2017/2018
Sacrament Preparation
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church
Msgr. Michael Reardon, Pastor
Confirmation Director: Cindy Rodriguez 756-2791
Cindy’s e-mail:
St. Bartholomew Church
252 Granada Ave., Long Beach, CA 90803
Youth Center
4545 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA 90814
Rectory
252 Granada, Long Beach, CA 90803
Stbartholomewcclb.org
Pastor Msgr. Michael Reardon 438-3826
Parish Secretaries Chris Ahumada 438-3826
Year II Confirmation Teams
Day: Sunday 2:00 – 3:30 PM (Youth Center)
Margaret Lopez: (512) 964-7655
Allison Reid (562)537-1592
Barbara Brown-Thompson: 562.547.0025
Day: Sunday 2:00 – 3:30 PM (Youth Center)
Maureen Craine (562) 254-2433
Garrett Sauter (586) 703-7620
Day: Monday 7:00 – 8:30 (Youth Center)
Anita Guzman: 562.438.4525
Mary Ellen Roide (562) 755-6775
IMPORTANT: In order to continue on to the Sacrament Preparation Year, your completed passport MUST BE turned in to your catechist on the last meeting of track C.
**ALL small group sessions will take place in the Youth Center (4545 E. 4th St.)
Sacrament Preparation
According to contemporary theology, confirmation is seen as a completion of Baptism, a sealing with the Spirit to enable the Christian to witness to his Faith in a mature way. Pope Paul VI, in the Apostolic Constitution on the Sacrament of Confirmation, saw the sacrament as endowing the recipient “with special strength” and obliging them “to spread and defend the Faith by both word and by deed as true witnesses of Christ”. To discern means to decide, resolve or distinguish between. (Catholic Encyclopedia; Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington IN, 1991)
We have modeled our sacrament preparation process after small church communities where groups of 8-10 candidates meet in the catechist’s home. Topics of discussion are aimed at getting the candidates to think about and apply their faith to their everyday lives as mandated by the Archdiocesan guidelines. Service projects are required for our candidates and their sponsors. Candidates will attend a weekend retreat and participate in special liturgical rites in accordance with their preparation for the reception of the sacrament.
Catholic high schools do not prepare students for this sacrament. The preparation for reception of confirmation is the responsibility of their home parish, as mandated by the Archdiocesan guidelines.
We look forward to helping guide the candidates to develop a living, active, conscious Faith that will bring them to a oneness with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation Goals and Objectives
Objectives
To guide young people in the call to holiness by developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by meeting Him in the Scriptures, in the life and teachings of the Catholic Church, ad in their own prayer lives.
To nurture a desire in young people for an understanding of an active participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
To empower young people to embrace the richness of diversity, to live the moral and theological virtues and to apply these virtues in their decision making.
To help young people develop a life of Christian service modeled on Jesus’ life.
To equip and empower youth to use their gifts and talents for the greater glory of God and His Church.
Goals
The goal of confirmation preparation is to celebrate and acknowledge that the Spirit of Jesus, given in Baptism is truly alive and at work in the Christian. Through this Sacrament, the Church affirms the view that growth in the Spirit is a continual,
life-long journey celebrating and deepening the ongoing initiation into a new life with Jesus which began at Baptism.
Precepts of the Church
Precepts are principles or expectations. The purpose of the precepts of the church is to assist the faith community in understanding what a minimum participation would be for one to be considered an active member of the Catholic Faith. This indispensable minimum is a must so that we are able to grow in our love of God and neighbor. The precepts of the Church are:
1) Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. (This involves refraining from work or activities than hinder the worship due to God.)
2) Receive Communion at least once a year during Easter Season. (Ideally, Catholics receive Communion each time they attend Mass.)
3) Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year.
4) Remember to fast and abstain from meat on days specified by the liturgical calendar (usually during Lent).
Foundational Principles of Church Teaching’s about Justice
1) Every human person possesses a basic dignity that comes from God.
2) Each person has basic right and responsibilities that flow from his or her God-given dignity.
3) Each person has been called to support the family, form, community, and participate in the life of society.
4) Work is part of the human condition; there is a dignity to work, and workers have rights
5) In all cases, people are to be guided by a fundamental option for the poor and vulnerable.
6) As a goal, Catholics are to work for solidarity with the human family in search of world peace, global development, environmental protection, and safeguarding international human rights.
(USCC Administrative Board, Political Responsibility, 1991). From: “Social Justice & the Catechist”, Catechists in Formation, Bk 2, Benziger Pub.
Candidate Requirements
Catechetical
There will be Confirmation gatherings the first Sunday of the month, (except in December), plus two small group meetings per month. It is mandatory that the candidate bring this passport to all sessions attended. The only way they will be given credit for attending a session is to have this passport dated and stamped or signed by their catechist at that session. It is the candidate’s responsibility to have their passport with them and properly filled out.
Weekend Retreat December 8th–10th, 2017
This must be made-up with another parish if you do not attend. All arrangements and fees are your responsibility. There will be No Refunds from St Bartholomew Church.
Mini-Retreat and Reconciliation TBA
Liturgies
Rite of Commitment: Sunday, October 1st, 2017 at the 5:30pm Mass
Rite of Affirming: TBA at 5:30 Mass (April)
Service Hours
1.Group Service Project at Project Achieve. Time and date will be determined by your catechist.
2. 10 additional hours of service are required, some of which should be completed at a YM service event.
