Confirmation Preparation BookletSt. Mary’s Class

2018 - 2020

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Welcome and Introduction:We are so excited that you will be joining us for the Sacrament of Confirmation. If we look up word “confirmation” we get a number of interesting definitions, but if we look at the origins of the word, we get a better sense of what we are pursuing - “con” means “with” and “firm” means “strong.” So is a very real sense, Confirmation means “strengthening.”

What is being “strengthened” are the promises made at Baptism. This is our entire effort Confirmation is a freely given gift that no one can earn, buy, or even deserve. It is not a graduation or a completion of religious education. In fact, what we experience in our faith after Confirmation is often more important than what we experience before.

What we can do is participate in the process of strengthening. An athlete prepares for a big game by drills and lifting weights. A pianist prepares for a big concert by exercising his/her fingers. So just as these individuals exercises to strengthen their muscles, enhance their dexterity, and increase their skill, we will engage in a number of exercises to strengthen our relationship with God and commitment as disciples of Jesus Christ.

If at anytime during this preparation process you have questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact me at davidheimann@saintandrewchicago.com

In Christ,

David Heimann

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Expectations of the Program:Here are some of the expectations a candidate must do to prepare for Confirmation. These exercises must be completed by the assigned dates:

- Baptismal Certificate : Confirm the parish/school has a copy of a Catholic Baptismal Certificate on file. (due February 1, 2019)

- Participation in Religious Education : Regular participation in the RE program at Saint Andrew or religion classes at Saint Andrew are expected. These continue before one prepares for a sacrament and continue afterwards. Religious Education is an ongoing process that is life-long.

- Attendance : o Attend 13 of the 15 preparation classes that take place over two years.

o Candidates must also complete the written reflection questions presented at the end of each class in their Confirmation Journal.

o Participants must also attend two retreats for Confirmation Retreat. The retreats will be held in October. (NET Ministry Retreat & Holy Fire)

- Confirmation Stewardship Hours : Service hours which are completed with the learning of objective of teaching each candidate about the gifts they have been given and how they can use those gifts in the service of God’s church, the local community, our nation, and the world.

- Attend a Baptism as a witness . Baptism are held on the first and third Sundays of the month at Saint Andrew after the 10am Mass or an excellent opportunity is to observe the Easter Vigil on April 20, 2018 (Time TBA). Complete the attached reflection form about the experience.

- Confirmation Sponsor : Identify a practicing Catholic, above the age of 16, who is not a parent, and can serve as a Confirmation Sponsor. If appropriate, it is ideal for the sponsor to have been the Godmother or Godfather of the candidate, but this is not necessary. (Due March 1, 2019)

- Reflection Journal : Complete the reflection exercises for Confirmation which are provided in the Confirmation Journal delivered to you by Google Doc.

- Sacramental Preparation Fee - ($25 per year or $50 once)

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Confirmation Stewardship HoursLearning Objective: For students to discover their role in being stewards of their parish, community, and world by making use of their time and talent.

Areas of Concentration: Over 18 months of preparing for Confirmation, students will be expected to serve in the four different areas we at St. Andrew exercise our responsibility to service.

Or candidates may complete all these requirements by participation in Just 5 Days during the summer. Must be registered by January 15, 2019.

Expectations:

Parish: 8 hours of service to the parish & complete a reflection.

Examples of service to the Parish include:

Altar ServingSinging at Family MassReading at Sunday Mass

Setting up for Family MassGreeting at Mass Serving at Fish Fry

Setting up for Wearin.. GreenWorking the Garage SaleEtc…

Local: Participate in 1 of 4 service projects prepared by Saint Andrew Confirmation Program & complete the reflection form provided.

Service Project #1 – Lakeview PantrySaturday, March 9, 2019 TBA

Service Project #2 – Our Lady of the Angels Mobile Food Pantry

Saturday, April 6, 2019 8:30am to 11:30amService Project #3 – St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup

KitchenFriday, November 20, 2019 TBA

Service Project #4 – Lakeview PantrySaturday, September 21, 2019 TBA

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National: Write a representative of the United States government advocating for a Catholic Moral Concern important to you. Some suggestions may include:

1) Immigration Policies that defend migrants.2) An end to the Death Penalty.3) Support for persons experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.4) Protection for the unborn and assistance to mothers in crisis pregnancy.5) Dismantling systems that favor racial division.6) Rights of workers and issues regarding a fair wage.

