CONFIRMATION
FAITH FORMATION
HANDBOOK
Come Holy Spirit, enkindle the Fire of Your Love
Holy Trinity Parish
336 First Street
Westfield, New Jersey 07090
www.htrcc.org
Sr. Kathy Burton, SSJ
(908) 233-7455
Director of Faith Formation
Patricia Martin
(908) 233-6151
Coordinator
of Youth Ministry
PHILOSOPHY OF HOLY TRINITY CONFIRMATION PROCESS
The goal of Holy Trinity’s
Confirmation Preparation is to nurture, enhance, and deepen faith formation begun in the early formative years of our youth. We recognize that this formation does not end, but rather changes in scope and experience
as these young people accept, more deeply, the invitation to discipleship.
Partnering with families, our parish community pledges
to provide dynamic, on going faith formation for young people seeking to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church.
STRUCTURE OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS
The Director of Religious Education and the Parish Coordinator of Youth Ministry
are responsible for the process. Included in this process are trained mentors,
adults who desire to share their faith and journey with our young candidates and a number of trained peer ministers chosen
from among our older high school CYO members. Candidates can choose to complete the process in as little as two years or choose
to complete extend the process up to four years. We recognize that each individual is different in their readiness process.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE
In order to be accepted into the confirmation program, each candidate must meet
the following criteria:
1. Is a Registered Parishioner at Holy
Trinity: The candidate’s
family must be registered parishioners of the parish in order to enter the program.
2. Be of High School Age: Each candidate must be a minimum of a freshman
in high school.
3. Has Completed the Proper Formal
Catechetical Instruction:
Each candidate must have completed a minimum of grades
6-7-8 in a parish catechetical program or a parochial school. Individuals who
have not completed such and wish to enter the program will be treated on an individual basis.
THREE STAGES OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS
The confirmation process models the Rite
of Christian Initiation for Adults, (R.C.I.A.) in preparing for, accepting,
and committing our youth to full initiation into the Church. This process
stresses total faith formation which includes participation in the life of the Church through:
WORD WORSHIP COMMUNITY
SERVICE
STAGE ONE: INVITATION
At this stage, a letter is sent to the families of
our parish youth who have completed at least 6-7-8 grade of catechetical instruction, either in a parochial school or a parish
religious education program. This letter invites the youth and their parents to a meeting designed to help them begin the
discerning process around the sacrament of confirmation.
STAGE TWO: PRECATECHUMENATE Level I
Once
an individual has accepted the invitation and has completed the objectives set forth in the first stage, then one is ready
to enter into this stage of the program. In this stage, the candidate must
WORD
(reference page 4)
Participate in Mentoring
Sessions
WORSHIP (reference
page 5 & top of 6)
Regular participation in Sunday
Eucharist
Participate in the Rite of Choice
Participate in Advent & Lenten Reconciliation Services
COMMUNITY (reference
page 6)
Participate in a weekend retreat
Attend
and participate in CYO meetings
Participate
in CYO sponsored community wide events
SERVICE (reference
page 6 bottom)
Complete service and submit service evaluation
STAGE THREE: CATECHUMENATE LEVEL II
Here, the candidate is invited
to come to a better understanding of his/her Catholic identity. The Catechumenal
stage requires that a candidate continue to experience the 4 Components of our faith through Participation in
WORD (reference page 4)
Participate in Mentoring
Sessions
WORSHIP
(reference page 5 & Top of 6)
Regular participation in Sunday
Eucharist
Participate in the Rite of Enrollment
Participate in Advent & Lenten Reconciliation Services
COMMUNITY (reference
page 6)
Participate in a weekend retreat
Attend
and participate in CYO meetings
Participate
in CYO sponsored community wide events
SERVICE: (reference page 6
bottom)
Complete service and submit service evaluation
PARTICIPATION IN THE MENTORING SESSIONS
Each candidate is given the opportunity
to sign up for a mentoring group. Each mentor facilitates the eight yearly meetings
with a group of 10 or less candidate’s. The groups will meet for 8 consecutive weeks on different evenings of the week.
At the beginning of Level I and II, the candidate’s will receive a list of mentors and their scheduled meeting dates
for the year. The candidates will then choose their mentoring group from the information given
TOPICS FOR MENTORING
GROUPS:
(October-January)
(January-March)
LEVEL I
LEVEL II
Introduction
Catholic Identity
Baptism
Liturgical Year
Love of Neighbor
Self Acceptance
Trust in God
Faith/Spirituality
Suffering/Death
Church Community
Prayer/Beatitudes
Ministry: Social Justice
10 Commandments
Morality
Sacraments
The Holy Spirit
Cancellation of Group & Missed Groups
The authority to cancel small group meetings due to weather conditions or other
unforeseen circumstances belongs to the mentor for each small group. All telephone calls concerning this subject should be directed to the individual mentor.
Mentor will contact the RE office as well as the individual
group members with the cancellation and the make up date. .
If a candidate is going to be absent, it is the parent’s responsibility to contact by telephone at least one of the small group leaders and the Religious
Ed. Office. A make-up assignment will need to be completed for each session missed
regardless of the reason. Candidates are expected to be at all small group sessions and all required events unless illness
or a family emergency arises. Sports
events/practices, trips, weekends away, homework, and all other reasons are not acceptable for being absent. Any candidate
who misses more than one required event within the program year will need have a meeting to determine the appropriate course
of action.
