1. Your Child’s Confirmation
Parent Formation
St. Veronica Parish
November 2018

3. Prayer
“All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.” -Rite of Confirmation 25

4. What is Confirmation really?
Not something we get
It is a reality we celebrate
It reaffirms what has already been celebrated
At Baptism

5. with all its rewards and demands.
The presence of God in our lives so that we can live the life of God in the world…
with all its rewards and demands.

6. Baptism, and therefore Confirmation, are not once and for all sacraments.  We are baptized and confirmed everyday of our lives.

7. Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

8. At Baptism
The celebrant speaks to the parents in these or similar words: You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

9. The celebrant speaks to the parents and godparents: Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present these children for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit they are to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.

10. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in their hearts.

11. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now your vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which your child is about to be baptized.

12. At Confirmation
The Bishop says, “You have already been baptized into Christ and now you will receive the power of his Spirit and the sign of the cross on your forehead. You must be witnesses, before all the world to his suffering, death, and resurrection; your way of life should at all times reflect the goodness of Christ”
“Be active members of the Church, alive in Jesus Christ. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit give your lives completely in the service of all as did Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

13. Our baptismal promises… Do you believe…?
In God – the Father - and that you are not God?
That means your life has purpose, but you are not the one who assigns it.
In Jesus – the Son – and that you are wonderful in God’s sight?
That means God has chosen to be one along with you and that means everything!
In the Holy Spirit and the Church – and that God exists in relationship?
That means God is not foremost experienced in you or me, but in us.
Community.

14. What happens in Confirmation?
In Confirmation the soul of the baptized Christian is imprinted with a permanent seal that can be received only once and marks the individual forever as a Christian. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the strength from above. . .
in which this individual puts the grace of his Baptism into practice through his life and acts as a “witness” for Christ.
[CCC , 1317] YOUCAT 205

15. THE INDWELLING PRESENCE
There is nothing you can do to lose the Holy Spirit; the most you can do, as Ephesians cleverly says, is to “grieve” the existing Presence that is “sealed” within you (4:30). You can, therefore, be totally ignorant of your “birthright” and your adoption as sons and daughters of God. You can neglect the gift, and thus not enjoy its wonderful fruits. 
But there is nothing you can do to “get” the Holy Spirit either. Why? Because it comes with the product! All you can do is fan the gift into flame that inherently lies within you, and within everything that God has created.
Richard Rohr, OFM
Adapted from The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, p. 21

16. The Confirmation ministry
All sacraments are about a faith relationship with God.
Gifts of grace on the journey of faith.
FOCUS:
Scripture – know Christ, be His disciples (study the Master), and model ourselves after Him.
Foundations of Faith – what has been passed on by Jesus and the apostles, and on and on. Creed, beliefs and practices, traditions, etc.
Liturgical Life – our sacred events and seasons, Eucharist as our Source and Summit, calendar of saints and role models for living the faith.
Growing as Disciples on a Mission in the Church – contributors to the life of the Church and the benefit of society. Begin to see ourselves as servants in a servant Church.

17. Just the beginning…
An ongoing process of being persons of faith, growing in understanding of our beliefs, and practicing the faith.
Our young people are not a finished product, just as we are not.
Need support and guidance.
We are all part of helping to carry them a step farther on the journey of faith.
Rely on God’s grace, and each other (parents and teachers), the good will of the Church community and the faith life lived at home and in society.

18. How parents can help their child celebrate the fullness of Confirmation.
Living, Teaching, Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ

19. What is your wish?
1. Tell a story about a hope, wish or dream you have for a child/children in terms of faith (humorous or serious).
2. Ask parents to write down two wishes on the inside page of the Family Faith Resource Book:
a) What they wish they were doing if they were not here tonight.
b) What they wish for their child/ren in terms of the role that faith will play in their lives years from now (when they are an adult).
3. Give them 30 seconds of silence to do this. Then ask them to group up into 4’s and introduce themselves to one another and share their two wishes and why. Only give them a minute to do this.
4. Then ask for some answers to the first wish (where they would rather be). Be sure to add your own to this and after some responses have been shared, say that we all probably had some other place we’d rather be tonight but the fact that we are here speaks loud and clear about the importance of passing on our faith to our children. But what is it that we hope they “catch” form us?
5. Invite a few parents to share their second wish with the large group.
6. Then let them know that this session is designed to help accomplish this wish over the coming years.

