Philosophy of Confirmation Preparation at St. Susanna
The goal of St. Susanna's Confirmation Preparation Program is to help every candidate enhance and deepen their faith through an experiential learning process with a mentor. Over a reflection period, the candidate will have the opportunity to discern what gifts he/she can bring to the adult Christian community. An emphasis is placed on regular monthly meetings with mentors as well a series of gathered communal sessions for advanced religious education. It is our belief that the preparation of Confirmation is fully situated in a comprehensive Youth Ministry which includes social events, service outreach, and spiritual growth through prayer and retreats.
OBLIGATIONS FOR PREPARATION
1. Monthly Mentor meetings – Mentors and candidates are asked to form groups with 2-3 other candidates and mentors. (It makes some sense to organize these prior to the registration meeting if at all possible. If not, we will assist you in getting a mentor group.) These groups then, can coordinate a convenient time to meet once a month. Each candidate/mentor team will host 2-4 meetings. (The structure of these meetings is described in the lavender handbook.) If you are new to this process, the first mentor meeting can be held at the St. Susanna School so that a member of the Confirmation Team can assist groups with running the mentor meetings. You will need to schedule these through the parish office at 398-3821.
a. Choice of a Mentor: Each candidate needs to have a mentor. The mentor needs to be a person of Catholic faith who can help the student with the monthly lessons plus aiding the student in finding a way to serve the greater community. It is important that the mentor is willing to honestly share the ups-and-downs of living out his/her Catholic faith.
b. Choice of a Mentor Coordinator: Each mentor group needs to have an adult coordinate the group. This mentor coordinator will help distribute important information from the Confirmation Team and to email monthly the progress and challenges of the mentor group.
c. Utilization of Preparation Materials - The Catholic Faith Handbook from St. Mary’s Press and our St. Susanna Confirmation Preparation Handbook are catechetical resources for students to keep and read on their own. We loan copies of the Catholic Faith Handbook to the mentors. They need to be returned at the Confirmation ceremony practice, unless the mentor would like to purchase it for $17.
2. Retreat Attendance: Candidates are expected to register for ONE of four day-long retreats at the Milford Spiritual Center. (This year, we have substituted the 7 large group meetings with this retreat opportunity. Your registration fee includes the cost of this off-site retreat and lunch.) You will register for these in January.
3. Personal Interview or Written or Art Response to questions – We ask students to take time to really reflect on their decision for Confirmation. The students have two options for responses to a series of questions available on page 55 in the handbook.
First, you can set up a 15 minute in-person interview alone with a member of the Confirmation team in March. You will need to schedule these through the parish office at 398-3821.
Or, students may provide written or art responses to these questions. This is due into the parish office by March 30, 2009.
4. Commitment to Service - As Catholic Christians, we are compelled to serve. The student needs to find regular ways to be of service both to our church and our community. While we don’t police service hours for Confirmation, we expect you to incorporate service into your lifestyle. Your mentor and mentor group should be a great resource and support in this.
5. Commitment to Active Involvement in a Faith Community - Enrollment at St. Susanna School or active participation (at least 50% attendance) in the youth program here at St. Susanna Parish is strongly encouraged. For information on the youth programs, Faith Alive or LIFE, contact Jenny Williamson, Youth Minister, 398-3821 ext. 3195.
a. Stay Connected. Check the bulletin, Glad Tidings and the web page regularly for any updates, notices, retreat info or articles of interest. You can reach the Confirmation web page under Faith Formation, then under Youth Ministry.
6. Select a sponsor for the Sacramental Rite of Confirmation (ceremony.)
a. Requirements and Duties of the sponsor:
* Must be at least 16 years of age.
* A practicing Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
* Cannot be a parent of the candidate.
* Mentor could be the sponsor, provided that the mentor is not a parent of the candidate.
* One of the baptismal godparents is an excellent choice.
* Attend the Confirmation Ceremony in either late October or early November and presents the candidate to the bishop at the time for the anointing with chrism.
* Helps the candidate to fulfill the role of an active Catholic participating in the ministry of the Church.
If any of these obligations cause undue hardship on the family, please discuss them with a member of the Confirmation Team - Jenny Williamson, Karen Gottschall or Mary Jeanne Overcash.