation are included.

4 Special note #1: There are TEC Retreats taking place on June 23-25, 2018, and July 28-30, 2018, which can fulfill your Confirmation retreat requirement. If you are interested in attending one of these, you must contact Johnny Smestad by May 31 to discuss. Special note #2: Teens serving on the St. Dominic CYO Peer Ministry Team will automatically be on one or both CYO retreats, so please select one of these to which we will apply your Confirmation retreat fee. You are still welcome to attend a TEC retreat at your own expense. The process for selecting/confirming your retreat choice is as follows: 1) Check your calendar and select your retreat choice on the Confirmation 2019 Registration Form 2) A instruction memo with date/time/place/what to pack/etc. and permission/medical consent forms will be mailed to you approximately one month prior to your retreat 3) Submit the necessary permission/medical consent form to the St. Dominic Church Office by the deadline provided (approximately one week prior to the retreat) 4) There is NO additional fee to pay as the retreat was included in your overall registration. 5) Members of the St. Dominic CYO Peer Ministry Team who will be at both CYO Winter Retreat and CYO Spring Retreat are asked to mark a retreat to which you would like your Confirmation retreat fee applied even if you will be at multiple retreats.

5 Candidate s Name (Please Print) Sponsor Testimonial Form Please read the requirements for serving as a Confirmation sponsor before signing. Canon 872 and 874 of the Code of Canon Law lists those requirements for the valid and lawful sponsorship in Baptism and Confirmation: The sponsor s role is to assist the person in Christian initiation. The sponsor s role is, together with the parents, to present the child for the sacrament and help him/her to live a life befitting a baptized Catholic Christian. A Sponsor: Must be mature enough to undertake this responsibility. Must have received the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Must be at least 16 years of age. Must be a practicing Catholic Must not be the father or mother, natural or adoptive, of the one Baptized or Confirmed. Being a sponsor is not just an honor given to a good friend or relative. To be a sponsor or Godparent means having a real appreciation of the Church s faith, a practice of the same, and a sense of responsibility toward the person being baptized or confirmed. ************************************************************************ I DECLARE THAT I AM A MEMBER OF THE PARISH LISTED BELOW AND THAT I FULLFILL THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE TO BE A SPONSOR. Sponsor s Name Name of Church Parish City and State Sponsor s Signature Phone Number Date:

6 St. Dominic Religious Education Confirmation 2019 Registration Name as shown on Baptismal Certificate Date of Birth Home Address Home Phone Candidate Cell Candidate High School Attending Grade Level Where have you received your Religious Education for the past 2 years if not attending a Catholic High School? Family Information Father First Middle Last Religion Address (if Different) Father Cell Father Mother Maiden Name First Maiden Last Religion Address (if Different) Mother Cell Mother With whom does student live? Sponsor Information Sponsor Name First Middle Last Address Sponsor Cell Sponsor Church Parish Must have signed Sponsor Testimonial Form A Sponsor: Must be mature enough to undertake this responsibility. Must have received the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Must be at least 16 years of age. Must be a practicing Catholic Must not be the father or mother, natural or adoptive, of the one baptized or confirmed. Page 1 Complete Other Side

7 Mandatory Documentation Baptism (Certificate Required) Church Date Church Address 1 st Eucharist Church Date Instruction Choices and Obligations Confirmation/Saint Name Sacramental Instruction/Class Choice Option 1: Five Wednesdays from 7:00pm 8:30pm February 13 and 20; March 13, 20, and 27, 2019 Option 2: Four Sunday evenings from 6:30pm 8:30pm January 27; February 3, 17, and 24, 2019 Class Choice: ALL MUST ATTEND AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING RETREATS Retreat Choice: Option 1 - CYO Winter Retreat December 27-29, 2018 TWO NIGHT RETREAT Option 2 - Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Retreat January 19-21, 2019 THREE DAY RETREAT Option 3 - CYO Spring Retreat March 30-31, 2019 TWO DAY/ONE NIGHT RETREAT Option 4 a TEC retreat in Summer 2018; I understand I must arrange in May 2018 Parish Member Yes No St. Dominic Parish Envelope # If you are not a parishioner of St. Dominic Parish (meaning not living within the parish boundaries nor registered as a parishioner,) a letter of permission from your parish pastor will be needed prior to acceptance in program. Program Fee: $ (Includes the chosen retreat, class materials, and liturgy supplies. Due with registration in September. Installments available; please contact Laurie Neely at to make arrangements.) For Office Use Only Paid Check/Cash Recv d by Date Baptism Certificate Rec d First Eucharist Date/Documentation Page 2