You can discover more areas of concern online at www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk

International: Attend or Observe at 1-hour presentation or video on international charity and justice work. Examples include One Heart Uganda, Catholic Relief Service, Feed My Starving Children, etc. Make a response to the presentation that should also take one hour of time, and then complete the reflection form provided.

Examples of Response that you could make:

- Take responsibility to organize your family’s care packet to their One Heart Uganda Scholarship recipient.

- Find a job to do to earn some money and offer it to the charity or cause.- Create a presentation about what you have learned and present it to a class,

scouting group, club, family, or other group. - Assist in the organization’s operations, such as writing “Thank You” letters on behalf

of One Heart Uganda.

Do Service Hours “Count” ?

As a general rule, hours and projects are completed independent of school required service projects that take place during the school day. The learning objective is to make stewardship of the church and service to others a normal part of one’s daily life. There is a sense of sacrifice that we must access in our life to fulfill Jesus’ commandment to serve others. So serving at an all-school Mass or signing at an all-school Mass is a beautiful gift to offer, but it is not an activity in support of the whole community. Sunday Mass is where that gift is offered and “counts.”

Likewise there are service projects done at school which are part of the curriculum of the school such as visiting Feed My Starving Children. Because it is done for school and is compulsory, it is a good thing to do, but doesn’t fulfill the learning objective of the Confirmation Stewardship Hours.

Summer Service & Retreat Option –

As an alternative to the retreats and service projects which are done during the week. Candidates for Confirmation may attend Just 5 Days, a service-learning Catholic retreat that last 5 days in Appleton Wisconsin from June 24- June 28, 2019. Find out more at cmdnet.org/j5d

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Reflecting on my Parish Service Hours

Learn by doing - Learn by reflection.

After you have completed your parish service hours, we ask that you reflect on the experience through the questions below, and then write your responses on the back side of this paper or on a separate sheet of paper or word document. It is through reflection that we come to decide the changes in action that we wish to make in the future. Reflect on your experience so that you will have a better understanding of what your experience meant to you and others.

Scripture reading:

Before completing your assignment, read the following scripture passage. Relate what you read from the scripture passage in your reflection.

Matthew 25: 14 -29

The Parable of the Talents. “The Kingdom of God will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more. His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy. [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more. His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy. Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

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Assignment:

Please answer all of the following questions in the box below. Where there is “paragraph” after the question, a whole paragraph answer is expected. In all this assignment should be more than 300 words

Describe the ways you served your parish community as part of your Stewardship Hours. How did you decide to choose these opportunities? What did you need to do to prepare for serving in this capacity? How did serving make you feel before, during, and afterwards? Paragraph

All gifts, including our time and talent, are given to us through God. You had to use your talents to complete these service hours. How do you imagine you could use your talents to serve your parish community in the future? Paragraph

Reread the scripture that was provided for this reflection paper. How does reading this scripture change your understanding of what you should do with the talents that you are given? How do you think those talents should be shared with the original owner of the talents? Paragraph

If someone asked you how they could use their talents to support their own parish, what would you tell them they could do? Why should they or shouldn’t they do so? Paragraph

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Parish Service Hours Reflection PageUse this page or another sheet to write your reflection. You can also type your response on a computer and turn in a printed form or email your reflection to davidheimann@saintandrewchicago.com

Name: ________________________________________________

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Reflecting on my Local Service Project

Learn by doing - Learn by reflection.

After you have completed your service project, we ask that you reflect on the experience through the questions below, and then write your responses on the back side of this paper or on a separate sheet of paper or word document. It is through reflection that we come to decide the changes in action that we wish to make in the future. Reflect on your experience so that you will have a better understanding of what your experience meant to you and others.

Scripture reading:Before completing your assignment, read the following scripture passage. Relate what you read from the scripture passage in your reflection.

Mark 10:43-45Jesus summoned his disciples and said to them, "You know that those who are

recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Assignment:

Please answer all of the following questions in the box below. Where there is “paragraph” after the question, a whole paragraph answer is expected. In all this assignment should be more than 300 words

Describe your service project. How did you decide that you wanted to do this particular project? What did you need to do to prepare for the project? What did you end up doing for the project? Give the date and times that you worked on the project. Paragraph

Write one story that happened on the service project that you feel made a difference in someone else’s life. Paragraph

How did you feel after doing the service project?

