Our Lady of the Valley Confirmation Guidelines Summary of Confirmation Preparation Confirmation preparation at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church emphasizes a more intimate relationship with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit. It involves the Confirmation teachers, parents, sponsors, and the entire parish community, and prepares candidates for their call to full participation and active discipleship in the Church. Why Confirmation? Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the sacraments of Christian initiation, whose unity must be safeguarded... the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For, by the sacrament of Confirmation, (the baptized) are more perfectly bound to the Church and enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1285) Who can receive the sacrament of Confirmation? Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity, it follows that the faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the appropriate time, for without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete. (CCC 1306) Restoration of the Order of the Sacraments of Initiation Resource http://archden.org/saints/ Class times Confirmation class will be held on Sunday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. beginning August 30th in the OLV Hall, and on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. beginning September 2nd at Windsor Charter Academy( 680 Academy Ct, Windsor, CO 80550 ). Please enroll in the class that works with your schedule. You may chose which class time you attend to avoid an absence. Please note that there are two class times available for each lesson and should be taken advantage of when schedule conflicts arise. For example, if you regularly attend the Wednesday class time, and you have a sports event, you should attend the Sunday class prior to the Wednesday class to avoid an absence. Please check the Google Doc. to verify class and lesson missed and see the master calendar for breaks and special events. Students may not miss more than 3 classes. Parents must contact their Confirmation teachers to let them know of their absence. You will be invited to a Google Doc. in a couple of weeks. Attendance, lessons and class dates will be noted. This is a resource for our parents to keep within our 3 absence policy. Any thing over 3 needs to be made up by your student by 1. watching the video, completing the book work and writing a paragraph with their parent about what the material meant to them and report back to their catechist. Their Catechist will then change their absence to an "excused absence" on the Google Doc. Here is the link to sign up for our 6th grade Decision Point you tube lessons... http://dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation/for parents and sponsors/
7th Grade Students this is your video Chosen Link http://ascensionpress.com/digital/player/chosen your journey toward confirmation/1?s=16bb66fb3de208413 e639c2da97bb135bdb278fa&t=1462060800&u=355006&ss=&p=34 Communication The RE Office will communicate to you by Flocknote only, please join the group RE Program and all the sub group grades that your students are enrolled in. We will also update our webpage with all forms that are required, http://ourladyofthevalley.net/confirmation/ In the case of us needing to cancel class for a snow day, we will do our best to Flocknote all our parents by 1:00 p.m. P arents are required to help aid in at least one Confirmation class during the year. A Google Doc sign up sheet will be sent out. If you cannot make your time, please find a substitute. Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Service to God and neighbor is not optional for those who follow the Gospel and claim the name Christian. It is integral to the message of Christianity. Ongoing service is a key lesson candidates should learn and enact both during and beyond the time of Confirmation preparation. Students should make Christian service a way of life, and not simply the fulfillment of a requirement. However, God s love and sacraments are gifts freely given and not earned, it is grace bestowed upon us. Service can never be a condition to receive Confirmation. Charity and service should naturally flow because of our love of God. We would like our students to participate in 30 hours of Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy outside and within the parish. Forms will be provided for students to keep track of their hours to be signed by their parents for each work. 15 of the 30 hours may be fulfilled by being involved in the parish through youth group events (1 hour earned per event), altar serving, ushering or greeting at mass, participating in the music ministry, or praying at adoration. Please see the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Hours Form for more details. There are several opportunities throughout the year that we will share with you. Due by March 16. Choosing a Confirmation Sponsor Each candidate preparing for Confirmation is asked to choose a Confirmation Sponsor. Your sponsor must be at least 16 years of age, have received all Sacraments of Initiation, and be a practicing Catholic. If your sponsor is married, the marriage must be canonically valid. Sponsors must be chosen and a Certificate to Serve as Sponsor must be filled out by their pastor and due by November 1st. Parents cannot be the sponsor of their own candidate. It is desirable that the godparent at Baptism, if present, also be the sponsor at Confirmation. This expresses more clearly the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation and also makes the duty and function of the sponsor or godparent more effective. Nonetheless, the choice of a special sponsor for Confirmation is not excluded. A Confirmation sponsor has these primary purposes: to serve as a role model of the Catholic faith to be committed to praying for you regularly and for life
to guide and assist you in your faith, including regular meetings (in person, Skype or Face time) to go over the Sponsor Guides and pray together. to be a companion for you on your journey of faith. Your sponsor should be someone whose Christian lifestyle you admire, someone with whom you feel comfortable, and someone who has the time and willingness to be involved with you during this process to attest to your practice of the Catholic faith for you before the bishop and the church community. He or she proclaims your readiness to receive the sacrament and become a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church. Requirements are found on the Godparent/Sponsor Certificate to Serve. Candidate Letter Each candidate will write a letter to Father and the Confirmation Team requesting to be confirmed. The letter is due March 16th. The following information is to be included in the candidate s letter: tell us about yourself how you have changed or grown in your faith since the beginning of Confirmation what you have been doing (outside of Confirmation class) to prepare yourself for the reception of the sacrament who or what are the main Catholic influences in your life and why 2 or 3 examples of what you are doing or how you live so that others will know you are a Christian which gifts of the Holy Spirit you think you need most during this time in your life and why, and how you will use them in the OLV parish community why you chose your particular patron saint tell us about your relationship with that saint and how they affect your life Confirmation Ceremony When the final date for the Confirmation ceremony has been calendared from the Archdiocese (usually by February), candidates and their families will be informed. The ceremony will be either May 10th, May 11th, or May 12th at 7 p.m. Rehearsal will be the night before at 7:00 p.m. Candidates will meet before the ceremony with the celebrant and will have a reception to follow. Boys are asked to wear ties and dress pants (no t shirts, tennis shoes, or jeans). Girls are asked to wear dresses or skirts and blouse. No strapless or low cut tops will be allowed, shoulders must be covered, and dresses and skirts should go below the knee. Retreats 6th and 7th Grade Confirmation Retreat at, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, will be on November 20 22. Mandatory Retreat Meeting will be on November 1st, 9 9:45 a.m at OLV Hall. On November 20, we will leave the OLV Parking Lot at 4:00 and return November 22. Students are dismissed after attending the 10:00 Mass at OLV. Students paid their fee in their RE registration. Mountain Madness Retreat, 6 8th Gd, is on Feb. 12 14 at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park.
