High School Confirmation Program Parent Packet 2017-18 Saint Joseph s Catholic Church Marietta, Ga. 30060 Parents: please complete the last two pages and return this to the Life Teen Office by October 15, 2017
Dear Parents, I am so happy to be joining you on this spiritual journey with you and your child. Sacramental years are such a blessing for the entire family, and I know this one will be extra special. Although the timing was probably not intentional, the Church, in her great wisdom, has set up sacramental moments about every seven years of our lives if we do it the way it was designed. We receive Baptism when we are babies, receive Holy Communion and Reconciliation around the age of 7, receive Confirmation around 14, and then there s usually a gap until we get Married, which many times does hit around the age of 21 or 22. After we get married, it starts all over again for our children: Baptism as an infant, Holy Communion at age 7 with Reconciliation, Confirmation at 14 and possibly Marriage. If we are lucky, we then start the process all over again with grandchildren. These moments are times of great grace, and they also serve as checkpoints where families open the windows of their souls to each other and share themselves in a deeper way. And those who are leading the way are given the opportunity to form and shape the one receiving the sacrament, all the while re-asking the questions themselves, and hopefully, allowing a deeper knowledge to ensue. It s a fragile and blessed time where the souls stretch and grow, and come to know God in a more intimate and personal way. So, this is where our lives merge. I am the High School Youth Director and oversee all that happens with those in grades 9-12 at St. Joseph s, including the second year in preparation of the sacrament of Confirmation. I am also a parent. I was blessed to be Youth Minister for many years before I started my own family, and now I have teenagers of my own. I am walking this road along with you. My job at St. Joseph s is to help you where you feel you might need some assistance. Everyone's at a different place in this journey and I am happy to jump in and assist at the place where your family needs it. Because my own children are very involved in sports, drama, music, and school, and I work a full-time job, I totally understand the strain that we are all under. It is a very busy time in the life of a family. I hope to make things as simple as possible for you while holding on to the important aspects of this process. We offer several options for you to choose from so that this can best fit into your life. Most of the High School programming at Saint Joseph's happens on Sundays and Wednesdays, so keep that in mind when planning for church activities. Our Confirmation program gears each teen toward a strong relationship with Jesus that will be best if nurtured after the Confirmation ceremony. Therefore, we host a post-confirmation program called, Relentless, where older teens continue their journey with Jesus in Catholic community. Keep an eye out for that when this process is completed. Read over this packet and let me know if you have any questions on your end and also let me know any concerns or comments your teen may express to you. We are here to serve your family in any way needed. God s peace, Lisa Fiamingo High School Youth Director
How the Program Works Each Confirmation Candidate will need to spend time reviewing their faith and learning about Christian life in Catholic community. Saint Joseph s offers several options to accomplish this, including Church Study, Home Study, and Catholic School. The teens who choose the Church Study option will be assigned to a Small Group at the beginning of the year. This Small Group is where they will review their faith and learn the value of Catholic community. The program that will be used is the Dynamic Catholic Institute, Decision Point. The Home Study Program utilizes the same program, but it is monitored by the parent. Each teen will also receive a book at the beginning of the year that must be completed by the end of the year. The questions in the book are very thought provoking, and it is highly advised that all parents review it with their teens as they complete the chapters. For those in Church Study, the Small Group leaders will be guiding them along in this process. The parents must have the paperwork in this packet completed by October 15. CONFIRMATION PREPARATION CHOICES Church Study Program choose one o o Sunday Life Teen Program, 6:00-8:00pm (this is a large group and very social) Wednesday Bible Study, 6:30-8:00pm (this is smaller group) Home Study Program Decision Point Program by Matthew Kelly. You can order it online at http://dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation/ It s free. You just pay s/h. Catholic School If your child attends Catholic School, you will only need to complete the paperwork in this packet, and attend either one of our retreats or a one-evening workshop held closer to the date of the Confirmation ceremony RETREAT CHOICES o October 6-8, 2017 Retreat, Camp Gideon, Acworth, GA o March 9-11, 2018 Retreat, Hidden Lake, Dahlonega, GA o July 6-8,2018 Steubenville Conference, Duluth, GA We communicate with teens (and parents if interested) via GROUPME, so please download the app and respond to our email or text when we send it the week of Sept 11.
Changes for 2017-18 After much prayer, consideration, and consultation with clergy, we have made some changes to our program this year. If you have had older teens in our program, please read the following: There will be no Teen Packet to complete. The Teens will discuss the things that were previously in the packet in their small groups and complete what is necessary at church. We will not be requiring any documentation of Service Hours. However, we will be encouraging the teens to give of themselves in the community. This will be discussed at length in their small groups. Writing their letters to Monsignor will take place in the small groups. If your teen wants to do it at home, that is fine. They will turn it in to their small group leader. We will not be writing our Saint Reports this year, but will be discussing and sharing in our small groups. Paperwork that needs to be turned in will be given to the parents. All the necessary forms are in this packet. Parents need to turn in the following forms in by October 15: 1. Sacrament Application 2. Sponsor Certificate of Eligibility (please give this to the Sponsor by October 1 so it is in to our office by October 15) 3. Baptism Certificate Our main focus in the 9 th Grade Confirmation program will be teach the teens the four elements of a Practicing Catholic: o Attending Sunday Mass o Frequent Confession o Daily Prayer Time o Service We will spend time explaining the elements of the faith that will help them see the value in choosing to be a Practicing Catholic.