3. Parish Service
Each candidate must do one of the following as a parish service:-Help out at a parish mission, dinner or other event, serve at 5:30 pm mass 3x, Usher at the 5:30 Mass, volunteer at a Middle School YM event.
Additional Requirements
Pastor Letter: Return to catechist
Oral Saint Report (Done in their sessions)
Parent/Candidate “Left toTell” discussion guide :give completed sheet to your catechist at first meeting.
***IN ORDER TO BE CONFIRMED, YOUR COMPLETED PASSPORT MUST BE TURNED IN TO YOUR CATECHIST AT YOUR LAST SESSION/ MEETING.
Conduct
Candidates are expected to follow the rules as outlined by their small group at the first session.
Being disrespectful to those in authority, causing physical harm to another, or causing disruptions in the group will not be tolerated.
Any use of contraband (ie alcohol, drugs, etc.) will result in immediate expulsion from the retreat. Parents must pick-up.
Cell phones must remain off during the sessions, speakers and events.
No cell phones or iPods will be allowed at the retreat. You may use them on the bus each way but they must be relinquished to the retreat coordinator during the weekend (please label these items).
Companion Sponsor (a Confirmed adult & practicing Catholic of your choosing)
Attends mandatory Sponsor meeting September 20, 2017, 7:00
Attends Rite of Commitment: October 1, 2017 at the 5:30pm Mass (line up, in front of sponsor, at 5:15)
Attends Mini-Retreat & Rite of Affirming: Date is TBA Starts at 2:00 in the hall and concludes with 5:30pm Mass
Attends the Confirmation dinner and rehearsal (the Thursday before Confirmation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Date TBA)
Program Policies
*Regular attendance at Mass is expected.
*Appropriate behavior and common courtesy is expected. No swearing or inappropriate language.
*Candidates should be dropped off at 7:00pm and picked up promptly at 8:30pm. Late arrivals are disruptive to the whole group.
Due to the limited number of sessions, it is mandatory to attend all 18 sessions in order to be Confirmed in the spring. Make-up sessions must be arranged with another group and is the responsibility of the candidate. NO EXCEPTIONS. Candidates must inform their catechist of any absence and makeup. Always call make-up group’s catechist to let he or she know you are coming. An acceptable make-up session as is a Youth Night meeting. (See make-up opportunities) You will only be allowed to make-up a maximum of three sessions this way, so please be sure to attend your weekly Confirmation group meetings. Thank you!
-Participating in an assigned Service project is required.
-Attendance at the Retreat is mandatory.
Appropriate dress is required for the Rites and all Liturgies. No backless, strapless, spaghetti straps, mini, midriff bearing skirts or dresses. No jeans, baggy pants or t-shirts with inappropriate sayings or images.
Candidates who are Baptized, but not catechized and require the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist must attend the RCIA program. They will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
Candidates are provided with all the materials and supplies they will need for their sessions.
Insurance is provided by the Archdiocese. If an injury is sustained while the candidate is in our care that requires professional medical attention, a claim may be filed.
Attendance
Candidates are responsible for letting us know beforehand if he/she will be absent from a session, liturgical rite, and/or volunteer project. Candidates will be required to make-up any and all absences.
Call Team Leaders to report absence and plan to make-up.
Retreat
Call Cindy Rodriguez at (562) 756-2791 or e-mail () her if you cannot attend the retreat. You can plan a make-up opportunity, by going on a retreat with another parish. The retreat is mandatory and no refunds will be given.
Liturgical Rites
If you miss a Rite you must make it up at another Parish. Be sure to call Cindy ahead of time to let her know if you are attending another parish because the Rites include candidate’s names being called during Mass.
Volunteer Projects
Contact your catechist. This must be made up!
If a candidate has repeated attendance problems, whether or not a make-up has been completed, he/she will need to set-up a meeting to talk about the situation in more detail with Cindy Rodriguez and/or the Pastor. Parents will also need to be a part of this meeting.
Parent Suggestions
Our parish sacramental preparation for the teens cannot be successful without the participation of both parents and sponsors.
“Do not forget the things your eyes have not seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life: rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children…” (Dt.4:9)
As primary educators of their children, parents along with sponsors, are to be intimately involved in Catechesis for confirmation. This will help them renew and strengthen their faith, besides enabling them to set a better example for their children and godchildren. (National Catechetical Directory #119)
Parents and sponsors can be involved with the candidate in the sacramental preparation By attending Mass with them; By attending special days of faith formation, prayer and reflection with them that are sensitive to their culture; Participating in service projects with them; Supporting them by helping in the program by chaperoning or other tasks.
Become acquainted with your teen’s catechist.
Please let the catechists know of any events that may have changed in your family life: such as death, health problems or divorce.
Take time to discuss your teen’s confirmation session.
Please check our website regularly for information and changes to the program. (www.calltodiscipleship.com)
Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
Confirmation Kickoff *5:30 Mass & Ritual of Commitment (Line up at 5:15, in front of the church, with your sponsor)
and Kickoff in the hall. Parents should attend this Mass as well.
Pick-up time is 8:00.
Date October 1, 2017
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Notes:
List 3 things that impressed you about this devotional activity. Will it make a difference in your spiritual practices?
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
Week of: October 8th
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List 3 things that impressed you about this session / any ideas for improvement regarding content, activities & materials
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
Week of: October 22nd
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
The Well: November 5th
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
Week of: November 12th
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.
Week of: November 26th
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Dear Candidate; It is your responsibility to have this page properly completed in order for you to receive credit for attendance.