20. Teens were asked:
“If you could change anything about your family situation, what would it be?”

21. “To become closer to my parents.”
Teens were then asked: “Why aren’t you close to them?
“I don’t know how to do it.”
Ask parents by a show of hands how many are surprised by these findings.
What might parents answer if asked the same questions? Probably the same response!
This is GOOD NEWS – both are wanting and needing the same thing – to grow closer, but both need help in doing so.
Important: Responses like “I don’t know.” or “Nothing.”) don’t necessarily mean they don’t want or even need to talk. Note what the research found: “I don’t know how to do it.” Young people want (and need) significant relationships with their parents, which is likely a different need that when they (parents) were growing up. We parents need to keep listening and keep trying even as our kids struggle to put their thoughts and feelings into words.
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers,

22. Two of three teens and three of four parents say they would be willing to give up a weeknight activity if it meant they could have dinner with their family. (CASA, 9/2009)
Believe it: the research shows that our kids are almost as hungry as we are for family time.
If you want more family time, and your kids want more family time, what’s preventing you from getting what you want?

23. How do you feel about your family time at home?
Only 34 percent of North American families eat one meal together each day.
The average father spends eight minutes per day with his children (includes meals and TV).
Parents spend fewer than 3 minutes of non-directive communication with children per day.
Use these points to invite parents to consider how they feel about the patterns in their own homes, and whether they’re satisfied with those patterns or wish to change some of them.
If it’s normal to be too busy to be a family, then maybe we need to change to a “new normal.”
Perhaps ask: What’s the definition of “insanity?” Someone will likely chime in “Doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome,” or something like that. It’s insane to think things will get better on their own.
In other words, change requires intention, decision and action. It’s been said that it takes at least three weeks to develop a positive habit, but only three days to lose the habit. Change isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

24. How do you feel about your family time at home?
Only 12 percent of families pray together.
The average couple spends only four minutes of uninterrupted time together a day.
If time allows, invite parents to chat with one another about the patterns in their own homes, and how they feel about those patterns.
How do you think your children would react to a change in family patterns that would lead to more quality family time?
Source: “Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium,” by Alvin Reid

25. The Church speaks…
“The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute." (CCC 2221).
“Parents are the most influential agents of catechesis for their children.” (NDC 234)
“…the Christian Community must help [parents] assume their responsibility of educating their children in faith.” (GDC 227).
Let parents know that this is what the Church has taught and believed since the beginning: that they are in charge of the faith of their kids. It’s much too important to leave it to “the experts.”
So the Church in its youth ministry and religious education and religion classes, etc. is there to support YOU, but not replace you

26. In fact…
“The single most important influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.”
The NSYR is clearest on this: parents are the most important factor in the faith equation of their kids. Bar none, there’s no other more important element – leading to faith, or no faith.
That doesn’t mean that there are any guarantees. However, the best chance we have to ensure that young people have faith is if their parents have faith.
Recently Group Publishers asked 10,000 teenagers to name what was most important in developing their faith. Number one was parents.
Researchers found a very accurate “mirror” between what youth did and believed and what their parents did and believed, with the suggestion that young people today may in fact be the best barometer of the faith of their parents. This is verified in the hard numbers of the study (next slide)…

27. PMS - Parents Matter Supremely
Parents still have the most powerful and long-lasting impact on the faith of their children.
Family Faith Conversations
Family Rituals and Devotions
Family Outreach and Service
Best way to ensure teens will have faith? Parents will…
Know their faith.
Share their faith.
Live their faith.
We’ll get what we are.
The best social predictor, though not a guarantee, of what the religious and spiritual lives on youth will look like is…
what the religious and spiritual lives
of their parents DO look like. (NSYR – Soul Searching)

