2012 Confirmation PrepProgram

Introduction info for Confirmation Program. For details, call 410-647-4892

Teens who are currently in the 8th grade or older and have been receiving catechesis from a catholic school or religious ed program for the past two years, are NOW eligible to be Confirmed in the spring of 2011-- congratulations! We are very excited to prepare a dynamic and comprehensive parish program that will prepare your young person to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit when they are anointed by the Bishop as confirmed Catholics.

*REGISTRATION*
Registration Packets are mailed out in October -- additional copies of packets are available in the Youth Ministry Office.

*ORIENTATION*
Orientation Meetings for Candidates and Parents are scheduled in November 2011
(All registering candidates and parents must attend one orientation meeting.)

Attendance at this meeting does not necessarily commit your child to participate in the Confirmation program this year, but will have helpful information for anyone planning on registering. The purpose of these meetings will be to explore Candidate readiness as well as to orient you to the expectations and components of the Confirmation preparation process, including attendance at class sessions, community gatherings, at-home responsibilities, retreats, etc. Bring the registration form with you to the meeting or mail it to the Religious Ed Office along with the $115 Confirmation Program Fee.

*CLASSES*
Confirmation class sessions are scheduled beginning in mid-January 2012. Candidates must attend 6 class sessions, and have the option of registering for classes held on Sunday afternoons (3:00-5:00PM) or on Wednesday evenings (6:30-8:30PM).

PARENT/SPONSOR REFRESHER SESSIONS
During the first two Wednesday and Sunday class sessions for the youth, we will offer concurrent parent/sponsor refresher sessions. These sessions will offer parents and/or sponsors the opportunity to come up to speed on what we are covering with the youth, as well as tips for strengthening your identity as a primary teacher/witness for the faith. Click Here for more info.

*RETREATS*
Overnight Retreat Weekends take place in February at Camp Wabanna Retreat Center. This retreat experience is necessary for each Candidate's preparation for the sacrament. There are three overnight retreats to choose from.

*COMMUNITY SERVICE*
All candidates are required to complete and document service projects for Confirmation -- within the church ministries and outside of St John's. This service must be altruistic (out of the goodness of your heart, not paid, etc) and cannot be “counted” towards another purpose. We will accept any documented service that you have offered since May of 2011.

In the Archdiocesan Confirmation Guidelines, The Seal of the Spirit, the required interviews are described as such:
"It is also appropriate for parish staff to meet with candidates in a pastoral context. This provides for encouragement, discussions of faith content and the individual’s personal and faith journey, opportunity to deepen the candidates’ awareness of the Rite of Confirmation, and to invite them to continued growth in both knowledge and practice of the Christian life. Such meetings or interviews offer a context for personalizing the candidates’ experience of the immediate preparation and allow for guidance from adult disciples who themselves continue to come to deeper knowledge and more authentic practice of faith. In this setting questions and struggles, challenges and joys are sometimes more easily shared and heard." (page 15)

ST JOHN'S 2012 INTERVIEWS ARE SCHEDULED in March of 2012. More details will be forthcoming.