Confirmation Handbook 2016-2017 AMYM Life Teen Confirmation Program You too, dear young people, can be joyful witnesses of His love, courageous witnesses of His Gospel, carrying to this world a ray of His light. - Pope Francis, World Youth Day Rio 2013 Monica Leon- Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation Rachel Brown- Assistant Youth Minister mleon@americanmartyrs.org and rbrown@americanmartyrs.org 310-546-4734 1
What is AMYM Life Teen? AMYM stands for American Martyrs Youth Ministry. Life Teen is a program that started off as a model for how Youth Ministry is done in our Catholic Church, but now it is described as a movement of the Holy Spirit that is igniting our Catholic faith in communities around the world. AMYM Life Teen serves all high school aged teens, Freshman- Senior, through teen focused events like Life Nights, service projects, and retreats. Also, under the umbrella of our ministry is preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The hope is for our teens to feel at home in their parish community and to be active participants in their Church. 2
The Confirmation Process American Martyrs Confirmation program seeks to provide high school teenagers with the theological and spiritual foundation that will inspire them to live their faith with courage and zeal. Our Confirmation program SEALED. consists of a minimum of two years in faith formation. Any teen in high school who has been baptized is welcome to begin preparation for this Sacrament. Our once a month, Sunday afternoon gatherings begin at 3:30 pm and will end at 6 pm. Candidates will: Gather for a large group activity and message to introduce the afternoon's topic Engage in small group discussion with peers, guided by an adult Core leader Complete their online supplemental material prior to each class Turn in the parent/teen reflection paper prior to class and a hard copy when they come to class Mass will conclude SEALED. classes. Small groups will walk together to their assigned seats in the church before Mass begins. The Confirmation curriculum established by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles provides the requirements and scope and sequence of the lessons for each of the SEALED. Year 1 and Year 2 classes. 3
SEALED. Program Details and Commitment 1. All candidates must attend two years of Confirmation preparation. There are 8 sessions throughout each academic year. Candidates are required to attend ALL meetings with no absences. If candidates struggle with attendance families will be asked to meet with Fr. Rick Prindle to discuss moving forward in formation. 2. All candidates will complete monthly readings from the YouCat, an online quiz, and a parent & teen reflection before attending monthly meetings. (AMYM Life Teen provides YouCats at the beginning of Year 1) 3. All candidates must complete 5 hours of Parish Service and submit their Parish Reflection Form. (Parish Service is performed through any American Martyrs Ministry) 4. All candidates are expected to participate in and attend Mass as an integral part of each SEALED. session. 5. All candidates and parents will complete a one- page reflection together based off of a provided prompt (found online in the monthly quiz) before each SEALED. session. 6. Year 1 candidates must attend ONE Life Night of their choice during their first year of formation. Year 2 candidates must attend a SEALED. Confirmation Retreat or attend another approved retreat experience during the Year 2 Confirmation process. 7. Year 2 candidates will interview with an Adult Core member at the end of the SEALED. program. This helps the team and candidate to discern the growth of the candidate throughout the two- year process. (Sign up information for the interview will be included in the monthly emails) 4
Sponsor Requirements The sponsor has a significant role in the faith development of the candidate. The sponsor must be a fully initiated, mature person of faith. Baptized Confirmed Catholic In good standing with the Church Complete a form with a signature from their Parish Pastor (This form will be provided by AMYM Life Teen) The sponsor cannot be the parent of the one to be confirmed. A sponsor is someone who reflects Catholic values in word, worship, and service. The sponsor participates in activities during the Confirmation process and meets personally with his/her candidate to guide the discernment process the candidate is undertaking. The candidate should choose the sponsor no later than the start of the Year 2 SEALED. program. The sponsor is required to attend both the sponsor session and the second Confirmation practice held the week of Confirmation. 5