28. Better than, worse than, or about the same as other teenagers?
2. In terms of positive life outcomes, highly religious young people appear to be doing:
Better than, worse than, or about the same as other teenagers?
The research found compelling evidence that there is in fact a direct connection between “being religious” and well-being. This is important information for all parents who of course want what’s best for their kids. It’s an important question to ask of ourselves: how am I as a parent “gatekeeping” the time and activities of our children to be sure that our kids are sufficiently involved in faith and religion so they’ll reap the positive benefits in their lives. 29

29. Better than other teenagers.
2. In terms of positive life outcomes, highly religious young people appear to be doing:
Better than other teenagers.
The research found compelling evidence that there is in fact a direct connection between “being religious” and well-being. This is important information for all parents who of course want what’s best for their kids. It’s an important question to ask of ourselves: how am I as a parent “gatekeeping” the time and activities of our children to be sure that our kids are sufficiently involved in faith and religion so they’ll reap the positive benefits in their lives. 30

30. “…religious faith and practice themselves exert. significant,
“…religious faith and practice themselves exert significant, positive, direct, and indirect influences on the lives of teenagers, helping to foster healthier, more engaged adolescents who live more constructive and promising lives.”
Emphasize that even if kids aren’t especially religious, religion still has a measurably positive effect on their well-being.
So faith is really good for kids, helps them avoid getting in trouble, provides a solid moral compass for life decisions, even helps with getting good grades. As parents we want what’s best for our kids, and the research says faith and religion are good for them.
NOTE: Be careful here about “selling” faith as a kind of self-improvement product. Make the point that development of a strong faith makes a positive difference for kids, for families and for the world.
So if religion is good for kids, it follows that…
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, p 263

31. More = More
“The greater the availability of religiously based relationships, activities, programs, opportunities and challenges for teenagers…
Translated: that means that religion classes by themselves are not sufficient – they’re necessary, but not sufficient. Young people need the language of faith to live and share the faith, but a language without a place to use it regularly will likely be quickly lost (think of high school foreign language classes for instance).
In order for faith and religion to “stick”, they need lots of reinforcement, especially at home (revisit the first question: parents have the greatest impact). This also translates into lots of different kinds of meaningful involvements, which might include retreats, mission trips, youth conferences, Sunday mass, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, prayer services, youth group, Scouts, etc.
The Church calls this “comprehensive youth ministry”, with lots of activities and opportunities to pray, serve, learn and grow. That’s one of the big reasons full-time youth ministers are so important, because it’s their job to make sure there are lots of opportunities for young people in a parish faith community (which doesn’t mean that he/she has to do them all herself – in fact, it’s best to connect young people with the life of the church as it prays, serves, learns and grows.
…the more likely teenagers are to be religiously engaged and invested.”
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers

32. Consider the possibilities…
Youth who have participated in at least one retreat, rally, conference or mission trip report:
✔ being significantly closer to God;
✔ that religion helps shape their daily lives;
✔ reading the Bible more often.
The research is clear that these events and programs really work in forming young people in faith, especially when they are grounded in a family life that is consistent with and supports those kinds of experiences – and especially when the principles and values that are taught in such programs are actively lived and modeled at home by parents.

33. YET… 71% of junior high youth, and
61% of high school youth have NEVER attended a religious retreat, rally, conference or mission trip.
The sad news is that 3 out of 4 teens NEVER participate in them.
We are doing good stuff, that makes a difference in the faith life of teens and families, but the majority of them are missing out on it.

34. More = More
“The more they attend Sunday worship and participate in religious activities and groups, the more they make religious practices their own, but most do not participate.”
Presenter helps parents make connections:
if more = more, and faith is really good for kids, why isn’t there more of it in their lives? (pause)
Who serves as the “gatekeepers” of their children’s schedules, through childhood and well into the teen years? (pause)
2. Of course: we do. The conclusion seems to be that faith and religion have been gradually pushed to the margins of our family’s lives, and our children’s lives, even though it’s really good for them.
3. Question: if it isn’t in faith and religion, where are they spending their time?
4. It seems that over time in the busyness of life we can lose track of what’s really important and will sustain our kids, our families and ourselves over the long run. Sometimes this is called “the tyranny of the urgent” in which things that seem so urgent at the time replace what’s really important, and we can find ourselves in a vicious cycle of unrelenting busyness. It’s worth considering: is that the kind of life that we want to model for our kids?