Reread the scripture above. After doing this service project, how do you feel about Jesus’ words? To be great you have to serve others. What do you think Jesus is teaching us by saying that? Paragraph

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Do you think service towards others is a good thing to do? Why or why not? Paragraph

Local Service Project Reflection PageUse this page or another sheet to write your reflection. You can also type your response on a computer and turn in a printed form or email your reflection to davidheimann@saintandrewchicago.com

Name: ________________________________________________

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Reflecting on my International Service ResponseLearn by doing - Learn by reflection.

For your International Service Response as part of your Confirmation Stewardship Hours, you will be given the option of viewing a presentation or watching a video on social action that support international efforts.

You will then be asked to respond to this presentation in some way. It might be by sacrificing some of your time to earn money for that project or organization, it might be by volunteering for the organization, or by sharing the message of the organization in some way.

After you have completed your response, we ask that you reflect on the experience through the questions below, and then write your responses on the back side of this paper or on a separate sheet of paper or word document. It is through reflection that we come to decide the changes in action that we wish to make in the future. Reflect on your experience so that you will have a better understanding of what your experience meant to you and others.

Scripture reading:Before completing your assignment, read the following scripture passage. Relate what you read from the scripture passage in your reflection.

John 13:1-15Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.  

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Assignment

Please answer all of the following questions in the box below. Where there is paragraph after the question, a whole paragraph answer is expected. In all this assignment should be more than 300 words

Describe your response project. How did you decide that you wanted to do this response? What did you need to do to prepare for your response? Give the date and times that you worked on the project. paragraph

Write one story that happened during your response that left you feeling like you made a difference in someone else’s life. paragraphHow did you feel after doing this response?

Reread the scripture above. After doing this response, how do you feel about Jesus’ words? I have given you a model to follow, so that I have done for you, you should also do. What model was Jesus showing us to follow? How do you think it is possible to do that in your life? Paragraph

Reflect on one of the following questions What did you learn about the good of serving others through this experience? What do you want to change about the way you live because of this experience paragraph

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International Service Response Reflection PageUse this page or another sheet to write your reflection. You can also type your response on a computer and turn in a printed form or email your reflection to davidheimann@saintandrewchicago.com

Name: ________________________________________________

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Baptism Witness Reflection ExerciseAs part of the preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation at Saint Andrew parish, candidates are asked to witness both a Baptism and a Confirmation and take a few notes about what they saw and experienced. Our strongest recommendation is to attend the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 20, 2019 in the evening to fulfill this requirement. It is the most beautifully prepared Catholic liturgy of the year and highly revelatory of what we believe as Christians.

If for some reason the candidate cannot make plans to attend the Easter Vigil, then attending a Baptism and Confirmation separately is acceptable. Baptism at Saint Andrew are normally done on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 11:00am. A Catholic Baptism at another Catholic Church is also acceptable.

Many local parishes have a celebration of Confirmation that takes place in early January to mid-May. At Saint Andrew, we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

After attending the services, please write a single page response to the following questions.

- What was the date and place that you witnessed the Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Confirmation?

- During the Baptism, what signs and symbols were used, eg… water. (There are at least 4 other significant symbols to observe). What do you think those signs and symbols meant?

- During the baptism, how would you describe the feelings of those in attendance? The feelings of the newly Baptized? The feelings of the Godparents?

- What role did the priest have in the Baptism and why do you think that role is important?

- During the Confirmation, what were the signs and symbols? What do you think those signs and symbols meant?

- What did the candidates say or do prior to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation?

- How did you feel after seeing the Sacrament granted to others? How does it make you feel about celebrating your own Confirmation?

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Confirmation Sponsor GuidelinesAt Baptism everyone was given a sponsor or godparent. If possible, it may be preferable to choose that person again, as a reaffirmation of the gifts received at Baptism. But there may be many good reasons to choose another person to fulfil the roll. Sometimes a Godparent is no longer alive or is not qualified to serve. Perhaps another mentor of faith has emerged in a person’s life. In any regard, a sponsor must fulfill the following requirements:

• he/she has been close enough to have been supportive in your life of faith so far;• he/she is a baptized practicing Catholic who has received Eucharist and has beenConfirmed;• he/she is a practicing Catholic who participates in the Eucharistic celebration every Sunday;• he/she lives a good Catholic life• he/she is at least 16 years of age;• he/she cannot be your mother or father;• he/she fills out the sheet enclosed and has it signed by the pastor or parish priest.