Frequently Asked Questions Church Study Are the teens required to come to all the classes? They are allowed to miss 4 classes in the year. What do they have to do if they miss class for some reason? When a teen misses class, they will need to contact their small group leader and then can do a chapter in the book for that week at home. Is there food served at every Life Teen and every Bible Study? Yes, there is. What if my child is not connecting in his/her small group? This is vital to their experience and needs to be addressed. Please contact Lisa Fiamingo and she will help with some other options. Ceremony When is the ceremony? The ceremony will be in August of 2018. The date will be determined by the Bishop s office in the spring sometime, and we will let you know as soon as we find out. Is there a practice/rehearsal? Yes, it will also be in August of 2018. Will there be pictures at the ceremony? Yes, we will provide a professional photographer and you may purchase the pictures through him. The details of that will come closer to the ceremony. Does the Bishop celebrate the Confirmation Mass? Yes, he does. What does my child wear to the ceremony? Dress pants/tie or suit for the guys and dresses/skirts for the girls. You can choose any color you would like. Retreat Will the retreat cost any money? Yes it will. The details of that will come out a few months before each retreat. What do I do if I have concerns about my child attending the retreat/conference? Contact Lisa Fiamingo. She is more than willing to help you with this. What requirements are there for Catholic School students? Students who attend Catholic High School are only required to attend a retreat or a one-day event to prepare for the sacrament, send in their Saint Name, and letter to Monsignor requesting confirmation. The parents are required to turn the necessary paperwork by Oct 15, 2017. What is required of Home Study students? Home Study parents must agree to oversee their child s religious formation during the Confirmation preparation process. Parents are to turn in the necessary forms by October 15, 2017, order the program from Dynamic Catholic (this comes with a teaching video), and have the teen complete the book and turn it in by the date assigned. The parent must also send in the Saint Name and Letter to Monsignor requesting Confirmation. Home Study students are required to attend a retreat unless other arrangements are made with Lisa Fiamingo.
Application for THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION Please print clearly or type all information. Use complete name given at Baptism -- no initials, nicknames or abbreviations. *THIS APPLICATION WILL BE USED TO ENTER INFORMATION INTO OFFICIAL CHURCH RECORDS.* ** Fee: $25.00 Make check payable to St. Joseph Church ** PERSONAL INFORMATION: Name First Middle Last Address: Street City/State Zip Phone: ( ) Candidate's age at time of Confirmation: Date of Birth Father's Full Name: Mother's Full Name: (include MAIDEN last name) BAPTISM INFORMATION: (A copy of Baptism certificate must be attached to this registration form unless already submitted.) (The following information is required to register the Confirmation sacrament at the church of Baptism. Please fill in all blanks.) Parish of Baptism: Date of Baptism - mm/dd/yy : Street Address City / State / Zip Name at time of Baptism: RELIGIOUS EDUCATION RECORD: List the name(s) of parish religious education program your child has attended in the past two years: Parish Program/Catholic School Address/City/State/Zip Parish Program/Catholic School Address/City/State/Zip PARISH INFORMATION: Are you registered at St. Joseph's Parish? Will your young person be confirmed at St. Joseph's Church? Yes No Yes No If no, please list parish of registration: Church name If no, please list parish: Church name Street City/State/Zip Street City/State/Zip Area code Phone number Area code Phone number Sponsor Name: Confirmation (Saint) Name:
St. Joseph Catholic Church SPONSOR CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY Sponsor s Name: (please print) Candidate s Name: (please print) PLEASE READ THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPONSORSHIP BEFORE SIGNING Cannon 872 and 874 of the Code of Cannon Law lists those requirements for the valid and lawful sponsorship in Baptism and Confirmation. A Sponsor Must: -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. 1. Be mature enough to undertake this responsibility. 2. Have received the three Sacraments of Initiation, namely Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. 3. Be not less than 16 years of age. 4. Know the fundamental truths of the Faith and be a practicing Catholic who goes to Mass on Sunday, receives the sacraments regularly, and sees to the religious instruction of his/her family. 5. Be a member of the Catholic Church, canonically free to carry out this office. (This would indicate that Catholics publicly living in an invalid marriage (Not according to the Church regulations) and those who are cohabiting (living together without marriage) are ineligible.) 6. Not be the father or mother of the one baptized or confirmed. Being a sponsor is not just an honor given to a good friend or relative. Sponsorship implies a real appreciation of the faith, a practice of the same, and a sense of responsibility toward the person being baptized or confirmed. I declare that I am a registered member of the parish listed below and that I fulfill the requirements of Cannon Law (listed above) to be a sponsor. Sponsor name: Sponsor Signature: Name of Parish: Phone number: TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE PASTOR OF YOUR PARISH: I certify that is a member of this parish, is a practicing Catholic and is eligible to act as a sponsor for Confirmation. Date: (Rev) Please make a copy for your records Baptism Certificate