35. Better than, worse than, or about the same as all others?
In most variables measuring religiosity, the Catholic Church in comparison to other Christian churches was:
Better than, worse than, or about the same as all others?
Reveal answer - Presenter calls special attention to the fact that option C is not just worse than some, but worse than all. 36

36. In most variables measuring religiosity, the Catholic Church in comparison to other Christian churches was:
Worse than all others.
Reveal answer - Presenter calls special attention to the fact that option C is not just worse than some, but worse than all. 37

37. Our NSYR Report Card Mormon youth are faring best, followed by…
Conservative Protestant
Black Protestant
Mainline Protestant
Catholic
Jewish
Non-religious
Why do you think Catholics rated where we did? Or another way to phrase the question is to ask: “What are Mormons and Evangelicals doing that seems to work in terms of owning their faith?”
This slide is not meant to focus on faith as a competition but it helps to learn from “best practices” regarding what is working and what’s not.
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers,

38. “…Catholic teenagers stand out among the U. S
“…Catholic teenagers stand out among the U.S. Christian teenagers as consistently scoring lower on most measures of religiosity… 5 to 25 points lower.”
Break the news that we Catholics got our own chapter in Soul Searching because the researchers were so stunned at how poorly Catholic youth did.
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, p 194

39. Why are Catholics doing poorly?
Upward mobility and mainstream acculturation
Catholic school and CCD/religious education are no longer primary
Catholic teens reflect their parents’ relative religious laxity
You can’t give what you do not have.
“Upward mobility and mainstream acculturation undermines the vitality of the Church.” Both of these terms need to be explained, as follows:
Recall that the our immigrant ancestors were poor and repressed in this country, so we had to band together for survival in ethnic neighborhoods centered around ethnic churches. Now many or even most of us are middle- to upper-middle class, mobile, and virtually indistinguishable from anyone else. As such we are now “mainstream” and formed more by the culture than by the faith. (Time allowing, presenter can talk about the ramifications of this in our church life: we have largely become consumers of religion, shop for churches and priests, negotiating to get Sacraments for the least amount of investment possible, etc.)
2. “Catholic school and CCD no longer effectively serve as primary vehicles for education, formation, and ministry.” This is not to suggest that they’re not important, they’re just not sufficient. As discussed earlier, parents are clearly and de facto primary. CCD and schools are important, in fact necessary, but not sufficient or primary. They are resources for parents and families, not replacements.
3. Outreach to, and formation of, youth are low priorities at the parish and diocesan levels. Note that sixty years ago nearly 100% of Catholics attended Catholic schools. Now the NCEA tells us that roughly one out of ten Catholic youth attends a Catholic school.
4. “Catholic teenagers significantly reflect the relative religious laxity of their parents.” Recall that the research found that parents and their children are rough barometers of one another’s faith.
5. Note that at this point some parents may push back, blaming the Church, “boring” Sunday Mass, poor homilies, etc. In response, the presenter ought only to stick to the research, express gratitude for the comment(s), and steer the conversation back to what the research revealed: the kind and quality of church services wasn’t a significant factor in predicting the faith of kids; conversely, parents modeling faith and religious practices were.

40. Why the difference?
Those religious groups that have historically relied heavily on parents and family to transmit faith, and the church to “mission” it, appear to be doing better (e.g., Mormons).
For better or worse, history shapes us. Those churches that appear to be doing better have been shaped in a certain way that puts the responsibility for faith formation in the home, with the family and parents.
In the NSYR research when parents were asked to rate the ‘supportiveness of their tradition to parents raising teens’ the list from most supportive of parents to least supportive is in exactly the same order as the previous list that ranked the Christian churches, as follows:
“Extremely helpful & supportive” – 65% of Mormon parents chose this highest rating of their church, only 13% of Catholic parents did – so Mormon parents are 5x as likely as Catholic parents to feel this high level of support from their faith community. In the bottom two categories (not supportive, little support) it’s 8% for Mormons and 26% for Catholics. So Catholic parents are 3x as likely to feel no support.
This points to the need for the Catholic churches to critically examine how effective we have been in supporting parents to form their children in faith.

