Confirmation
2014
Family Information Packet
St. Michael, St. Bernard, & St. Joseph Catholic Churches
Bradford, Frenchtown, & Marengo, Indiana
Sacrament of Confirmation
2013-2014
Dates of Meetings and Celebrations
October 6 Rite of Enrollment at 11:00 a.m. Mass
October 6 Class #1 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
October 27 Class #2 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
November 17 Class #3 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
December 8 Class #4 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
January 19 Class #5 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
February 2 Class #6 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
February 23 Class #7 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
March 9 Class #8 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
March 30 Class #9 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
April 6 Class #10 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
April 27 Tentative Date for the Sacrament of Confirmation
5:00 p.m. At St. Mary of the Knobs in Floyds Knobs
May 18 Celebration Meeting 6:00 p.m.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit, help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
What is the Goal of the Confirmation Program?
The goal of our Confirmation Program is to encourage our young people to accept for themselves the faith in which they have been baptized. Faith is a long process it takes understanding and trust. It is also Sacramental.
Through this goal of confirming faith we will strive to help each candidate:
· Deepen his/her prayer life
· Deepen his/her relationship with God
· Deepen his/her sense of belonging to the Catholic Community of St. Michael’s
What are the responsibilities of the Candidates?
· Freely choose to be confirmed and make their desire known.
· Practice your faith.
· Attend Mass regularly.
· Be a person of prayer.
· Be aware of the initiation aspect of the sacrament of Confirmation and be committed to continuing the faithful practice and study of their religion.
· Be willing to participate in the Confirmation Program of prayer, retreat, communal celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation, etc.
· Attend all the meetings and scheduled classes. Participate in and have assignments completed and read before class.
· Attend and participate in the Rite of Enrollment.
· Attend and participate in a retreat.
· Choose a sponsor.
· Choose a confirmation name.
· Participate in scheduled Service Projects and/or do 30 hours of community service approved by the Coordinator.
Who may be a Sponsor?
A sponsor that is chosen by a candidate must satisfy these requirements:
· He/she be sufficiently mature for this role (no definite age is given, but 18 is the norm)
· He/she belongs to the Catholic Church and has been fully initiated through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
· He/she not be prohibited by law from exercising the role of sponsor. (Rite of Confirmation No. 6)
It does not matter whether the sponsor is male or female. The sponsor is also expected to join us for one of our classes and will be notified in plenty of time to plan on attending. If your sponsor cannot attend a class with you a proxy should be chosen to attend in their absence. In the past, a parent has been eligible to be a sponsor for his/her child, but due to the revised code of canon law, this can no longer be the case. Please turn in the sponsor information sheet when you know who your sponsor will be on or before October 6, 2013.
What is the Role of the Sponsor?
According to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the sponsor is “...a man or woman who knows the candidate and helps him/her with their morals and faith...It is the sponsors responsibility to show the catechumen in a friendly way the place of the Gospel in his/her own life and in society, to help him/her in doubts and anxieties...The sponsor’s responsibility remains important when the new member has received the sacraments and needs to be helped to remain faithful to his/her baptismal promises...” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Nos. 42,43)
The sponsor might be expected to:
· Telephone the candidate to see how things are going.
· Offer transportation to confirmation events if needed.
· Encourage and affirm the candidate’s faith growth.
· Share his/her own faith.
· Listen to the problems and feelings of the candidate.
· Pray with the candidate.
· Pray for all the Confirmation Candidates.
· Assist with and monitor the candidate’s service pledge.
· Attend two classes with the candidate (if possible)
Role of Parents
“The initiation of children into the sacramental life of the church is, for the most part, the responsibility and the concern of Christian parents. They are to form and gradually develop a spirit of faith in the children, and with the help of catechetical institutions, prepare them for the fruitful reception of the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist. This responsibility of the parents is also shown by their active participation in the celebration of the sacraments.” (Rite of Confirmation, No. 3)
Parents, as the primary educators of their children, are asked to continue to be involved in their child’s faith formation. Parents are asked to show concern and assist in any way possible in their child’s preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Parents can become involved by:
· Helping or chauffeuring for any volunteer service project.
· Assisting in any liturgical or prayer experience.
· Assisting in the Day of Reflection.
· Pray with your child.
· Provide parish with necessary baptismal information
Baptismal Certificate
We are required to see a copy of each candidate’s baptismal certificate (unless they were baptized here at St. Michael’s or if we already have one on file). Each candidate must turn into the Faith Formation Office a Baptismal Information Form (found at the back of this booklet) by October 6, 2013.
Confirmation Name
Candidates may use their baptismal name as their confirmation name because of the relationship between Baptism and Confirmation or they may choose the name of a saint recognized by the Church. The name of the saint that he/she chooses should have special meaning for the candidate. Please return the Confirmation Name Form to us by January 19, 2014.