Your sponsor should be someone who is willing to testify that you are prepared and willing to fully believe in and practice our Catholic faith. He or she should testify that you take your faith life seriously and that you faithfully attend Mass, serve others and are mature enough to fulfill what you are promising. Sponsors should also be able to confirm that you have completed the various things asked of you in preparation for Confirmation.

Some questions to ask yourself in choosing your sponsor:

Is this person someone with whom I feel comfortable and to whom I will listen when suggestions about my life are made?Does this person live near enough to me to be able to be a guide and support?Will this person be willing and able to be my sponsor and to take an active role in my faith life?

Ask the person, and if he or she says yes, then provide the time, date and place of any activities (including practice and the night of Confirmation itself) or meetings that sponsors should be a part of.

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SPONSOR FORMSaint Andrew Parish3546 N. PaulinaChicago, IL 60657

I, (sponsor name) ______________________ will be a sponsor for

(candidate’s name) _______________________________________.

I am a practicing Catholic, and a Member of_____________________________________ Parish.(Name of the Church)

______________________________________Pastor or Associate Pastor Signature(We ask for the parish priest to sign and seal this form to verify that the sponsor is a practicing Catholic.)

Parish Seal

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Schedule for Confirmation Preparation

St. Mary Candidates4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Sundays

(or 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Sundays) (or during the school week at Saint Andrew School)

Sunday, September 16, 2018 Parent and Candidate Meeting

Sunday, October 21, 2018 RE Candidates only (Class 1)October 25, 2018 – Class during school day

Friday, October 26/27 HOLY FIRE – Confirmation Retreat**** 9:00AM to 2:30PM

Sunday, November 4, 2018 Combined RE and School Candidates (Class 2)**** 6:30PM – 8:00PM

Sunday, December 2, 2018 RE Candidates only (Class 3)**** 6:30PM – 8:00PMDecember 6 – Class during school day

Sunday, January 20, 2019 Combined RE and School Candidates (Class 4)

Sunday, February 24, 2019 RE Candidates only (Class 5)February 28 – Class during school day

Saturday, March 9, 2019 TBA Service Project #1

Sunday, March 10, 2019 Combined and Sponsor Meeting (Class 6)

Saturday, April 6, 2019 TBA Service Project #2

Sunday, April 7, 2019 PARISH MISSION – At Saint Benedict Parish**** 6:30PM – 8:00 PM (Class 7)

Sunday, May 19, 2019 RE Candidates only (Class 8)May 23 – Class during school day

--- Summer Break ---

Sunday, September TBA Combined RE and School Candidates (Class 9)

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Saturday, September 21, 2019 Service Project #3

Sunday, October TBA RE Candidates only (Class 10)– Class during school day

Sunday, October 19, 2019 CONFIRMATION RETREAT – NET MINISTRIES

Sunday, November TBA Candidate and Sponsor Meeting (Class 11)

Saturday, September 21, 2019 Service Project #4

Sunday, November TBA RE Candidates only (Class 12)– Class during the school day

Sunday, December TBA Combined RE and School Candidates (Class 13)

Sunday, December TBA RE Candidates only (Class 14)– Class during the school day

Sunday, January TBA RE Candidates only (Class 15)– Class during the school day

Sunday, January 12, 2020 2:00 PM Mandatory Rehearsal – Candidate and Sponsor

Wednesday, January 15, 2019 6:30 PM – Confirmation Mass

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Saint Andrew Parish Sacrament of Confirmation

St. Mary CandidatesRegistration Form

This registration form is to confirm methods of communication. If you are registered at Saint Andrew School or in the Religious Education program you are in fact registered. This is a form to complete to ensure that Saint Andrew Parish has the correct phone numbers and email addresses to communicate with you throughout the next two years.

You can also complete this form at https://tinyurl.com/SaintAndrewConf2020 or on the link provided by our email to you.

This form also reminds you that there is a Sacramental Preparation fee of $50 per individual. This fee can be paid $25 per year or all at once. It should be paid by January 1 of each year.

Candidate Information

Name _______________________________ Last Name _________________________

Baptismal Date _______________________ Baptismal Parish ____________________

Parent Information

Parent #1 Name ____________________________________________

Parent #1 Email Address _____________________________________

Parent #2 Name ____________________________________________

Parent #2 Email Address ______________________________

If there are any specific concerns that you have at this time, please let us know

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