41. Why the difference?
Many/most Catholics have been shaped differently, to delegate this responsibility to others: teachers, catechists, schools, priests, nuns, etc.
Note that this “delegation mentality” can and has created a sort of co-dependence over the years. Parents “expect” the church to take care of faith formation. The Church has programs that both feed and support that expectation. The result: our faith formation has become institutionalized and done “by the experts.”
Presenter reinforces “no blame, no shame”: our history as an immigrant church shaped us into a strong dependency on the church for education and support just to survive in this country. However, as Dr. Phil might say, “How is that working for us now?”
Invite parents to reflect: what’s it going to take to reverse this trend?

42. Good News
The Church wants to be our partner and is working towards providing opportunities for living authentic faith. Service & Outreach, Inviting and Sharing Faith, Building community through Small Groups, Serving in ministry and mission (Ministry in the parish, Mission outside the parish.
1. The fact that we’re here this evening is evidence that the Church wants to support us. A number of our churches have full-time, trained youth ministers to provide MORE = MORE for our kids. There are many adult education and formation opportunities in many of our parishes.
2. But here’s the bad news: faith and church are now for many or most Catholics low priorities, and have been squeezed to the margins or completely off the page by our busy lives, multiple commitments, athletics, etc.
There is hope: if our churches and parents can get on the same page and work together, we can and will make progress.
The Parent-to-Parish Response Form is a way for you to tell your parish leaders what you’d like them to do, and how you’d like to be involved.

43. Bad News
Faith, religion, church, prayer, religious education, service, Mass, Sacraments, etc. have been “demoted” in our busy lives and in the larger culture.
1. The fact that we’re here this evening is evidence that the Church wants to support us. A number of our churches have full-time, trained youth ministers to provide MORE = MORE for our kids. There are many adult education and formation opportunities in many of our parishes.
2. But here’s the bad news: faith and church are now for many or most Catholics low priorities, and have been squeezed to the margins or completely off the page by our busy lives, multiple commitments, athletics, etc.
There is hope: if our churches and parents can get on the same page and work together, we can and will make progress.
The Parent-to-Parish Response Form is a way for you to tell your parish leaders what you’d like them to do, and how you’d like to be involved.

44. What are the 5 Keys to Strong Families & Strong Youth?
We think there are at least five keys to the kind of strong Catholic family that leads to strong Catholic children and youth. Here they are:

45. The 5 Keys
Live the faith you want to pass on: At home, during the week, live, model & talk about your faith.
Make faith a top family priority (see “Family Faith Inventory”).
1. First point: Like Scott Appleby said, we adults need to be restored to living Catholicism as a comprehensive way of life. Maybe you are right now, but for many of us we’re not there. We know that whatever we insist on for our kids we have to live authentically, otherwise they’ll write it off. So the first thing is to seriously ask ourselves is whether faith is at the center of our personal lives, and if not, do something about it. The church is ready, willing and able to help in this, with opportunities for prayer, faith formation, service and community. The goal is to be sure that on a daily basis we’re praying, reading scripture, doing Christian service, and being an active part of our churches.
2. Second point: As Catholic parents our role is to be leaders of “the domestic churches” of our families – so our families become places of regular prayer, spiritual reading, faith formation, conversations about faith, morals, life issues, etc., and so our families are engaged in the Church (remember that more = more).
Refer to the “Family Faith Inventory (pgs. 8-11) in the Family Faith Resource Booklet and let parents know that this is a great assessment to help them to start reflecting on what level of importance is given to faith growth within their home.
3. Third point: As parents one of our most important jobs is gate-keeping the time and priorities of our families, especially our children. Jesus said our hearts will be where our treasure is. Maybe today he would say our hearts are where our calendars are, and that our schedules tell us what our true priorities are. So are there less important elements in our family life that are squeezing out other more important things (like family dinner, family time together, sharing faith, Sunday Mass, church faith formation, etc.?

