Sacramental Preparation / Celebration

Confirmation

	2007-2008 Confirmation Preparation Calendar
	What Is Confirmation?
	The Role of Those to be Confirmed
	TO DO List for Confirmation Candidates
	The Role of Parents
	The Role of Sponsors
	Practicing Christian Service & Guidelines for Service
	Gifts of the Spirit
	Forms / Reports / Instructions

2007-2008 Confirmation Preparation Calendar
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2007-2008 Confirmation Preparation Calendar in Adobe Reader (51 KB)

What Is Confirmation?
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What Is Confirmation? in Adobe Reader (100 KB)

• A Sacrament of Initiation that strengthens one's relationship with the Church and commitment to being an active member.
• Through this sacrament, the Holy Spirit and his gifts help us to live our baptismal promises, grow into the likeness of Christ, and share his mission.
• The preparation process for Confirmation offers an opportunity to deepen one's commitment to a specific way of life - as a follower of Jesus.

Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). For those who were baptized as infants and received First Communion as children, the celebration of Confirmation as a young adult presents a very special opportunity to affirm the decision made by their parents and godparents on their behalf.

Confirmation it is not a graduation from religious studies or a celebration of Catholic adulthood. It is a “Rite of Passage”, into life as a fully initiated and accountable member of the Church. In most of our communities there are two primary rites of passage for teens: 1) getting a driver’s license and 2) voting. After completing these processes teens venture further out into the world, reaching for new ways to share their energy and make their voices heard. Confirmation is very similar!

As our young people prepare for Confirmation, our entire community will support them in prayer and action as they deepen their understanding of the fundamental beliefs of our Faith and broaden their participation in the life of the community.

The Church’s vision of Confirmation includes Word, Worship, Community and Service. The Word of God is the Scripture, the history of God’s loving relationship with our ancestors in the faith. Our Worship is our prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God our Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, most especially in the Eucharistic liturgy. Participation in the community’s Sunday celebration is a powerful act of belonging and nourishing oneself. And after we have celebrated we go forth to love and serve one another and those beyond our own community, just as Jesus commanded his first disciples.

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our Confirmation candidates will live a life dedicated to spreading God’s love and doing their best to live out God’s dream for the world.

The Role of Those to be Confirmed
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The Role of Those to be Confirmed in Adobe Reader (56 KB)

1. Enter the Journey
• Be fully engaged in the process.
• Apprentice yourself to mentors in faith: teachers & catechists, a sponsor, your parents & older siblings, others in our parish community, and don’t forget - the Saints!
• Candidates must want to be confirmed and must be willing to be involved in the preparation process…with the intent of remaining faithful to Christ and his Church.
2. Examine Your Life
• What’s not working?
• For what do you need to seek forgiveness?
• Where do you need to grow?
• Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Develop Christian Virtue (Theological and Cardinal Virtues)
• Embrace the Gifts of the Spirit.
• Cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit.
• Pick one virtue, Gift, Fruit to develop throughout the preparation process. Ask God’s help. Practice, practice, practice!
4. Reflect on (study) the mysteries of our Catholic faith
• Pay attention in religion class.
• Read, reflect, question, delve…
• Assess what you know.
5. Serve others
   • This is what it means to be a disciple and follow the way of Christ.
   • Develop the habit of service in your daily life.
   • Reach out beyond your immediate environment.
   • Your life is not about you! God has a special mission for you...

Essential to helping you accomplish all of the above steps are: personal prayer; attendance at Sunday Eucharist; study, reflection and journaling; and talking about faith with others.

TO DO List for Confirmation Candidates
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TO DO List for Confirmation Candidates in Adobe Reader (80 KB)

