Parish High School Process
Grades 9 & 10
Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated in fall of Grade 11
FROM BAPTISM TO CONFIRMATION
At Baptism, parents and Godparents spoke for their children, promising to raise them in the Catholic faith. The Church recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children in matters of faith and morals. Our world is full of distractions and detours that can easily set a young person on the wrong path. Nothing can take the place of a strong faith in God: not friends, money, sports or education. It is our faith that gives us our identity and our direction in life. Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church.
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION PROCESS
Confirmation preparation is the process by which teens begin to take on the responsibility of their own faith formation. Meanwhile, parents and sponsors support and encourage them to prioritize activities and people that will help them become all God has created them to be. Youth Ministry is different than the primary religious formation classes to date. The goal is for young teens to transition from being taught what to believe, to exploring their own beliefs and choosing a personal relationship with Christ.
"Caring Groups" are 10-12 teens and two adult leaders who journey together for 2 years. They meet formally 10 times a year on Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm using a combination of video based instruction, small group activities, speakers and interactive workshops.
SERVICE EXPERIENCES
God created us to know, love, and serve God so we can be happy with God forever. Confirmation is a commissioning rather than a graduation to start this journey. Part of preparation is experiencing the service of mercy and justice that Jesus lived throughout his life, as well as the Sacraments, liturgies and rituals of the Church he established.
During this High School Confirmation process, Candidates are asked to participate in 3 Christian Service areas:
Two in the category of: Parish/Diocese service or ministry experience
One in the category of: Community service experience
The Youth Ministry office and Caring Group leaders will offer options in these areas throughout the year. We suggest teens work together, however we recognize that schedules and interests differ so families are welcome to find experiences that best fit your teen. Familes are encouraged and most welcome to do this together.
CONFIRMATION RETREAT
The Diocese of Paterson requires that all Confirmation Candidates attend at least one retreat during their 2 year preparation. Resurrection will provide a local option for 10th graders. The date will be publicized well in advance. Those who are unable to attend, will have to work with the office to find another option at a different parish. This may not be ideal for many candidates. We recommend that every effort be made to prioritize the retreat created for our young parishioners.
COMMITMENT
We ask that parents and teens take the Confirmation preparation process seriously as we believe that the benefit of a strong faith life is nothing short of peace and joy in this life and eternal happiness in the next. Because we only meet 10 times, we ask that absences to Caring Group meetings be limited to only one per year and that the Sophomore retreat date is firmly on everyone's calendar. For our part, the parish and the Youth Ministry office will work diligently to keep the process meaningful, engaging and relevant.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
9th Grade
- Rite of Welcoming
- 10 Caring Group Meetings
- Service Experiences (individual or with a group)
- Sponsor exploration and selection
- Patron Saint exploration ( optional choice of taking a saints name)
10th Grade
- Rite of Enrollment
- 10 Caring Group Meetings
- Service experiences(individual or with a group)
- Confirmation Retreat (required by Diocese)
11th Grade
- Final catechetical session with Sunday Mass
- Reconciliation
- Rehearsal "Mass of the Holy Spirit"
- Confirmation with Bishop Sweeney (usually a Tuesday night in early October)
For questions, contact:
Linda Magistro; Confirmation Coordinator
973-452-3768
scivetta@resurrectionparishnj.org