Partnering With Parents As the primary educators of their children, we ask that parents, along with sponsors, be strongly involved in the faith life and discernment process of their teen. Parental involvement requires being a role model in reflecting Catholic values through prayer, worship and service. Weekly attendance at Mass is very important for our teens to witness. Please remember that a parent is required to attend the first class of the year on September 18 and the second Confirmation practice during the week of Confirmation. Parents will also partner with their teen to write a one- page reflection to a prompt before each Confirmation class. Parent volunteers are needed! If you want to join Core, assist with our Retreats, help with Life Nights or if you have any way of sharing your time, talent, or treasure with AMYM Life Teen, we would like to know! 6
Communication with Parents Monthly emails will be sent to all parents with program updates, event reminders and parish service opportunities for teens. Facebook and Instagram updates can help provide parents and teens with friendly reminders and important information. Facebook: American Martyrs- YM Instagram: amlifeteen The weekly church bulletin is an important source of information. Please be sure to check the bulletin for weekly updates. The AMYM Life Teen website is vital to staying up to date with monthly assignments, events and service opportunities. An up to date calendar can also be found on the website. www.amymlifeteen.weebly.com Parish Service Opportunities During the Confirmation process, the candidates will be guided in understanding service as a way to live out Gospel values. Candidates must complete at least 5 service hours on their own within the American Martyrs community. The deadline for Parish Service is prior to Confirmation for SEALED. 2 Candidates and June 1, 2016 for SEALED. 1 Candidates. Matthew 25 The Matthew 25 Ministry provides opportunities to every member of the parish to participate in hands- on activities to fulfill the challenge put to us by the Matthew 25 Gospel: to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned and greet the stranger. A calendar of various service events is available on our parish website. 7
Parish Fair Booth Sign Up October 15-16, 2016 Look to sign up online at the American Martyrs Church website or sign up online for the AMYM Life Teen Booth An email will be sent to all families with sign up details. Loaves and Fishes Food Drive Three weekends during the month of March, AMYM Life Teen will host a month long food drive. Dates will be released at a later time. Sign ups will take place prior to the food drive. Teens will distribute shopping lists and collect bags of donated food at all Masses during the last weekend of February and the first three weeks of March. Attendance Part of the choice to be confirmed means participating fully in the process; candidates must attend all 8 SEALED. meetings, complete all online assigned readings and quizzes and arrive on time or early to prepare. The 5 pm Mass is included in the Confirmation class experience and missing Mass will result in a missed class. If a candidate struggles with attendance, the parent and teen will speak personally with Fr. Rick Prindle to discuss moving forward in formation. Make Up Policy Confirmation candidates have two options for making up class: 1. Students can attend any 2 Teen Tuesdays to make up for one missed class 2. Students can attend 1 Life Night to make up for one missed class 8
Code of Conduct As a model of our greater Church community, the School of Religious Education seeks to provide each student with an atmosphere of loving trust. The teens are expected to arrive on time, ready to participate and follow directions given to them by the Adult Core team. Please note that teens may be asked to leave the program at the discretion of the coordinator for any of the following reasons: Participating in actions gravely harmful to the moral and/or spiritual welfare of others. Habitual profanity or vulgarity. Assault, battery, or any threat of force or violence directed toward others. Possession, use of, or sale of tobacco, narcotics, or alcohol. Open, persistent defiance/disrespect of leaders and/or staff. Stealing and dishonesty. Cutting, defacing, or vandalizing in any way property belonging to the church, school, or any other person. In the event of disciplinary action, the Confirmation Coordinator will phone the parents for immediate pickup of the teen. This will be followed by a conference with parents, teen, Fr. Rick Prindle and the Confirmation Coordinator. Dress Code and Cell Phone Policy *Students are expected to wear appropriate and modest clothing to all classes and Masses. *Texting or cell phone use is not permitted during Confirmation classes or events. *Core Members will collect phones before class and return cell phones at the end of every class if teens decide to bring them. 9