46. The 5 Keys
“Gatekeep” your kids’ activities & time - Where your heart is...
Support one another & build inter-family networks of faith and life support.
Let the Church be your partner.
Fourth point: This is going to be difficult and we parents need to stick together and support one another, make pacts with one another so we have each others’ backs, especially in the face of a powerful media-driven culture that can and does powerfully compete with what we’re trying to do in our families. The Parent to Parish Response Form you will be completing next gives you a chance to let the parish know what type of support systems you need.
Fifth point: If our kids are going to “catch” faith from us, we need to live our faith “out loud” so they notice, which means modeling it, living it and especially talking about it, and engaging them in conversation about it. Important: if we don’t feel completely comfortable with that, or confident, remember that it’s not your fault: we weren’t “shaped” by our history to do what we need to do. That means we need to take action to build up our confidence and competence by attending classes, joining bible studies, prayer groups, reading – whatever it takes. Thank God the Church is there to help us, with lots of opportunities to grow our own faith as adults and parents.
Note that the Family Faith Resource booklet outlines on pages many different ideas and directions that parents and families can take to grow in faith both individually and together at home.

47. Create a Household of Faith
Homes of Study/Formation – Parents lead
Called to a life of discipleship –
Learning the way of the Master.
Support lifelong faith formation
Expect to Pass It On
Family Faith Stories – connecting faith, forgiveness, suffering, grace, etc.

48. Households of Faith Family and Community Make Meal Time Sacred
Share Cross Moments
Choose Wisely – top two memories (love and time)
Model God’s Love and Forgiveness
Connect with Other Parents to support one another in the faith – Moms 2.0, Small Church Communities, Wednesday Café, Lenten Retreat, Parish Mission, FORMED.org, Bible Study
Decorate Your Home with Faith Images

49. Households of Faith Homes of Prayer Pray on your own Pray together
Attend Sunday Mass weekly as a family
Offer daily blessings
Pray before meals when you eat out
Seize the seasons and be creative

50. Household of Faith Homes of Justice and Service Serve together
Reach beyond the parish
Embrace times of suffering, loss, and death
Teach the difference between wants and needs
In Family Discussions – use a Catholic Lens

51. All members of the household are candidates for Confirmation.
Sacramental Living is an invitation into a way of life.
Mystagogy
We are never finished.
Sacraments…
Equip us
Empower us
Sustain us
For Ministry
For Discipleship

52. What now? Return your communication form.
Fill out and discuss your Family Faith Inventory with your spouse and family: celebrate strengths & set priorities.
Take action and be sure to get the support you and your family need from other parents and/or the parish.
Ask them to complete the Parent-to-Parish Response Form now. Tell parents that this is their opportunity to let the parish know how it can best help them in their next steps toward becoming a stronger Catholic family. Parish leaders will review these and use them to develop next steps. Give them a few moments to complete it before moving on to the next step. Consider playing a song that speaks to the hearts of parents while they are taking a few minutes to do this piece.
Explain how to do the Family Faith Inventory. Suggest that this is best done at a family meeting with spouse and children. Be affirming of their strengths and encourage them to use those in building on areas not so strong. Invite them to review the “Living Your Faith” article to determine some helpful next steps they can include on their worksheet covenant
Remind them to start with some small steps that will take them in the right direction, not to try and do a complete makeover right away.
Encourage them to work with their parish to make good things happen for families, parents and kids. If/when the parish sponsors a follow-up gathering, be there!

53. DETAILS

54. Seventh Grade In class discussions
7th Grade Confirmation Service Experiences
Individual and Group Service Projects
Choosing a Confirmation Name
Sponsor Selection

55. Eighth Grade In class discussions Sponsor Forms due
Sponsor and Candidate Formation Day
Letter of intent to Fr. Del
Rite of Enrollment at Parish Mass in October
8th Grade Confirmation Service Learning Retreat
Completion of Service Projects
Interviews
Rite of Confirmation
Incorporation into Small Groups for Teens

56. A Parent's Prayer
Loving God, You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all of our blessings. We thank and praise you. Thank you for the gift of our children. Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore. Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start. May our children come to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

57. May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love, so they may know peace, truth, and goodness. May their ears hear your voice. May their eyes see your presence in all things. May their lips proclaim your word. May their hearts be your dwelling place. May their hands do works of charity. May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Amen.

58. QUESTIONS?

59. https://www. facebook. com/JimGaffigan/videos/vb

60. Your Child’s Confirmation
Let's move over to the cafeteria and meet up with our 7th graders