Confirmation Program Fee
There is a program fee of $30.00. You may have already paid this fee with the registration of you family in the Faith Formation program. If you have not yet paid the program fee please turn it in to the Faith Formation Office as soon as possible. If the fee presents a problem please contact the Faith Formation Office. We would never want money to stand in the way of your child participating in the program.
Service Work
A major component of the Confirmation Program is doing service work. Candidates may choose to participate in previously scheduled service projects as a group, do service opportunities on their own, or a combination of the two. After the service project is completed candidates should write a full page paper explaining your experiences while doing service, the service work completed, and how the service work changed you or effected how you live life. There will be several opportunities offered for you to do service as a group and we invite you to take advantage of those opportunities.
Confirmation Retreat
The Sacrament of Confirmation calls us to a greater participation in the grace that God freely gives to each of us. As God calls to us He asks more and more of us as we grow in our relationship with Him. In order to assist candidates in the art of listening to God and His will for our lives we ask that all candidates attend a retreat during their preparation for the Sacrament. The New Albany Deanery offers a variety of quality retreats and you can attend a retreat that fits your schedule. Registration brochures will be made available to you to ease the registration process. You can also sign up online at www.nadyouth.org We encourage you to sign up early as retreats often fill up. All Deanery Retreats are held at Mount St. Francis in Floyds Knobs:
Catholic 101 Retreat November 9-10, 2013 (Freshman or Sophomores)
Freshmen/Sophomore Retreat December 7-8, 2013 (Freshmen or Sophomores)
Catholic 101 Retreat February 1-2, 2014 (Freshmen or Sophomores)
The Journey Retreat March 8-9, 2014 (Juniors)
Rite of Enrollment
This rite begins the confirmation preparation program. Its purpose is to ask for community support, through prayer and active encouragement, for our young people seeking the Holy Spirit in their lives. This rite assists our parish community in becoming more aware of our youth preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. The Rite will be celebrated at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 6th.
Prayers and Terms You Should Know
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit, help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity or Love) [CCC #1813]
Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance) [CCC #1805 &1834]
Fruits of the Spirit (derived from Vulgate translation of Galatians 5:22-23) [CCC #1832]
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, and Chastity
Gifts of the Spirit (derived from Isaiah 11:1-3) [CCC #1830]
Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgment (Counsel), Courage (Fortitude), Knowledge, Reverence (Piety), and Wonder and awe (Fear of the Lord)
The Ten Commandments
I. I am the Lord your God you shall not have strange gods before me.
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
III. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal.
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
The Seven Sacraments
1. Baptism [CCC #977, 1213ff; 1275, 1278]
2. Confirmation [CCC #1285]
3. Eucharist [CCC #1322ff; 2177]
4. Reconciliation [CCC #1422; 1442-, 1468]
5. Anointing of the Sick [CCC #1499, 1520, 1527, 1526-32]
6. Marriage [Matrimony, CCC #1601]
7. Holy Orders [CCC #1536]
Prayer of Sorrow (Act of Contrition)
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Trinity Prayer (Glory Be)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Precepts of the Church
1. Celebrate Christ’s resurrection every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation by taking part in Mass and avoiding unnecessary work.
2. Lead a sacramental life. Receive Holy Communion frequently and the sacrament of reconciliation or penance regularly. We must receive Holy Communion at least once a year at Lent-Easter time. If we have committed serious, or mortal, sin we must confess within a year and before receiving communion again.
3. Study Catholic teaching throughout one’s life, especially in preparing for the sacraments.
4. Observe the marriage laws of the Catholic Church and give religious training to one’s children.
5. Strengthen and support the Church: one’s own parish, the diocese, the worldwide Church and the Holy Father.
6. Do penance, including not eating from meat and fasting from food on certain days of fast and abstinence.
7. Join the missionary spirit and work of the Church.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Your bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Confirmation Name Form
Name of Confirmation Candidate ______
_____ I prefer to use my own Baptismal Name for Confirmation
_____ I wish to take a saints name as my Confirmation Name
Confirmation Name ______
Please bring this form to confirmation class and turn it in no later than January 19, 2014
Confirmation Sponsor Form
Name of Confirmation Candidate ______
Sponsor’s Name ______
Sponsor’s Street Address ______
City, State, Zip ______
Phone # ______
Please bring this form to Confirmation Class and turn it in no later than October 6, 2013.
Baptismal Information
Confirmation Candidate
Full Name of Confirmation Candidate______
Confirmation Name ______
Sponsor Name______
Mothers Name (Please include maiden name) ______
Fathers Name______
God Parents Names______
Approximate Date of Baptism______
Place Of Baptism (Church)______