• Begin or increase a consistent habit of personal prayer.
• Increase your participation in Sunday Mass. Pay attention to the Scripture readings, say the prayers, sing, offer your heart to God.
• Attend and participate in the Confirmation Commitment Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 28, 2007.
• Choose a sponsor. See the Roles of Sponsors for guidance. Download, complete, and turn in the Confirmation Registration Form by November 4, 2007. You will need to provide sponsor information on this form.
• Plan how you will participate in Christian service. See Practicing Christian Service for details and suggestions. Turn in the Service Project Plan by November 4, 2007.
• Decide on a Confirmation Name. Download, complete and turn in the Confirmation Name Report by December 9, 2007. Each candidate MUST complete either a full or "update" Confirmation Name Report. In other words, even those candidates who turned in a "Saint Report" in 7th grade Religious Education must still complete and turn in an "update" form. See Instructions for Choosing a Confirmation Name.
• Choose a virtue or a Gift or Fruit of the Spirit to cultivate in your life. See information about Theological and Cardinal virtues, Gifts of the Spirit, and Fruits of the Spirit.
• Attend and fully participate in religion classes. Periodically assess your knowledge of the Catholic faith and work to fill in the gaps as appropriate.
• Attend and fully engage in a Confirmation Retreat.
• Prayerfully consider those areas of your life in which you need to seek forgiveness and healing. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (A special Reconciliation Service for candidates and their families is scheduled during Lent.)
• Set dates & times for faith-sharing with your sponsor and DO it (on at least four occasions). See Faith-Sharing Instructions and Forms.
• Carry out your plan for Christian service. Download, complete, and turn in the Service Reflection by April 6, 2008.
• Write letters to the Bishop who will confirm you detailing your process of preparation and your reasons for wanting to be confirmed. These letters are due on April 6, 2008. See Letter to the Bishop Instructions and Form.
• Attend the Confirmation liturgy rehearsal on May 7, 2008.

The Role of Parents
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The Role of Parents in Adobe Reader (107 KB)

Dear parents,

Just as your child grows physically, intellectually, and emotionally, so too, he or she grows spiritually. As a parent responsible for the development of your child, you try to meet all of his or her changing needs. You foster and direct spiritual growth by the atmosphere in your home, the example of your life, and the celebration of the sacraments. You have seen that your child has been initiated into the faith through Baptism and the Eucharist. Now your young teenager is at the stage of strengthening and reaffirming his or her commitment to the faith through the Sacrament of Confirmation. The elements of our parish preparation program for the sacrament, including the textbook, Confirmed in the Spirit, by Loyola Press, will assist you in giving your teen a better understanding of Confirmation, and will help him or her lead a more active, responsible Christian life.

The goal of the sacramental preparation program is to help young people be receptive and responsive to the graces and challenges of the Sacrament of Confirmation. They learn that it is a Sacrament of Initiation that deepens their relationship with the Church and commitment to being active members. They become more aware of the presence and action of the Spirit and his gifts within them, which empower them to live more fully as Jesus did. They will discover ways to fulfill the specific responsibilities that are theirs as Christians.

Throughout the preparation process, we also hope to give guidance to all those involved in the formation of the candidates and in the celebration of the sacrament so that Confirmation becomes a meaningful faith experience for the candidates, the family, and the parish community. At the same time, we aim to equip the candidates with the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the lifelong process of conversion to Christ.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our advocate and helper. At Pentecost this Spirit was poured out on the first believers, making them witnesses full of faith and courage. At Baptism the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and at Confirmation we are anointed in the strength of this Spirit and sent to carry on Christ’s mission.

The Spirit in us is the same Spirit who anointed Jesus to redeem the world and bring about the kingdom of the Father through loving service. The Holy Spirit and his gifts help us to live our baptismal promises, grow into the likeness of Christ, and share his mission. We are united with other Spirit-filled people in the Church, the Body of Christ. Together we spread the message of the Good News, we worship at the Eucharist, we support one another in community, and we give service to those in need.

As young teens struggle to clarify their own convictions, attitudes, and values, parents are their chief models. Faith is caught more than taught. In undertaking more seriously your role of preparing your teenager for Confirmation, consider these questions:

• Do I keep lines of communication open with my teenager?
• Do I make time for prayer, both private and communal?
• Do I actively participate in the sacramental life of the Church?
• Do I try to grow in knowledge of the faith and share it with my family?
• Do I give loving service to those inside and outside my family circle?
• Am I involved with parish activities as much as I could be?

We look forward to sharing with you this time of spiritual growth in the life of your child.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Ken Anderson - Pastoral Administrator
Mary Rehfield - School Principal
Susan Doubet - Director of Religious Education

The Church teaches that parents are the first and foremost teachers of faith for their children. As your child journeys through the process of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, there are opportunities for you to guide, accompany, and learn from him or her.

