2009-2010 Confirmation Class Requirements and Activities
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SACRED HEART AND ST. BERNARD CONFIRMATION CLASS 2009-2010 REQUIREMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
SUNDAY AND HOLY DAY MASS ATTENDANCE
CONFIRMATION INTERVIEW
FAITH JOURNAL
HOMEWORK
SPONSORS
RITE OF ENROLLMENT
CONFIRMATION FEE
BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES
PARENT’S PARTICIPATION
CLASS DATES
CONFIRMATION RETREAT
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
MISSING SACRAMENTS
SAINT’S NAME
CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROJECTS
LETTER TO THE BISHOP
LENTEN AND EASTER TRIDUUM REQUIREMENTS
COMMUNICATIONS
GRACE PASSES
CONFIRMATION REHEARSALS AND DATE
CONFIRMATION DRESS CODE
AGREEMENT
SUNDAY AND HOLY DAY MASS ATTENDANCE:
The Mass and the Eucharist are the very center of our Catholic faith. The obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses is the responsibility of all Catholics. We expect all of our candidates to understand and accept the requirement, which is based on the third commandment.
In the United States our Holy Days of Obligation during the 2009-2010 Confirmation year are:
Dec. 8th - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dec. 25th - Nativity of Our Lord [Christmas Day]
April 4th - Easter Sunday
May 13th - Ascension of the Lord
CONFIRMATION INTERVIEW
Canon Law requires that each candidate be interviewed prior to Confirmation. The purpose of the interview will be to determine the preparedness of each student for Confirmation. The interviews will be conducted by your Pastors or Deacons and will likely be conducted during the retreat.
FAITH JOURNAL
Each student must complete a Faith Journal during the year. Each class they will be asked to reflect on their faith in the areas discussed that day. They are required to buy a journal book and bring it to each class. The journals will be checked frequently and will be reviewed with the candidate at the end of the year.
HOMEWORK
The candidate will be issued a book. There will be reading and sometimes homework after each class. The candidate must come to class having done the homework and prepared to participate.
The candidate will also be responsible for memorizing certain prayers of the Church; among them The Lord’s Prayer, The Hail Mary, The Gloria, The Credo and The Apostle’s Creed. We will work on these during class. The parents are encouraged to say these prayers with their candidates daily (perhaps at dinner or before bed).
SPONSORS
Historically, sponsors were those Christians who presented their friends as candidates for Christian Initiation. When Infant Baptism came into practice it was usually the parents who presented their children to the community, godparents being chosen in case the parents could not fulfill their responsibilities. According to the new Code of Canon Law, Baptismal godparents are preferred as Confirmation Sponsors because of the unity of Baptism and Confirmation. This assumes the godparents are practicing the Catholic Faith.
The candidates will be required to write a letter to their sponsor detailing why they chose him or her and what will be expected of them as a sponsor during the upcoming year of preparation. The sponsor letter is due January, 2009.
The Sponsor must be mature in his/her faith and at least 16 years old: this means that he/she must feel comfortable answering questions the candidates might have and sharing his/her faith. The sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
A Parent may not be their child’s sponsor. All sponsors must have a form signed by their parish priest stating they are a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.
RITE OF ENROLLMENT:
Sunday, February 14th at 10:30 a.m. mass there will be a Rite of Enrollment which will include a blessing for sponsors. Sponsors and parents are invited to attend this mass.
CONFIRMATION FEE:
A fee of $50.00 will be charged for each candidate. This fee will be applied to the cost of the retreat and other supplies. Families needing financial assistance should talk to their Pastor. Scholarships may be available. Please make your checks payable to Sacred Heart Church.
BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES:
Baptism is necessary before one can received any other sacrament. Every candidate should know the Church in which they were baptized. All church records are kept at the church of baptism. All candidates who were not baptized at Sacred Heart must submit a copy of their Baptismal Certificate by December 30, 2009.
PARENT’S PARTICIPATION
The participation of the parents in the Confirmation program is vital. It is important for you to set the example for your child as he or she takes on the responsibility of a confirmed Catholic. The example of the parents’ prayer life and their personal relationship with Christ and His church are the best teachers sons and daughters will ever have. Although it is the candidate’s responsibility to complete all requirements, it is the parents’ responsibility to assist and support their child.
Additionally, we are requesting parent assistance in the following areas;
- Chaperones and Drivers for class trip
- Help with serving dinner and snacks during the Confirmation retreat.
- A parent or parents to help make phone calls to other parents when needed.