Fundraiser We will be selling soft pretzels during Lent on February 6 7 after all Masses, participation is mandatory and off sets the cost of our retreats. Other Important Information Attendance at Sunday Masses and Holy Days of Obligation is mandatory: The Family of God gathers together as a parish community at weekly liturgy. Candidates are expected to attend weekly mass at their parish. If you are traveling please make accommodations to attend in the area you are visiting. If you are especially busy please seek another parish mass time to make your Sunday or Holy Day Obligation. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Frequent reception of Holy Eucharist and reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are encouraged. Students are highly recommended to attend all retreats and meetings. Besides the requirement of already being baptized, a candidate must be in a state of grace to be confirmed. He or she should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to Confirmation. Candidates should pray so that they may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit with the courage and readiness to act on them. All forms can be found on our website http://ourladyofthevalley.net/confirmation/ Paperwork Deadlines: Certificate of Baptism (Copy), if not baptised at OLV, due by August 28, students may attend class once certificate is filed in the OLV Office. Journey to Confirmation, Sponsors chosen, Certificate to Serve as Sponsor, signed by Pastors, due by November 1st. 6th Grade Confirmation Sponsor Packet, Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Hours Forms, Letter to Father Gregg and The Confirmation Team due by March 16th.
Confirmation Important Dates Grades 6 & 7 Confirmation schedule August 30 at OLV, 3:30 5 pm &/ or September 2 at WCA, First Day of Class, 6 7:30 pm October 17, 6 th Grade Day Retreat 10 4 November 1, 6th /7th Grade Confirmation Retreat Student/Parent Meeting OLV 9 am November 15 & 18: Formation in Christian Chastity November 20 22 6th/7th Grade Confirmation Retreat at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park Fri. 4 pm Sunday Students are dismissed after attending the OLV 10 Mass together, November 22 & 25: No RE (Thanksgiving) December 20 & 23: No RE (Christmas Break) December 27 & 30: No RE (Christmas Break & Happy New Year!) January 3: No RE January 6: All Wednesday and Sunday RE at OLV, Christmas Pageant & Treats 6 7 pm January 9 10, All Sacrament Students, 2 nd, 6 th & 7 th Grades are invited to pass out please pray for me cards at all Masses. February 6 & 7: Confirmation Pretzel Fund Raiser to off set Retreat Costs, Mandatory February 7 & 10: No RE (Ash Wednesday Week) February 12 14: Mountain Madness, 6 th 8 th Graders, YMCA, Estes Park February 19: OLV RE & YM Hosting Noodle Night at 6, OLV Hall, YM Live Stations @ 7 March 20, 23, 27, 30 & April 3 & 6: No RE (Holy Week Weld Spring Break) April 17 & 20: Last Week of RE Classes April 27: RE Families and Teacher Appreciation Potluck, OLV Hall, 6 7 pm May 10, 11, 12th or 17th (day TBD by Archdiocese by February) 7:00 PM: Confirmation Rehearsal the night before Confirmation 7 8 PM Contact information for teachers 6th grade Sunday afternoon: Paula Brown p2brown@comcast.net Lorraine Elias rain27l@gmail.com Brian Bate brianamberbate@gmail.com 7th grade Sunday afternoon: Darci Lambert darci.lambert@gmail.com Heather Taylor hma44@hotmail.com Elizabeth Driscoll driscoll@mesanetworks.net Kathy Zrubek mzrubek1@yahoo.com 6th grade Wednesday evening: Kendra kgonzales@gccguardrail.com Cameron Watkins ckwatkins@hotmail.com Nissa Chadwick nissachadwick@yahoo.com Debbie Uhrich dkuhrich@hotmail.com 7th grade Wednesday evening: Cathy Naffziger cnaffziger@gmail.com