• Talk with your child about the faith content he or she is learning in religion class. Learn something new yourself! Our parish offers a wide variety of adult faith formation opportunities – even a Sunday morning “Discovering Our Faith” session in which a group of adults meet to explore the new Adult Catholic Catechism ( 10-11 a.m. in the Rectory). See the parish bulletin or this website for a complete list and details about the opportunities available.
• Encourage your child in their practice of personal daily prayer and the use of the Confirmation journal. Perhaps you would be interested in exploring the practice of contemplative prayer, now offered at FHC every Wednesday morning from 9-10 a.m. in the Bell Tower. Newcomers and beginners are welcome!
• Witness to your own faith in your daily words and actions.
• Pray with your children. Include in your family prayers those who are in need around the world.
• Participate in the faith-sharing component of the preparation process, using the “Candidate/Sponsor Sheets” provided for sponsors. These faith-sharing conversations offer a wonderful opportunity for parents to lead their children to love and serve God in daily life.
• Guide your child’s choice of a Confirmation name and a faith-filled sponsor.
• Support (and join) your son or daughter in planning and performing Christian Service. For example, volunteer as a family to serve at a hot-meals center or to clean the home of an elderly person.
• Attend Sunday liturgy. Invite a friend or relative who does not participate in Mass to go to church and breakfast with you.
• Help out at a parish social function or participate in it.
• Support a parishioner, neighbor or friend who needs encouragement, sympathy, or material help.
• Decide how you can strengthen your bond with the parish community and commitment to the mission of the Church. Take action to do so.
• Consider how you can grow as a Christian: For what do you need to be forgiven? What virtue can you ask God to help you develop?
• Check out the following resources from the St. Anthony Messenger online website at www.americancatholic.org :
• Article: Confirmation- What’s A Parent to Do?
  www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/May2002/Feature2.asp
• Article: Confirmation: Sacrament of the Spirit
  www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/mm/ap0898.asp
• Youth Update: Confirmation: Seven Symbols in One Sacrament
  www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/YU/ay0497.asp
• Article: Six Ways to be Truly Catholic
  www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jun1999/feature1.asp

The Role of Sponsors
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The Role of Sponsors in Adobe Reader (49 KB)

Choosing a Sponsor…

Each candidate, with the help of his or her parents, is responsible for choosing a sponsor. At Baptism, parents chose two sponsors (godparents) for their child – people who made a commitment to be an example of the faith and help raise them in the Catholic way of life. For Confirmation, the candidate again invites someone to serve as a sponsor to help him or her live out their Baptismal promises.

The responsibilities of the sponsor include:

• Guiding the candidate to understand and appreciate the Sacrament of Confirmation and have the right intentions for receiving it;
• Mentoring the candidate throughout the preparation process by encouraging him or her to pray and participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and to become actively involved in the life of their parish community;
• Engaging in the candidate’s spiritual journey through periodic meetings for the purpose of faith-sharing;
• Presenting the candidate for Confirmation and continuing to assist the confirmed person in living a Christian life.

Sponsors are to be chosen because of their ability to “apprentice” others into the Catholic way of life, which involves prayer, celebration of the sacraments, living the Gospel, turning to other Catholics for support and guidance, and studying the faith. The role of the sponsor for Confirmation involves much more than simply standing behind a Confirmation candidate as the bishop confirms. It is to be the beginning, or the continuation, of a lasting relationship of mentoring and apprenticeship.

The Church suggests that, to express more clearly the relationship between Confirmation and Baptism, the baptismal sponsor (godparent) also be the Confirmation sponsor. (However, the candidate may choose an individual other than the baptismal sponsor.)

There is no regulation determining that men must be sponsors for boys and women must be sponsors for girls.

Canon Law states that a sponsor must:

• Be at least sixteen years of age;
• Be a confirmed Catholic;
• Be living according to, and an active member of, the Catholic faith;
• Be an individual other than the candidate’s parent.

Sponsor Involvement in the Confirmation Preparation Process…

Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Parish is committed to involving the sponsor throughout the journey to Confirmation. During the time of preparation, they are expected to take an active role in the life of the candidate. This demands time, commitment and willingness to share their faith with the candidate, but also presents a unique and valuable opportunity to deepen both their relationship with a young person and their own faith life.

