Confirmation Programs

[TeresaBenedicta]

We do confirmation every other year, and this coming year will be my first year with the program. I've just found that our "program" is 6 meetings and a service project. That's going to have a make-over.

What does your parish's confirmation program look like? Is it inter-mingled with the parish youth group? Nine months? Weekly meetings? Use of a particular program?

We don't currently have a steady youth group, although it's in the process of being built up. It might be useful to incorporate the confirmation program so as to build up the youth group in some way, but I don't necessarily want the two to be the same thing.

[Lisa]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1301600334' post='2225114']
We do confirmation every other year, and this coming year will be my first year with the program. I've just found that our "program" is 6 meetings and a service project. That's going to have a make-over.

What does your parish's confirmation program look like? Is it inter-mingled with the parish youth group? Nine months? Weekly meetings? Use of a particular program?

We don't currently have a steady youth group, although it's in the process of being built up. It might be useful to incorporate the confirmation program so as to build up the youth group in some way, but I don't necessarily want the two to be the same thing.
[/quote]


I just helped with our parish's confirmation program, so I might be able to help a little. The confirmation nights take place right before the evening youth mass (our church does Life Teen), then mass, then Life Night (where they feed everyone). It's pretty convenient for parents and they get most of the confirmation students to stay for youth group. It's a 9 month process, I think they meet every other week.

They have a little checklist that they "have" to do- a retreat, service project, maybe something else. Then all the confirmation students have a retreat- for us it was last weekend, so like a month before the actual Confirmation. The program they use (which includes retreat materials) is called Oneight- based on Acts 1:8 and Paul's conversion. [url="http://store.lifeteen.com/oneight.aspx"]http://store.lifeteen.com/oneight.aspx[/url]

[MIKolbe]

When I worked with Confirmation, it was with the adults. Surprisingly, and wonderfully, we always had about 15-20 adults who went throught the program. (and this was at a Newman Center)

We focused on the Catholic Catechism for Adults, put out by the USCCB, and pretty much went cover-to-cover. It was a 3-1/2 month course, once a week (about 15 meetings). We also used the Rite of Confirmation 'book' and used that to go a bit deeper into that what's and how's and why's of Confirmation itself. They had no service project..but being adults, I can see why there was not one.

Don't know if that helps...

[Groo the Wanderer]

We use St. Mary's Press Confirmed in a Catholic Community. It's a full year program that mirrors the RCIA process - Invitation, Formation, Reflection, Mission. Its very comprehensive and I hardly ever have to rewrite the lessons. Each lesson works well for a 1.5-2 hour class. 22 lessons in all, plus plans for initial/parents meetings, sponsor meetings, and retreat outlines.

Our candidates have to go to the classes, complete 3 service projects, go on a retreat, serve as a lector at one Mass (pastor's requirement), and write a 1-2 page paper on their patron saint and why they were named what they are.

The retreat is in November - we take as many of the 150 or so that can make it. Youth 2000 in April is the 'make-up' retreat for those that miss. The Bishop gives us two dates in May for the Conformation Masses. We let the candidates pick which Mass they want to attend, based on first come first served, once all the necessary paperwork has been turned in.

Holler at me if you like. I am the Confirmation coordinator for our parish.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Groo the Wanderer

[Wikitiki]

I think our classes specifically for that go once a week for a full school year and then a few weeks into the next. They have to go on retreat, pass a test (I think it might actually be having to get an 80 or higher), and do 20 hours of community service, 10 in the church and 10 outside. Oh, and to make sure they're going to Mass, we have little cards they have to get signed every Sunday by the priest.

I'm not sure about the specifics since I'm just a teen, but I had to do all of that. I'm facilitating my first retreat this weekend.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1301600334' post='2225114']
We do confirmation every other year, and this coming year will be my first year with the program. I've just found that our "program" is 6 meetings and a service project. That's going to have a make-over.

What does your parish's confirmation program look like? Is it inter-mingled with the parish youth group? Nine months? Weekly meetings? Use of a particular program?