American Martyrs SEALED. Year 1 2016-2017 Confirmation Calendar Confirmation Sessions 2-8 will take place on the following dates from 3:30-6 pm. All Confirmation students will attend 5pm Mass as a part of the class. All SEALED. 1 Candidates must attend ONE Life Night. (Please see Life Night Calendar for dates) Class begins at 3:30pm sharp! Please arrive 3:15pm for check in. Class ends at 6 pm. Parent & Teen Class *Please note the special start time September 18, 2015- Session 1 SEALED. Confirmation Parents and Teens @ 2pm in O Donnell Hall and Mass at 5pm in the Church September 25, 2016- Session 2 I Am: The Existence of God November 6, 2016- Session 3 Jesus of History/Christ of Faith December 11, 2016- Session 4 The Mass: Liturgy of the Word January 8, 2017- Session 5 The Mass: Liturgy of the Eucharist February 12, 2017- Session 6 (Combined with Y2) Theology of the Body March 12, 2017- Session 7 Morality (Part 1) April 2, 2017- Session 8 I Believe: The Creed 10
American Martyrs SEALED. Year 2 2016-2017 Confirmation Calendar All Confirmation Sessions will take place on the following dates from 3:30-6 pm. All Confirmation students will attend 5pm Mass as a part of the class. The Confirmation Retreat counts as session number 8. Class begins at 3:30 pm sharp! Please arrive at 3:15pm for check in. Class ends at 6 pm. Parent & Teen Class September 18, 2016 Session 1 - Discipleship Parents and Teens @ 3:30pm in O Donnell Hall and Mass at 5pm in the Church October 9, 2016 - Session 2 Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist November 11-13, 2016 - SEALED.2 Retreat (Session 8) Pine Summit Retreat Center- November 11-13 Pine Summit, Big Bear CA December 4, 2016- Session 3 Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the Sick January 20 & 21, 2017 - SEALED.2 Retreat (Session 8) American Martyrs Church- January 20 from 5pm- 10pm and January 21 from 9am- 6pm January 29, 2017- Session 4 Sacraments of Service: Matrimony & Holy Orders (Vocations) February 12, 2017- Session 5 (Combined with Y1) Theology of the Body March 5, 2017- Session 6 Morality (Part 2) April 9, 2017- Session 7 (Sponsor and Candidate Meeting) - Gifts of the Holy Spirit Confirmation Y2 Interviews April 16 th & 17 th @ 9am- 5pm in Saint Kateri Confirmation Rehearsal Tuesday (Teens Only) and Wednesday (Teens, Parents and Sponsors) the week of Confirmation from 6:30-8pm Confirmation TBA- We are waiting for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to inform us of the official date. 11
AMYM Life Night Schedule A Life Night is a special Sunday night for teens in High School. You do not have to be a Confirmation candidate to attend a Life Night. It begins with the 5pm Mass at American Martyrs. After Mass, we head over to Saint Kateri Room or Holy Family House where we eat dinner, talk, and play a game. Sometimes a Life Night is a social event and on other nights we will explore current topics that are of interest to teens. A speaker gives a talk on the topic of the night and we discuss, pray and end in praise and worship. These nights are an opportunity for teens to dive deeper in relationship with Christ and His Church in fun, interesting ways. October 23 November 20 January 15 January 22 February 5 February 19 February 26 March 19 March 26 April 30 Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri & O Donnell Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri & O Donnell Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri & O Donnell Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri Sunday LIFE NIGHT- 6:15-7:45pm after 5pm Mass in Saint Kateri & O Donnell Did you miss a Class? Here is how to make it up! Confirmation students are required to be present at all 8 SEALED. sessions. If Candidates miss class, a class can be made- up with one of the following options: 1) Students can attend any 2 Teen Tuesdays to make up for one missed class 2) Students can attend 1 Life Night to make up for the missed class Teen Tuesdays Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm in Holy Family House located near the gym. 12
Would you like to help? If you would like to volunteer for any event(s) this year please leave your information below: Parent Name: Teen s Name: Phone Number: E-mail: What would you like to do? Please check all that apply. Loaves and Fishes- Driving food to St. Lawrence Brindisi in the month of March Life Night Core Member Plan, chaperone, and/or lead small group discussions for Life Nights Confirmation Core Member- Help lead small group discussions January Retreat Food Team (Parents will partner together to plan and serve meals for our January SEALED. 2 retreat) Retreat Chaperone Help chaperone and/or assist with Fall or Winter Retreat logistics (Please return this document to the SRE Office for Monica Leon or Rachel Brown) 13
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