The sponsor will:

• Engage in faith-sharing conversation with the candidate at least four times throughout the preparation process, using the “Candidate/Sponsor Sheets”. The purpose of the faith-sharing component is to promote a dialogue between candidates and sponsors. See also explanation and instructions for the faith-sharing component.
• If sponsor lives locally, sponsor should plan to attend a candidate / sponsor session at the parish in January (otherwise parent may attend in sponsor's place):
  • Wednesday, January 9, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm - Candidate / Sponsor Gathering, last names A-L
  • Thursday, January 10, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm - Candidate / Sponsor Gathering, last names M-Z
• Write a letter to the acting pastor (parish administrator) affirming that the candidate has engaged in the process of preparation and is ready to be confirmed. See guidelines for this letter and due date.
• Attend Mass with the candidate whenever possible and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with them during the Lenten season prior to the celebration of Confirmation (Monday, February 25, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at FHC, if possible).
• Be present for the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
• Remain engaged in the faith life of the newly confirmed, continuing to share prayer, insights, and support as the young person continues his or her journey of faith beyond Confirmation.

Practicing Christian Service & Guidelines for Service
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Practicing Christian Service and Guidelines for Service in Adobe Reader (29 KB)

THREE COMPONENTS:

• Cultivating the HABIT of Christian service in everyday life
  In school, with my friends, with my family at home – do I have “a heart for others”? Do I do small, everyday things to assist, to comfort, to put the needs of others before my own desires?
• Participating in a SERVICE PROJECT individually or with others
  See details and guidelines below.

Guidelines for your Service PROJECT:

We ask Confirmation candidates to participate in service projects during their time of preparation for the sacrament to help them better understand why we serve others. This is what Jesus asks of us, not just to be nice or because it makes us feel good, but because it is what He would do. Our goal is to help candidates connect service with their Christian faith and to experience a sense of belonging and commitment to the Church community, particularly through participation in parish outreach projects.

Christian love is based on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and, most of all, on the example of Jesus, who came to serve. Consider the following points when deciding how you will be of service.

• Your service is not a job to be done. It is part of the Christian way of life. It is selflessly and lovingly helping those in need.
• You should reflect on how your service is helping you take on the mind and heart of Christ, fulfill the needs of others, and build up the Christian community.
• Your Christian service should continue after your Confirmation and throughout your life.
• Christian service is not always easy. But you should choose service that you are able to do well.

We find it difficult to request a specific amount of service hours. Stewardship does not end when a quota is met. It becomes a way of life. Therefore, instead of hours we require commitment.

• We suggest that candidates choose one or more service projects, preferably one project that they can perform on at least three occasions. This will enable them to connect personally with the people they are serving and those who are serving with them. The size of your commitment is up to you.
• If candidates and/or their families are already involved in a service project which will help to fill a need in the lives of others – food, clothing, shelter, educational assistance – through school, scouting, or other community groups, we ask the candidate to reflect on it in light of Gospel values, and then to consider expanding their participation to make it their Confirmation Service Project.
• See some suggestions for Service Projects. Let these suggestions spark your imagination!
• Contact the Parish Sharing Committee to see how you might become involved in parish outreach activities.

Candidates will write a Service Project Plan, detailing an ongoing project in which they are currently involved, or a project they plan to do during the preparation process. Candidates will be asked to reflect on their service in a variety of ways – in religion class, in their Confirmation journals, in their faith-sharing conversations with sponsors. Finally, candidates will summarize these reflections by completing and turning in a written Service Reflection.

STEPS for SERVICE:

• Plan how you will participate in Christian service. See Service Projects for suggestions. Turn in the Service Project Plan by November 4, 2007.
• Carry out your plan for Christian service.
• Reflect on your service in light of your Catholic Christian faith and the example of Jesus. Download, complete, and turn in the Service Reflection by April 6, 2008.
  

