Reverend Michael J. Yadrn, Pastr Miss Emily Hackett, Directr f Religius Educatin There are different kinds f spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different frms f service but the same Lrd; there are different wrkings but the same Gd wh prduces all f them in everyne. (1Cr 12:4-6)
Dear Parent/Guardian, Cngratulatins! Yur child is abut t take a very imprtant step in his/her faith jurney. Thank yu fr all the hard wrk yu have dne t help yur child get t this pint. I am excited t participate in this part f the jurney with yu. I wuld encurage yu t cntinue being invlved with yur child s religius educatin, especially during this year, as there are many assignments that need t be cmpleted and steps that need t be taken. Please help yur child t turn in his r her assignments and materials in a timely manner, t make this prcess as smth as pssible. Ask yur child t tell yu what they are learning in religin class and talk with them abut it. I wuld als encurage yu t make a special effrt t help yur child deepen his r her faith life this year. Take time t pray as a family and encurage yur child t make the time fr persnal prayer each day. Making ging t Mass as a family a pririty, and als make time t receive the Sacrament f Recnciliatin tgether. If yu have been away frm the Mass r the Sacrament f Recnciliatin fr a while, use this year as an pprtunity t return. Attendance at Mass is ur pprtunity t give ne hur back t Gd fr all the hurs He has given us that week. It is als the ne place where we can receive the Bdy, Bld Sul and Divinity f Jesus in Hly Cmmunin. He is waiting fr yu. Please remember that the Sacrament is nt the end f yur child s faith jurney. After Cnfirmatin, cntinue t attend Mass and the Sacrament f Recnciliatin tgether. Encurage yur child t becme an active member f the church by jining ne f the many ministries ffered. Saint Thmas Mre als has a yuth grup, 1 Directin 2 Gd, fr high schl students that I wuld suggest yu encurage yur child t jin. Please knw that yu and yur child are in my prayers as yu make this imprtant step. Feel free t cntact me with any questins r cncerns yu might have during the year. I lk frward t wrking with yu. May Gd bless yu and yurs, Miss Hackett Directr f Religius Educatin 1
T each individual the manifestatin f the Spirit is given fr sme benefit. (1Cr 12:7) Imprtant dates fr candidate preparatin. Cnfirmatin Cmmitment will take place n: Octber 3 (Schl) Octber 4/5 (Religius Educatin) The cmmitment will take place during Hly Mass. All parents are encuraged t attend t supprt their child as he/she begins their jurney twards Cnfirmatin. Saint Reprt Due: Nvember 8/9 The reprt shuld include the fllwing infrmatin if available: The reprt shuld be typed, duble-spaced. The cver page shuld include the saint s name, yur name, yur catechist s (teacher) name and picture f the saint. Name and feast day f saint Yur reasn fr chsing this saint Summary f saint s life stry in chrnlgical rder; birth, majr events and dates, death Beatificatin and sainthd dates and under what circumstances Saint s special virtues ways they were like Jesus Ways yu can imitate saint Mst impressive aspects f the saint s life and why A paragraph abut why YOUR STUDENT wants t be Cnfirmed. He/She shuld explain why this sacrament is imprtant t them and why they desire t be cnfirmed. Spnsr Certificate Due: Nvember 8/9 2
Interview Assignment Due: December 13/14 Part 1: Students are t interview their parents and spnsr by asking them the fllwing questins: Why have yu remained a Cathlic Why is the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin imprtant? What d yu feel called t d as a Cathlic? Hw des being a Cathlic make a difference in yur life? What are yur hpes fr me after making Cnfirmatin? Hw will yu help me prepare fr Cnfirmatin? Hw will yu help me t live ut my Cnfirmatin? Part 2: Recrd their respnses in a reprt that shuld be typed and turned int yur Religin Teacher by December 13/14. The reprt shuld include: Student s name The name f the persn interviewed Their cmments The student s reactin and reflectin t their cmments Hw will the student live ut their Cnfirmatin after they have received it? Cnfirmatin Retreat: Tuesday December 5, 8:30-2:30 This retreat is mandatry fr receiving the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin. If yur student des nt attend the St. Thmas Mre retreat, it is their respnsibility t find anther retreat within the dicese and bring in a letter f affirmatin f attendance frm that parish. Parents are asked t write letters f encuragement t their student befre the retreat and bring them t the ffice by Mnday, Nvember 20. The students will receive these letters at the retreat. This is an imprtant part f yur child's retreat. Please encurage them in their faith and prayer life while als extending acclades as t their special part in yur family. Yu may have ther family and friends write letters als. It is a gd idea t ask the student's spnsr t write a letter. Schl families please send in the $30 Cnfirmatin fee by Nvember 3, t cver the cst f the retreat. Religius educatin families paid this fee at registratin. 3