CLASS DATES Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
October 26 Monday Class
November 2 Monday Class
November 9 Monday Class
November 16 Monday Class
November 23 No Class Thanksgiving Break
November 30 Monday Class
December 7 Monday Class
December 14 Monday Class
December 21 No Class Christmas Break
December 28 No Class Christmas Break
January 4, 2010 Monday Class
January 11 Monday Class
January 18 No Class Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 25 Monday Class
February 1 Monday Class
February 8 Monday Class
February 15 No Class Presidents Week
February 22 Monday Class
March 1 Monday Class
March 8 Monday Class
March 15 Monday Class
March 22 Monday Class
March 29 March Class
April 5 Monday Class
April 12 Monday Class
April 19 No Class Spring Break
April 26 Monday Class
May 3 Monday Class
May 7 Retreat Starts Friday 5:30 P.M to Saturday
After 5:00 P.M Mass (not overnight)
May 14th Friday eve 6:00 Rehearsal
May 16th Sunday Sacrament of Confirmation
CLASSES TO BE HELD IN THE YOUTH BUILDING AT SACRED HEART UNLESS OTHERWISE ANNOUNCED
******All dates and times subject change
CONFIRMATION RETREAT
There will be a retreat for all candidates before receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. The retreat will take place on Friday May 7th at 5:30PM, and will end with us all attending the 5:PM mass on Saturday May 8th.
THIS IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CANDIDATES, and they should come to the retreat in comfortable, casual dress but it also must be appropriate for mass.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
All candidates are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance during both the season of Advent and Lent. There will also be a time for the Sacrament of Penance during their retreat.
MISSING SACRAMENTS
If your young person is missing the Sacraments of Baptism, 1st confession and/or 1st Communion we will prepare them along the way and celebrate them at the Easter Vigil or at another time as arranged with your Pastor.
SAINT’S NAME
A name identifies us and tells others who we are. The candidates are asked to check into the reason for their baptismal name if they are not already aware of the reason.
They may choose a new name as a sign of growth in faith. One may keep the baptismal name to emphasize the fact that confirmation is a sealing of the baptismal commitment.
The candidates must explain their choice and report information about the saint that they have chosen. Each saint is known for particular qualities or virtues. The candidates will explain how, by imitating this saint, he or she can become a better Christian.
There are excellent websites that will assist the candidates to know the different saints:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/indexsnt.htm,
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/byname.asp
http://www.theworkofgod./saints/
SERVICE PROJECT
Each candidate is required to complete 20 hours of individual/group service to the poor and/or vulnerable. All candidates must participate in a group project. Candidates may complete their service by assisting Betty’s Homeless Ministry and/or assisting as an aide in Sacred Heart or St. Bernard’s CCD classes.
LETTER TO THE BISHOP
The candidates are required to write a letter to the Bishop indicating a desire to receive, and reasons for wanting to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It should be a statement of future commitment to study the faith and to follow their responsibility as a baptized Christian to proclaim the gospel. Specific guidelines for the letter will be discussed and it is to be written by the first Monday of March.
LENTEN AND EASTER TRIDUUM REQUIREMENTS
All candidates must attend Stations of the Cross on Friday.
All candidates must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
All candidates should make every effort to participate in the Easter Triduum, which consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil.
This is the holiest time of the year for our church. The services on these days are rich in the traditions of our faith. We will discuss with the candidates how they can fully participate in the Triduum during the class meetings.
COMMUNICATIONS
E-MAIL : e-mail will be the preferred avenue of communication. Reminders, service hour projects and class times will be sent via e-mail.
GRACE PASSES
All of the above activities are required for all candidates of Confirmation. However, there are times when family or other obligations can prevent a candidate from attending a scheduled activity. Therefore, each candidate will be given 2 grace passes to be used during the year. In order to use this pass, a parent must call Simona Keat at 499-5922 prior to the event.
Once the candidate uses 2 passes, it is expected that he/she will be at every scheduled activity. Grace passes cannot be used for the Confirmation retreat on May 7th and 8th, 2010. The candidate does not have to use a Grace Pass if he/she is ill. It is expected, however, that a parent call Simona in advance to let her know that the candidate will not be at the schedule activity.
CONFIRMATION REHEARSALS AND DATE
Candidates and their sponsors are require to attend the Confirmation rehearsal on May 22, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary’s Church in Arcata
CONFIRMATION DRESS CODE
Boys:
Dress slacks
Dress shirt/tie
Dress shoes
Girls:
Dress or skirt [any color] of an appropriate length for Church
Dress Shoes
Sponsors should also be appropriately dressed, since in their role they are an official representative of the church. Men should wear dress shirt, tie and jacket. Women should wear a skirt or dress of appropriate length or a dress pants suit.
NO GUM PLEASE!
Candidate/Parent Agreement to the Requirements of the
2010 St. BERNARD/ Sacred Heart Church Confirmation Program
CANDIDATE PLEDGE
I, , have read this booklet and am aware of the necessary commitment to attendance and compliance with all of the listed activities and projects noted within it. I am also aware of the policy concerning “grace passes,” and I hereby pledge to fulfill all these requirements in order to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring of 2019.
Signature
Date
PARENT PLEDGE
I, , as the parent of Confirmation Candidate , have read the booklet and am familiar with all of the projects, sessions and activities listed within it, and hereby agree to support and encourage my son/daughter in fulfilling all requirements and completing all projects listed, so that they may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring of 2010.
Signature
Date