Gifts of the Spirit
Bringing out the Best in You
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Gifts of the Spirit in Adobe Reader (38 KB)

The Gifts of the Spirit are strengthened in Confirmation to help you live a life of virtue. They help you keep your friendship with God strong and guide you in critical situations when you find it hard to cope with problems or to make decisions. They help you respond to God fully and lovingly. Praying for and cultivating these Gifts will bring out the best of your natural qualities and abilities.

WISDOM

…enables you to see life from God’s point of view and to recognize the real value of persons, events, and things. Wisdom keeps you from foolishly judging only by appearances. It makes you mature in the way you think and act. Wisdom leads you to work toward being confirmed not because your parents expect it, or because everyone your age is doing it, but because you see its value and desire it.

This gift in me: Do I pursue Wisdom by looking at all the sides of an issue? Do I pray before making judgments? Do I look to wise teachers like Jesus, the teachings of the pope and bishops, and experienced adults?

Prayer for Wisdom: God of Wisdom, you created us in wonder and sustain us in your embracing love. May your Holy Spirit of Wisdom enable us to see even as you see.

UNDERSTANDING

…grow through prayer and the reading of Scripture. It gives you insight into the truths of the faith and being a follower of Jesus, and it helps you make right choices in your relationships with God and others.

This gift in me: Do I take time to reflect on my learning about the Catholic faith? Do I make an effort to understand myself? Do I try to figure out why others act the way they do?

Prayer for Understanding: God of Understanding, your inspired Word reveals your mysterious plan for the world. May your Holy Spirit of Understanding help us to interpret your will in the daily events of our lives.

RIGHT JUDGMENT (sometimes called “counsel”)

…helps you seek advice and be open to the advice of others. Using this gift, you seek direction in the Sacrament of Penance, and you ask advice from parents or friends. Right Judgment also helps you give advice. With Right Judgment, you are able to help others with their problems, and you speak up and encourage them to do the right thing.

This gift in me: Do I seek out what the Church and the Bible teach about what is right and wrong? Do I pray about decisions before taking action?

Prayer for Right Judgment: God of Right Judgment, you are slow to anger and quick to forgive. May your Holy Spirit of Right Judgment free us from all resentment and prejudice.

KNOWLEDGE

…helps you know what God asks of you and how you should respond. You come to know God. You come to know who you are and the real value of things through the experiences of your life. This gift also helps you recognize temptations for what they are and turn to God for help.

This gift in me: Am I open to what God has to teach me about life? Does what I know about Jesus and his life lead me to commit myself to Christ and to the Church?

Prayer for Knowledge: God of Knowledge, you know when we sit and when we stand; you know the hidden secrets of the universe. May your Holy Spirit of Knowledge enlighten us to know how we are to love all you have made.

COURAGE (sometimes called “fortitude”)

…enables you to stand up for your beliefs and to live as a follower of Jesus. With this gift you have the inner strength to do what is right in the face of difficulties and to endure suffering with faith. Courage helps you to undertake challenging tasks in the service of your faith. But it also takes courage to be faithful to ordinary duties. It takes strength to live a good Christian life even when no one praises you or notices your effort.

This gift in me: Do I do what is right regardless of the personal consequences? Am I my own person? Do I speak out when I see injustice?

Prayer for Courage: God of Courage, your strength enables us to overcome any difficulty. May your Holy Spirit of Courage give us bold hears to proclaim your love always.

REVERENCE (sometimes called “piety”)

…helps you love and worship God and to sense God’s presence in all created things. It calls you to be faithful in your relationships with God and others. Reverence also helps us to be respectful and generous to others.

This gift in me: Do I respect the basic dignity of others? Do I recognize God as my creator and savior?

Prayer for Reverence: God of Reverence, you are always in loving relationship with your creation. May your Holy Spirit of Reverence place us confidently in your loving embrace.

WONDER & AWE (sometimes called “fear of the Lord”)

…helps you recognize the greatness of God and your dependence on Him. It leads you to marvel at God’s incredible love for you. God makes such a gift of Himself to us that we become His gift to others.

This gift in me: Do I love God with my whole mind, heart and soul? Do I pray? Do I know that God is God and that I am not?

Prayer for Wonder & Awe: God of Wonder & Awe, how wonderful the work of your hands, how awesome your ways. May your Holy Spirit of Wonder & Awe enable us to see your beauty in each person we meet.

Forms / Reports
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