Confirmation Sponsor Workshop
We Are Church Introduce yourself What parish are you from? Who is your candidate and how do you know him/her? Share a memory of your Confirmation. Bring to mind a person of faith who has been important to you in your journey of faith. Share you thoughts of that person with your table community.
Opening Prayer Reading: Psalm 78: 1-4. Leader: As we begin this new endeavor on our own journey of faith, we pray for your guidance and your light. We ask for the Holy Spirit s gifts of wisdom and understanding as we share the teachings of your holy Church. Give us the insight to encourage questions, the courage to face our doubts and the strength to live our faith each and every day. Help us to instill in our candidates the desire to use their gifts and talents for the good of all. As we continue to grow in faith fill us with your peace. All: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and our hearts shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray, O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to delight in what is right and always to rejoice in his consolation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confirmation The sacrament is a celebration of an individual s coming to a conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Candidates are empowered to carry on the mission of Christ. It is also the celebration in the life of the community of the Holy Spirit s energy, of welcoming that Spirit, and of being open to how that new strengthening may change the community.
The Role and Responsibilities of Sponsors You are an invaluable assistant to parents in transmitting the faith. You are an active and practicing Confirmed Catholic who is willing to walk with a candidate and share his or her faith. You communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and His Church. You need to be open, caring, honest, committed and encouraging so candidates can have another role model of faith.
Some Sacramental Theology Sacraments are actions NOT objects. Baptism is washing, Eucharist is eating and drinking, Confirmation is laying of on hands and anointing. They are actions of Christ and the Church (the people of God). Sacraments should not be private celebrations the Community has a role. Sacraments are not magic moments they are lived experience. Pledging faith to God is a lifetime effort, not a one-time event.
Thoughts on Confirmation Confirmation is the occasion when young people baptized, usually as infants, put their personal signature on their parents decision. There is a unity with all three initiation sacraments. It is one thing to know the traditions of a family, a people or a Church. It is another to choose them to claim the inheritance and shape it to fit one s own personality and experience. No one comes to faith alone. We see the witness others give and others see the beginnings of holiness in us. The Holy Spirit is God s action compelling us to go the right thing. Christian witness is a believer s testimony to what they know Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is life and hope for all the world.
What Confirmation is NOT! The sacrament is not a rite of passage it is not graduation. It is not the first time one encounters the Holy Spirit. It is not the exclusive sacrament of initiation and commitment.
Helpful Hints for Working with Candidates Young people need us to be their friends, but not their buddies. We do not need to know everything about the youth culture; however, we need to respect and not thoughtlessly reject or criticize it. Adolescents need to be moved gently in anything we do with them. Young people need to be part of the process; ownership is the key to youth involvement. We need to be authentic and genuine in what we say and do. They are adept at spotting insincerity. We need to challenge them. We need to hold to our values. Sharing our story makes us real and believable. We need to be honest. We don t have all the answers. Being a Christian is not easy. Christianity demands that we determine our life-style according to Jesus standards, not the world s.
Pop Quiz 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name ten people who have won the Nobel peace prize. 4. Name the last half dozen academy Award winners for best actor or actress. 5. Name the last decade s worth of World Series winners. How did you do??
Pop Quiz Part II List a few teachers who aided your journey through your education. Name two friends who have helped you through a difficult time. Name someone who has taught you something useful. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. Think of a few people you enjoy spending time with.
Bear in mind that children of all ages have one thing in common they close their ears to advice and open their eyes to example.
Explanation of the Packet Left folder pocket Little green card because we all need to be reminded of the power of a positive attitude. The only two pages that need to be returned to me and envelope to send them in. Note that the first page is two-sided. Your homework before beginning: 4 Updates to refresh and remind you of aspects of our faith.
Explanation of the Packet Right folder pocket Little white prayer card to say at each meeting. The back side of the Agenda page gives you an idea of where sponsor fits into the preparation process here at OLIH. On the direction page side of the page are all the Scripture references mentioned in the red booklet and what the passages are about. Red Confirmation Sponsor manual Three Confirmation for Teens #3, 9, & 10
Right folder pocket, continued You will need to meet three times between now and April 2. You will have pre-work before you begin your sessions with your candidate. Disregard any reference to their text. Remember do not cover Session Three of Manual candidates and parents cover this material. Do use the Catholic Update A Walk Through the Mass instead of the manual pages, there is so much more material and explanation. You can read together the Confirmation for Teens or highlight the information.
Some Strategies. First Session Where are you going to meet? Thank the candidate for asking you it is an honor. Briefly describe what will happen at sessions. Share parts of your faith story. Are you going to leave them with something to think about or pray about? Ask them about their Retreat experience.
.Strategies. Second Session Meeting place? What been happening in their life? Did you give them a thought or prayer assignment? What did they think of first session any new insights? Any assignment between now and third session.
.Strategies Third Session Meet, greet, catch up. Any thought/prayer homework? Thoughts and insights about second session. Are you going to celebrate Mass together, just the two of you? Share thoughts on Reconciliation they might be able to tell you about the Reconciliation Home kit they worked on with parents.
Completion of Packet Due completed by April 2. I only need back the two pages from the left pocket (postal mail, scanned, FAX). All other materials including folder can be given to candidate. Candidates decides who to share contents with.
Dates of Confirmation Thursday, April 12 Practice for candidates and sponsors begins at 5:30 PM Mass and Rite of Confirmation begins at 7 PM
Contact Information Diane Thierer Parish Phone 964-3545 Parish FAX 515.964.5997 Email: Diane@olih.org If you are an OLIH parishioner are you signed up for OLIH Updates? Sign up by email: www.olih.org new and improved website!
Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.