Confirmation Booklet- Seriously?

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1322189245' post='2340155']
So, the Confirmation class people gave each of us students two books. One for us that is thicker, and one for our sponsors that is a booklet.
My Sponsor already said she is burning it after I am Confirmed. We are working on the discussion questions right now that it has in the booklet, but the reason she said she is burning it is because of the suggested activities and how ridiculous the questions are. See some of the suggested activities below.

"Go have lunch in a community of a different racial make up than your own." (She is half-Indian and I am Caucasian, so what on earth? I could go to Indian food and she could go to McDonald's????)
"Pray 5 decades of the Rosary and choose one of the mysteries." (Seriously? You can just call it "the Rosary".)
"Work together to make you own symbols for God." (Uh, I like the one the Church already has, thanks.)
"Take a nature walk together." (What on earth could this possibly to for us???)

You see where I am going with this...
Just thought I'd share this because it is absolutely ridiculous, and I thought it might give you all some laughs.
[/quote]

As someone who went through 9 years of Catholic school and has taught religious ed for several years, I have found it very hard to find good religious education textbooks. Period.

My senior year, we had a "Christian Vocations" textbook. It was AWFUL. Doctrinally, it was correct, but it was sappy. The best experiences in religious education that I had were when I had a Ph.D teach my ethics class WITHOUT a textbook, and when my pastor taught religious education. For that, I used a solid Catholic resource, the bible, and the catechism. Our students learned way more that way than from any sappy textbook.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1322265818' post='2340480']

As someone who went through 9 years of Catholic school and has taught religious ed for several years, I have found it very hard to find good religious education textbooks. Period.

My senior year, we had a "Christian Vocations" textbook. It was AWFUL. Doctrinally, it was correct, but it was sappy. The best experiences in religious education that I had were when I had a Ph.D teach my ethics class WITHOUT a textbook, and when my pastor taught religious education. For that, I used a solid Catholic resource, the bible, and the catechism. Our students learned way more that way than from any sappy textbook.
[/quote]
Yeah, when my sponsor teaches, she teaches from her notes, which are the best. She is amazing, and obviously that it why I chose her. And yes, I know it is hard to find a good curriculum, but really? Bashing our Church history I did not think was on the agenda for Confirmation prep... *sigh* Learning without a textbook have been some of the best CCD experiences that I have had even though people are skeptical of teachers who teach that way, gr... I'd rather have that then an Latin Mass-bashing book. Although, the book has a REALLY good section on contemplative prayer, so I do like that. I like the Faith & Life books that my parish used to use which are very, very good, but of course they were probably a little too hard-core for the hierarchy of the religious-ed program... :/

[Sister Marie]

Confirmation is *traditionally* a difficult sacrament to prepare for anyway as it is celebrated so differently from what it was in the early church. Our sacraments are *out of order* from what they originally were and Confirmation is so theologically intertwined with baptism but removed so far from it timewise that it is often difficult to get a really good understanding of it anyway. I would venture to say that it is the most difficult sacrament to teach. It's also, for that reason, very difficult to write a text book for! Another issue you are going to find is that some diocese give Confirmation as young as sixth grade while others is at the end of high school... that is a VERY wide age group to try to present a difficult sacrament to.

You are definitely in the minority as far as your understanding of the Catholic faith... which is great but it will require more patience, gentleness, and compassion from you as you encounter people who are not stupid but are doing the best they can with what they have to teach - regardless of the quality of their teaching, they are probably teaching with all their heart out of love for God.

As an educator I can see this from a few viewpoints. In a recent homily from our Archbishop, he said something like [i]Many people say that our young people are poorly catechized... they blame the priests, the nuns, the teachers, the CCD directors, catechists... everyone but the ones primarily responsibly - parents. If children and young adults do not know their faith it is the fault of their parents..."[/i] You have to realize that no teacher, once a week, can make up for a lifetime of neglect. Time and circumstance requires that some things are left to the wayside while others are concentrated on. I teach my students religion everyday but I am weighed down constantly by what they do not know - I cannot fit 13 years of religious education into five hours a week... I wish I could!

Try to trust that sometimes others might know something you don't... and even if they are still wrong... they are trying to respond to what is in front of them the best they can. Nothing will ever be perfect in any religious education. Nothing will ever be perfect in the Church.... that's the beauty because otherwise we would never need God's gift of redemption. Look for how God is offering that to you in this particular situation.

[arfink]

Nature walks are razzle dazzle. Though it's a tad annoying to do them in MN when it's 30 below outside, but otherwise very nice and of spiritual benefit I might add. Helps with fighting off a nasty bout of ADD for me as well, which is always good.

Don't be offended when I say this, but I suspect a lot of Catholics can fall into the trap of believing that our physical actions, emotions, thoughts and desires are not an integral part of our spiritual life. They are. Going out for a walk with your confirmation sponsor may not seem to be a spiritually transformative act, but it can be, if you will to make it so. Spending time with other people, even if you're just "wasting it" with them, is a great way to build a bond of friendship, which is a real spiritual bond.

And while we're on the topic of "make it so" I have a real gem here for you:

[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PX7fseE4voc/THKgo90ZE9I/AAAAAAAAAEo/otHsqf3Qhc4/s1600/make+it+so_2.jpg[/img]

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1322272605' post='2340501']
Nature walks are razzle dazzle. Though it's a tad annoying to do them in MN when it's 30 below outside, but otherwise very nice and of spiritual benefit I might add. Helps with fighting off a nasty bout of ADD for me as well, which is always good.

