|
|
 |
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church |
|
|
Confirmation Requirements for St. Rose of
The Purpose Of Life Is To Know, Love and Serve God
I have divided the requirements for confirmation into two categories. The first category is simply a reminder of some of our Catholic obligations.
1. Attend mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (Form #1)
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that we have an obligation to attend mass on Sundays and Holy days of obligation. Catholics who willfully miss mass are in danger of committing mortal sin. However, many people do not understand what “Sunday Obligation” means. Basically, it means that those who are able to attend mass are obligated to do so.
In other words, you are obligated to attend mass instead of;
Going to the lake
Hanging out with friends
Doing homework
Playing X box
Going on a date
Sleeping
Don’t feel like it
However, you are not obligated to attend mass if; You are sick otherwise physically incapable of attending
You have a family emergency You HAVE to work to provide for your family and you have no other option Or you are under the age of 18 and your parents don’t want you to
Don’t forget that as Catholics we have the sacrament of reconciliation. This is a good place to go if you have missed mass intentionally. At the beginning of the year parents and confirmands will be asked to sign a pledge that their child will attend Mass and Holy Days of Obligation. At the end of the year, parents and confirmands will be asked to sign a form verifying that their son/daughter attended mass on Sundays and Holy days of obligation. This form will be due on April 3rd.
2. Go to confession during Advent and Lent.
The Catholic Church requires that all Catholics attend confession at least once a year if they are conscience of mortal sin. However, the Church strongly encourages regular participation in the sacrament of Confession, especially during Advent and Lent or prior to receiving another sacrament such as confirmation or marriage. A sacrament is a physical way of receiving God’s grace and like all the sacraments, confession is a gift given by Jesus to the Church. Confession is a beautiful sacrament. In John chapter 20, verses 20-23, Jesus Christ gave the apostles the authority to forgive and retain sins. This authority is still with us today as it has been passed down through time from the apostles to the Bishops and Priests. All confirmands are expected to attend confession prior to receiving the sacrament of confirmation. They can do this at any of the parish reconciliation services (during Advent or Lent), they can do it any Saturday during regular confession time (4:30-5:30) or they can do it by appointment.
3. Attend Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday Services.
These days are not holy days of obligation but they are VERY important services in the life of a practicing Catholic. Confirmands are STRONGLY encouraged, as are ALL Catholics, to attend these services if they are able.
4. Service (Form #2)
In Matthew chapter 25, verses 31-46, Jesus teaches that we are to serve others and when we do so, we are serving Him. To highlight our responsibility as Christians to serve those in need, all confirmands will be expected to participate in some kind of service during the year. It will be up to the students to decide how much they want to do. The only requirement is that it must be service to the church, community or the needy that is not part of any other program they are part of in school or another organization. A short form will need to be filled out by the Confirmand and turned in by March 27th.
***The following items are specific requirements for the confirmation program at St. Rose.***
1. Attend Sunday night Youth Group
Teens are required to be at Sunday night Youth group. 8th grade students will attend the “Xtreme” group and high school teens will attend “Life Teen”. Please call me at the church office during business hours and let me know if your teen has to miss a Sunday night. Make up work will be assigned if “Confirmation Lesson Nights” are missed. There will be a sign in sheet at youth group on Sunday nights. It is up to the teens to take responsibility to remember to sign in at youth group.
2. Sponsor. (Form #3)
All Confirmands will need to choose a sponsor. Sponsor forms are due by November 21st. Sponsors must be practicing Catholics over the age of 16 who have received the sacrament of confirmation. They cannot be parents, but they can be other family members.
3. Saint Name and report. (Form #4)
Confirmands will choose a saint name for confirmation. They will need to answer the questions on the saint report form and turn it in by February 13th. Each confirmand is encouraged to find and read a book on their saint. Tanbooks.com (search on Fabyan) and Ignatius.com (search thru children’s books they have some of the best ones) both offer easy, engaging, saint biographies and they are usually not very expensive.
4. Letter to the Bishop
Confirmands will write a letter to the bishop expressing their desire to be confirmed. This task will be done on a Sunday night in the spring during youth group.
