Confirmation preparation Long-Term Preparation (begins in 6 th grade and continues through 8 th grade) Four elements are necessary: 1. Sacramental Life, 2. Catechetical Instruction, 3. Prayer Life Development, and 4. Living as part of the Body of Christ. As is appropriate for middle school children, all these things are done through guided practice or apprenticeship with adults. These adults are, most crucially, the parents who prepare their children through their lived Catholic Christian family life. Parents provide middle school children encouragement, good example, instruction, and invitations to step up to the challenge of living a fully Christian life. The parents role is supplemented by adult catechists, youth leaders, clergy, and other parish families, but ordinarily it cannot be replaced. Let s consider the elements one-by-one: 1. Sacramental Life The most important activity for the candidates is regular attendance at Eucharist, state the diocesan guidelines. For middle school children this means weekly family Mass attendance. 2. Catechetical Instruction This means a systematic instruction in all the major elements of the Catholic faith. It may be done in the Catholic School, the parish religious education program, or through approved instruction at home. 3. Prayer Life Development This means learning how to pray, how to reflect upon the Scriptures, making morning and evening prayer a daily part of life, learning to take certain times for personal or communal prayer and spiritual growth, etc. Some of this is done in classes, but example and coaching at home is crucial. 4. Living as part of the Body of Christ This means service to others in the parish and outside of it; taking part in parish events that make Our Lady of Grace our church family; bearing witness to Jesus by living our faith in daily events as He has instructed us in Scripture, prayer, and through the teachings of His Church. The parish provides many opportunities. It is up to the family to choose and participate.
Immediate or Short-Term Preparation (begins at the end of 7 th grade) Church Tradition, canon law, and our own diocese mandate that Confirmation candidates must be 1.) Suitably instructed and 2.) Properly disposed. They are suitably instructed throughout 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade, and in the retreat experiences they have after 7 th grade. Their disposition toward receiving the sacrament' is considered in the interviews noted below. Steps to Confirmation after 7 th Grade: 1. Initial interview in October. We will review the 4 elements of the guided practice of long-term preparation, and agree on a plan to strengthen their practice where it is needed. We recommend 30 service hours for Confirmandi between the end of 7 th grade and Confirmation. Keep very brief notes on your service so you can discuss it in your interviews. 2. The Confirmation Retreat, Sunday, March 25, 2012 at The Summitt at Haw River State Park, Brown Summit, NC. It will include deeper instruction on the sacrament of Confirmation, discerning a personal sense of vocation, and what their initiation as a Catholic implies about their future activities. 3. Final Interview in late March 2012. Discussion of what has been done, learned, absorbed, as well as what the candidate wants. Is the candidate committed to further growth as a Catholic? Service Project Reflection Sheets will be due at this time. 4. Rehearsal and Liturgy: The diocese will inform us of the date and celebrant, probably in January, 2012. We will then set the rehearsal date. Paper work needed: Registration form with Baptismal information Copy of your child s Baptism Certificate Sponsor name and certification Choice of Confirmation patron Saint Confirmation Saint Report Service Project reflection sheet Retreat fees and permission slip All forms must be turned in to the church office, care of Faith Formation. Do not turn them in to school teachers or catechists. We encourage you to mail them or turn them in to the Parish office. Thanks!
(Registration is due no later than January 2, 2012) Page 1 Registration for Confirmation Our Lady of Grace 2012 All forms and papers must be turned in to the Church office only. (Please fill out both sides of this form) Please print the name of your child exactly as you would like it to appear on the Confirmation certificate (it does not include the Confirmation patron saint) Baptismal information: It is important that we have a copy of your child s baptismal certificate for the parish records. It will also help us to inform the church your child was baptized in of the Sacrament. (ALL PAPERWORK MUST INCLUDE A COPY OF THE BATISMAL CERTIFICATE) I have attached a copy of the original Baptismal certificate to this form. Retreat: The Confirmation Retreat is scheduled for all day Sunday, March 25, 2012 at. The permission slip for this event is Page 5. Return the permission slip and the $40 fee to register for the retreat. (Deadline for the fee and permission slip is February 26, 2012). This date presents a conflict for our family. Please let us know about possible alternatives. (Let us know about a conflict as soon as possible). Sponsor and patron saint for Confirmation: Please see Page 2 and 3 for special instructions about these items. Suggestions to help you with this process: 1. Take these forms home and discuss them with your spouse and your candidate. Make a phone call to someone you and the candidate would like to be the Sponsor. Mention possible dates to family members to get them thinking well ahead of time. Check personal calendars and your candidate s school, sports, and activities commitments for the spring BEFORE returning the form to the church office, care of Faith Formation." ( Page 1,& 2 by January 2, 2012. Page 3on November 9, 2011 Page 5 by February 26, 2012 and Page 4 will be due at the time of the final interview). 2. Pencil in the possible dates for Confirmation on your personal calendar as soon as possible. We will let you know as soon as we know. 3. Copy this form before you turn it in and post it on the refrigerator. Also write in any other commitments (service dates) you sign up for this evening. 4. Your candidate is registered for Confirmation only by virtue of this form, and the initial interviews will begin in October. Your candidate is registered for the retreat separately by virtue of the permission slip and fee, which are due no later than February 26, 2012