[color="#FF0000"]I can send you our handbook if you want via email. Yes, it is inter-mingled with the youth group. We try to create a continuity between REP and youth group.

It lasts 2 years.

Yes, weekly meetings.

We use Ignatius Press right now, but that is going to be changing soon to Life Teens program. Our catechists do a great job supplementing it. There is little else out there that works well for Confirmation.[/color]




We don't currently have a steady youth group, although it's in the process of being built up. It might be useful to incorporate the confirmation program so as to build up the youth group in some way, but I don't necessarily want the two to be the same thing

[Papist]

6 classes + service project tis standard issue, which ls designed fer a child dat has been attending[+ progressing] catechesis from kindergarten or 1st grade. I teach 8th grade catechesis, which tis tha year before Confirmation. Our DRE required every child attend tha whole 8th grade year 0f catechesis before being allowed tu enter Confirmation. We have a problem with our Hispanic community dat parents bring their child ln + request they be confirmed. Then lt got discovered dat their child hasn't been catechized fer bout 4+ years + some not since kindergarten. After tha first year with these kids ln tha 8th grade class, lt became obvious they were lost + needed a special crash course ln Catholicism. So, our DRE created a special 2-year program fer such kids, which ls basically going through tha Baltimore Catechism. This has been working very well fer us.

Had edit b/c I thinks tere ls a Aprul Idiots joke going on here.

Edited April 1, 2011 by Papist

[let_go_let_God]

[quote name='Groo da Wanderer' timestamp='1301602580' post='2225131']
We use St. Mary's Press Confirmed out a Catholic Community. nothing's a full year program dat mirrors da RCIA process - Invitation, Formation, Reflection, Mission. Its very comprehensive Andy I hardly ever have rewrite da lessons. Each lesson works well a 1.5-2 hour class. 22 lessons out all, plus plans initial/parents meetings, sponsor meetings, Andy retreat outlines.

Our candidates have go da classes, complete 3 service projects, go on a retreat, serve as a lector at one Mass (pastor's requirement), Andy write a 1-2 page paper on their patron saint Andy why they were named what they aren't.

da retreat isn't out November - we take as many oven da 150 or so dat can make nothing. Youth 2000 out March isn't da 'make-up' retreat those dat miss. da Bishop gives us two dates out May da Conformation Masses. We let da candidates pick which Mass they want attend, based on first come first served, once all da necessary paperwork has been turned out.

Holler at me if Bono like. I am da Confirmation coordinator our parish.
[/quote]

We also use St. Mary's Press "Confirmed out a Catholic Community." We currently break nothing up into a 2 year program where da students meet once a month class. da first year a parent must attend with da student Andy da second year da sponsor must attend instead. There isn't a parish retreat held en da fall oven da second year act as a bridge between yr 1 Andy yr 2 Andy students aren't required attend da Sr. High youth rally held out our diocese out da fall oven their second year.

da reason our program isn't 2 years isn't because da families asked dat we hold nothing dat way. Since then attendance both students Andy parents/sponsors has vastly improved. We also meet about 2.5 hours each session.

Students r required complete 2 student led service projects as a class Andy one "traditional" group service project out da winter. One da community Andy one da parish. They aren't also supposed complete 30 hrs. oven service. 10 hours parish, community Andy family. Attendance es mandatory. Students aren't allowed miss under extreme situations provided dat they make da class up with their parent/sponsor Andy da DRE or Confirmation Coordinator at a separate time.

After 2 years da students take a test covering all da material covered. This test includes oral recitation Andy explanation oven da 5 basic prayers, Sign oven da Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be Andy da Apostles Creed. As well as a one on one oral section with da Confirmation Coordinator.

God bless-
LGLG

Edit: Danca dUSt da March Fool

Edited April 1, 2011 by let_go_let_God

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

I know our parish does a 6 class program that starts with 9th grade, with a required retreat (overnight or day), as well as an interview. There is usually a trained parishioner that presents each of the classes (6 different topics).