Don't be offended when I say this, but I suspect a lot of Catholics can fall into the trap of believing that our physical actions, emotions, thoughts and desires are not an integral part of our spiritual life. They are. Going out for a walk with your confirmation sponsor may not seem to be a spiritually transformative act, but it can be, if you will to make it so. Spending time with other people, even if you're just "wasting it" with them, is a great way to build a bond of friendship, which is a real spiritual bond.

And while we're on the topic of "make it so" I have a real gem here for you:

[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PX7fseE4voc/THKgo90ZE9I/AAAAAAAAAEo/otHsqf3Qhc4/s1600/make+it+so_2.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
Not offended at all and that was a great response, you know, you all are right, maybe it would be good to do a walk with her. Ha, I will show her this pic

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='Sister Marie' timestamp='1322271632' post='2340498']
Confirmation is *traditionally* a difficult sacrament to prepare for anyway as it is celebrated so differently from what it was in the early church. Our sacraments are *out of order* from what they originally were and Confirmation is so theologically intertwined with baptism but removed so far from it timewise that it is often difficult to get a really good understanding of it anyway. I would venture to say that it is the most difficult sacrament to teach. It's also, for that reason, very difficult to write a text book for! Another issue you are going to find is that some diocese give Confirmation as young as sixth grade while others is at the end of high school... that is a VERY wide age group to try to present a difficult sacrament to.

You are definitely in the minority as far as your understanding of the Catholic faith... which is great but it will require more patience, gentleness, and compassion from you as you encounter people who are not stupid but are doing the best they can with what they have to teach - regardless of the quality of their teaching, they are probably teaching with all their heart out of love for God.

As an educator I can see this from a few viewpoints. In a recent homily from our Archbishop, he said something like [i]Many people say that our young people are poorly catechized... they blame the priests, the nuns, the teachers, the CCD directors, catechists... everyone but the ones primarily responsibly - parents. If children and young adults do not know their faith it is the fault of their parents..."[/i] You have to realize that no teacher, once a week, can make up for a lifetime of neglect. Time and circumstance requires that some things are left to the wayside while others are concentrated on. I teach my students religion everyday but I am weighed down constantly by what they do not know - I cannot fit 13 years of religious education into five hours a week... I wish I could!

Try to trust that sometimes others might know something you don't... and even if they are still wrong... they are trying to respond to what is in front of them the best they can. Nothing will ever be perfect in any religious education. Nothing will ever be perfect in the Church.... that's the beauty because otherwise we would never need God's gift of redemption. Look for how God is offering that to you in this particular situation.
[/quote]
Perfect response! I know, and it is the parents. But then again, the CCD teachers try and take on the responsibility and say that they can be the "primary faith educators of your children" (not all of course, but a good number I have encountered) and the truth is that it is impossible as you said to fit 13 years of faith education into 5 hours a week.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1322224144' post='2340311']

Yes Alex, I would like 'spoiled and condescending' for $500


Maybe you'll get some stares as the only white person at Tio Pedro's House of Tacos. Maybe you'll understand the stares your predecessors had to deal with not 60 years ago while buying fish for Friday and being called a 'macrel snapper'. Maybe it is to help you realize though people as much as people are different, they are the same, and God's love for them abides as it does for you. Or are you incapable to find God in any scenario, no matter how 'stupid'?

Seriously? You got bent out of shape over semantics???? They suggest you pray... HOW HORRIBLE!!!!!

Perhaps this is to have you reflect on your relationship with God? Perhaps this is to get you/help you/affirm in you to find God in everything? Perhaps this is less of a dogmatic hide and seek and more of a chance to get you to expand what and where you think God is? (I can draw a heart as a symbol of God, but then how stupid is that, right?)

I must agree, how utterly silly is that!! Like you could walk in 'nature' and be in awe of God and His creation.... how laughable. Nature is all icky and stuff and is for hippies only. Total good call there....
[/quote]
1000 times this.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1322277717' post='2340563']
1000 times this.
[/quote]
Ya'll make me sound so bad.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1322277790' post='2340566']
Ya'll make me sound so bad.
[/quote]
tis hard to read emotions on teh interwebz.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

I have learned with Phatmass that sarcasm reigns...

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1322278280' post='2340583']
I have learned with Phatmass that sarcasm reigns...
[/quote]
Very true, and I am learning that the hard way, lol

[dominicansoul]

I've been handed fluffy stuff to teach confirmation students... it went into the trash, and the class went straight into the adoration chapel to meet Jesus for the first time..

[TheresaThoma]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1322279538' post='2340605']
I've been handed fluffy stuff to teach confirmation students... it went into the trash, and the class went straight into the adoration chapel to meet Jesus for the first time..
[/quote]
Ahhh good call on the adoration chapel visit!
Though I can't say much about Confirmation since I went through an (amesome) RCIA program. Though I did have to go through a basic theology class and sometimes it was kind of boring for me but I realized there is always something more for me to learn. Like others have suggested look for the goal behind the questions.
Also nature walks are razzle dazzle, I actually went on a weekend nature retreat once which was really neat. At one point they handed us our sack lunches and said "go, we don't want to see you back here for 2 hours". Many people had some really amesome prayer experience come out of that.

[Groo the Wanderer]

had adoration at our confirmation retreat this weekend for the first time ever. loved it! the kiddos really responded well. picked up the chant and the adoremus te right away. many got teary and many stayed behind after they were dismissed for break. yay!


i was scared as all carp though. couldn't get one of our deacons to come out for exposition so i had to do it. had to chant the prayer too. had monstrance in a locked suitcase. had to carry the luna in a burse around my neck all weekend. that was beautimous too

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1322279538' post='2340605']
I've been handed fluffy stuff to teach confirmation students... it went into the trash, and the class went straight into the adoration chapel to meet Jesus for the first time..
[/quote]
Good for you!