Acts f Service Due: February 7/8 Each student is required t cmplete 4 different Acts f Service. A student can perfrm the same service fr 1 hur r 7, but it will cunt as nly 1 act f service. The student must fill ut a reflectin frm fr each Act f Service they cmplete. The service frms can be fund n the parish website http://www.stm-church.cm/religius-ed.htm REQUIRED ATTIRE FOR HOLY CONFIRMATION MASS *Bys: Dress slacks, dress shirt with cllar, tie (jacket r sweater ptinal; lng necktie is mandatry) N jeans, athletic shes r T-shirts *Girls:Dress, skirt with apprpriate sweater r bluse, r pantsuit Skirts must be at least knee length. N lw cut tps; shulders must be cvered N tight fitting clthing *D nt wear any rnamentatin that dentes nn-christian attitudes and values. Gifts f the Hly Spirit Fruits f the Hly Spirit The Gifts f the Hly Spirit help Frm the Gifts f the Hly Spirit Christians live their lives mre cme the Fruits, which are: fully cmmitted t Christ. These are: Charity Lng-suffering Jy Mildness 1. Wisdm Peace Frtitude 2. Understanding Patience Mdesty 3. Cunsel - Right Judgment Kindness Self-cntrl 4. Frtitude Curage Gdness Chastity 5. Knwledge 6. Piety - Reverence 7. Fear f the Lrd - Wnder and Awe in Gd s presence 4
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS Parents are: Primary educatrs f their children Respnsible fr initiating their children int the sacramental life Mdels fr their child by being cmmitted Christians Leaders in their family faith life Nurturers f their children s faith life Encuragers f their child t reflect n and thughtfully cnsider the decisin t receive the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin Asked t assist their child with the immediate preparatin fr the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin thrugh prayer, study, and Christian service The imprtant part f the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin by taking an active rle in the celebratin f Cnfirmatin Able t stress the initiatin aspect f the Sacrament by encuraging their children t cntinue learning mre abut their faith Guides t their child in understanding that the Cnfirmatin service prject is the beginning f a life cmmitted t Christian service Candidates must: CANDIDATES PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION Freely chse t be cnfirmed and make their desire knwn Be in the state f grace Have adequate knwledge f the Cathlic faith and have participated in required learning sessins Be practicing their faith Attend Mass and receive the Sacraments f Eucharist and Recnciliatin regularly Be respnsible fr cmpleting all required hme study and service prjects Acquire an awareness f the Initiatin f the Sacrament f Cnfirmatin and cmmit t cntinuing faithful practice and study f their religin Be willing t participate in the Cnfirmatin classes and retreat. AFTER CONFIRMATION Althugh Cnfirmatin DOES mark the end f yur child s religius educatin classes, it des NOT mark the end f their faith jurney. Cnfirmatin is the time in a persn s life when the gifts they received at Baptism are cnfirmed and strengthened in them. They becme full-fledged members f the Church. Encurage yur child t take a mre active rle in their church by chsing a ministry t participate in. Saint Thmas Mre ffers a wide variety f ministries fr them t chse frm. Sme f the ministries include lecturing, ushering, cantering/chir r Eucharistic Minister. Als encurage yur child t cntinue deepening their faith thrugh weekly Mass attendance, persnal prayer time, studying the Scriptures r reading mre abut their faith. Yu might cnsider participating in these activities with yur child. The wrld needs mre Cathlics t knw and live their faith. 5
Imprtant Dates t Remember Octber 3/4/5 8 th Grade students will make their cmmitment t being cnfirmed at Hly Mass. Nvember 8 th /9th Saint Reprt is due AND Cnfirmatin Spnsr frm is due Nvember 3 rd - $30 Cnfirmatin fee is due fr schl families December 6 th Cnfirmatin retreat fr all students 8:30-2:30 December 13 th /14 th Interview Assignment is due February 7 th /8 th Acts f Service due March 23 rd Cnfirmatin Practice March 24 th Cnfirmatin 6
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