5. Retreats/Events
There will be two confirmation events held on Saturdays. The first - on January 8, 2011 - will be a students retreat. The second - April 2, 2011 - will be a parent breakfast followed by confirmands testing and/or interviews. Both are mandatory for the teens.
6. Test
Students will have to pass a test which covers basic Catholic/Christian teachings. A study guide is included in this packet. The test will be given on April 2, 2011. I encourage parents to begin reviewing this information with their teen so that they are prepared. All of the information on the test will be covered in youth group, but review of the study guide will be very valuable. The test is mostly multiple choice and matching with a few short answer questions.
7. Prayers
Students will need to know the standard Catholic/Christian prayers. These include the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and the Nicene Creed. We will be using these prayers at all the youth nights so teens will be familiar with them.
8. Interview
All confirmands will be interviewed. These will be done on the April 2nd test day.
9. Gospel Worksheet. (Form #5)
All confirmands will need to complete a Gospel worksheet. These will be given out at the beginning of the year and are due March 21st. I urge you to glance at these with your teen. We may find some benefit from looking at the Gospel as a family.
10. Baptismal Certificate
If you want to be confirmed we must have a copy of your baptismal certificate no later than November 7th. If we don’t have it by November 7th, YOU WILL NOT BE CONFIRMED.
11. Stations of the Cross
Teens will need to attend one Stations of the Cross during Lent. They are held every Friday evening during Lent.
12. Confirmation Checklist (Form #6)
For your convenience; this is a tool to help you keep track of what needs to be done each month.
Our goal in all of this is to provide the teens with as many catholic experiences as possible during their confirmation year. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call either Phil Dodd or Leslie Skelton.
Phil. Office: 893-1843, Cell: 207-8609
Leslie: 394-4761
Comprehensive Time Line with meeting dates and deadlines
August
22nd – Life Teen Swim Party 6:00-8:30 (grades 9-12th)
29th- Public school parent Confirmation info meeting 12:00-1:00PM in Jo Call (1st of 2 opportunities to attend)
29th – Xterme Swim Party 6:00-8:30 (grades 6-8th)
September
12th-Youth Group Begins
19th- Youth Group
19th- Public school parent Confirmation info meeting 12:00-1:00PM in Jo Call (2nd of 2 opportunities to attend)
26th- Youth Group
October
3rd – No Youth
10th –Youth Group
17th – Confirmation Lesson #1
24th –Youth Group
November
Baptism Certificates are due by November 7th
Sponsor forms (form #3) are due by November 21st
1st – Holy Day of Obligation “All Saints Day”
7th - Confirmation Lesson #2
14th -Youth Group
21st - Confirmation Lesson #3
28th – No Youth
December
5th - Youth Group
8th - Holy Day of Obligation “Immaculate Conception”
12th - Youth Group
19th - Youth group
25th – Holy Day of Obligation “Christmas”
26th –No Youth
January
1st - Holy Day of obligation “Mary Mother of God”
2nd – No Youth
8th - Confirmation Retreat, 10:00AM-4:00PM JO Call Room
9th- Youth Group
16th - Confirmation Lesson #4
23rd - Youth Group
30th - Confirmation Lesson #5
February
St. Reports (form #4) are due by February 13th!
6th – No Youth
13th - Confirmation Lesson #6
20th - Confirmation Lesson #7
27th –Youth Group
March
Gospel worksheets due (Form #5) by March 21st
Service Project form due (Form #2) by March 27th
6th-Youth Group
9th – Ash Wednesday
13th- Youth Group
20th-No Youth
21st- Youth Group
27th- Confirmation Lesson #8
April
Mass attendance sheet signed and turned in (Form #1) by April 3rd
2nd - Confirmation Breakfast (Reconciliation available) followed by confirmands test/interview
3rd –Youth Group
10th- Youth Group
17th- Youth Group “Palm Sunday”
21st – Holy Thursday
22nd – Good Friday
24th- No Youth “Easter”
May
1st - Last Youth Group
|
FORMS LIST: These are available in WORD doc format. Click on the form to download. Form #1 - Mass Attendance Form #2 - Service Form #3 - Sponsor Form #4 - Saint Report Form #5 - Gospel Worksheet Form #6 - Confirmation Checklist
|
|
Website designed by Saint Rose Web Team |