(Due no later than January 2, 2012) Page 2 Patron Saint s name for Confirmation: what you need to know. In the early days of the Church, people often took a new Christian name when they were baptized as young people or adults, because they were being reborn to a new life. Your parents gave you a name when you were baptized as a baby. Now you have the option of choosing a Confirmation name of your own. It can simply be your baptism name. Or you may choose a name that is meaningful to you in terms of your Catholic faith. It could be the name of a saint you admire or hope to emulate, or the saint s name of a relative you wish to honor. Ask your parents what name they chose and why. Look up some saints on the internet or using resources available to us in the parish. There is no requirement that it be the name of a canonized saint, but it should not be offensive. Whether you simply repeat your baptismal name or choose a patron saint, you will say this name to the bishop and he will announce it as he Confirms you. Please put the name you have chosen in the space below so we can enter it accurately into the parish sacramental records. Please print: (Also print your first and last name so we know who is choosing this name: ) Please submit Confirmation Saint Report (page 3) by November 9, 2012. Sponsor for Confirmation: what you need to know. In the early Church, a Godparent was someone in the Church who was ready to take the place of your parents and raise you as a Catholic if they were martyred or died another way. Since Confirmation completes and deepens Baptism, it is great to have your Baptismal Godparent(s) repeat their pledge at your Confirmation. Or you may choose a new person to sponsor you at Confirmation. Since they stand in for your parents, they can not be your parents. (Your parents could sponsor your friend, though, and your friend s parents could sponsor you). To be your sponsor, someone must: 1. be at least 16 years old (normally); 2. have received Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation in the Catholic Church themselves; 3. if married, have a marriage that is recognized by the Catholic Church; 4. regularly participate in Sunday Mass and strive to live a life in harmony with the Church. If they are registered and active members of Our Lady of Grace, you may simply write their name below: Please print: If they are not members of our parish, they must write or call the parish they are registered in and ask for a Sponsor letter (or form or certificate) stating that they are known there as a practicing Catholic, eligible to be a Sponsor. Every Catholic parish gets such requests and mails such letters every week. They should have it mailed to your parents, who should then attach it to this sheet and turn it in to OLG Faith Formation by January 2, 2012. If for some reason your Sponsor cannot attend the service, it is possible to have someone serve as a proxy for them. It is possible for one of your parents to do this, or the Catholic parent of a friend. (Due no later than Jan 2, 2012)
Page 5 REGISTRATION/PERMISSION FORM OUR LADY OF GRACE, DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE CONFIRMATION RETREAT, SUNDAY, March 25, 2012 The Summit at Haw River State Park Name of Youth: Grade: Home Phone: Date of Birth: Address: City: Zip: Parent s Name: Daytime/Cell Phone: If unable to contact parents, in case of emergency call: (Please include name of individual, relationship to youth and phone number(s)) My son/daughter has my permission to participate in the above activity. I understand that when transportation is offered for an event it will be provided by van and/or private car, driven only by adult licensed drivers, or by a professional bus company. I understand that reasonable care and supervision will be exercised to provide for the general well-being of my youth. I also understand that this outing is for the pleasure/benefit of our youth and that staff and volunteers are not liable for any accident that may occur in connection with this activity. I hereby release Our Lady of Grace Church, the Diocese of Charlotte, all church staff and volunteers from any and all claims, loss, damage, expense, liabilities or injury of any kind, arising out of, or from any accident or other occurrence causing injury to any person or property during this activity. I understand the nature of this activity and I certify that my child is fully able to participate in such activity. I assume all risk to my child and to anyone else arising out of my child s participation. MEDICAL INFORMATION: Please list pertaining to allergies, diet, and special medication or any other information necessary in an emergency situation. I understand that, in the event medical treatment is required, every effort will be made to contact me. However, if I cannot be reached, I give my permission to the staff to secure the services of a licensed physician to provide the care necessary for my child s well-being. ALLERGIES MEDICATION SPECIAL DIET OTHER (Please use the back of this form if additional space for the above information is needed.) INSURANCE CO. POLICY NUMBER PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNATURE DATE Please turn in your permission form and $40 fee by February 26, 2012 Please make checks payable to OUR LADY OF GRACE. Permission form and money should be mailed or dropped off to the church office (201 S. Chapman Street, Greensboro, NC 27403-1611, ATTN: Faith Formation.) We encourage you to use the envelope provided. Thanks!.