RITES
Level I Candidates, Rite of Choice, takes place at a
12 Noon Eucharistic Celebration on a Sunday in Ordinary Time.
This rite signifies the individual’s choice
to be a part of the Confirmation process. It provides an opportunity for the
parish community to be connected to the celebration of Confirmation at an early stage.
Parents and Sponsors should attend with the candidates.
Level II Candidates, Rite of Enrollment, takes place
at a 12 Noon Eucharistic Celebration on a Sunday in Lent.
This Rite is celebrated on a Sunday in Lent. It symbolizes
the community’s choosing, electing, approving these young people into its full membership as an adult, initiated Christian.
Candidates’ Letters of request are presented at this time. Parents as well
as sponsors should be present at this liturgy to symbolize their support and encouragement
WORSHIP
Youth Reconciliation Services
There is an Advent Reconciliation Service on a Wednesday
Evening in the Church during the month of November.
There is a Lenten Reconciliation Service on a Wednesday
Evening in the Church during the month of March.
Living Meditations
The Living Stations takes place on Good Friday in the
Church at 7:30 PM.
Community
There are four options to complete the community component
of the program.
Option A is to attend 14 CYO Meetings
and 1 retreat over the course of two years.
Option B is to attend 7 CYO meetings
and 2 retreats over the course of the two years.
Option C is to attend 21 CYO meetings
and 0 retreats over the course of two years.
Option D is to attend 0 CYO meetings
and 3 retreats over the course of two years.
Retreat Weekend
There are two
High School Aged retreats each year. One in the Fall in either late October or early November and one in the Spring usually
in April depending on the date of Easter.
Catholic Youth Organization
CYO meetings
take place 20 times a year on a Wednesday evening from 7:30-9:00 PM in the School Lighthouse.
CYO Parish Sponsored Events
(Level I Candidates
implement the Peasant Supper & Level II Candidates implement the Living Stations)
Peasant Supper,
Ash Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the Cafeteria
The Living Stations,
Good Friday at 7:30 PM in the Church
Service
(Complete 24
hours of service over the course of Level I & II Preparation)
Please visit www.htrcc.org , click Youth Ministry, then Justice
& Service to see a list of service opportunities. Thank you!
Example of Two Year Process Divided
Level I
8 Mentor Sessions
(attendance noted)
7 CYO Meetings (attendance noted)
Rite of Choice (honor system)
2 Youth Worship Experiences (Participation) (honor system)
1 Retreat (Attendance noted)
1 CYO sponsored events (Implement) (attendance noted)
12 Service Hours (service evaluation completed)
Level Il
8 Mentor Sessions
(attendance noted)
7 CYO Meetings (attendance noted)
Rite of Enrollment (attendance noted)
2 Youth Worship Experiences (Participation) (honor system)
1 CYO sponsored events (Implement) (attendance noted)
12 Service Hours (service evaluation completed)
A Candidate can choose to complete the process in as little as two years or as many as four. Also
all components are flexible as to when and how they are completed except for the mentor groups and the Rites. I.e., a candidate can choose to do the entire 24 hours of service over the summer months.
A NOTE TO PARENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS
One question that is often asked, “Why has confirmation been moved to a time when a young person is already so busy with other things
in his/her life?” The answer is very simple, but often hard to accept,
”Because a young person is so busy with other
things in his/her life!”
It is during this period that a young person begins to personify God. God is becoming
a real person, rather than some distant figure that we learn about and that our parents tell us about. It is at this time a young person begins to explore his/her own independence. With this independence, a young person can become involved in life situations he/she has never had to face
before. It is at this time a young person looks critically at the faith and values
handed on to him/her by his/her parents. It is at this time, the adolescent will begin to question, doubt, analyze his/her
faith In order to come to a conclusion of either personally accepting what has been taught or refusing to accept what has
been taught.
The parent’s role is vital. An
adolescent who’s parents practices his/her faith convictions, is willing to share the high and low points of one’s
spiritual journey,, and is willing to listen to their teen’s struggles without passing judgment, will find that this
time of spiritual discovery and commitment is a rewarding experience for both the parent and the teen.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
We strongly encourage parents to be actively involved with their child’s
preparation for this sacrament.
We ask parents to:
Discuss the materials presented
to the teen on a weekly basis
Provide transportation to
meetings and events
Attend weekly liturgy with
the teen
Be faith role models for
their teen as well as all of the others in the program
Attend parent Meetings as
they arise
Pray for their teen as well
as all others participating in this process
In Response to Frequently Asked Questions
SERVICE CAN NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CYO/RETREAT EXPERIENCE
A SCHOOL RETREAT CAN NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF A PARISH RETREAT
DISMISSAL
FORM PUBLIC SCHOOL
ZORACH V. CLAUSON -
343U.S.306 (1956)
This US Supreme Court case ruled that it is not unconstitutional for a public school
student to attend religious instruction at a parochial school or church event even if this should disrupt the public school
schedule.
By “public school schedule” it has been interpreted to include sporting
events, band competitions, school plays, and any other school sponsored event.
Any type of “punishment” for missing or leaving an event early is NOT
permitted and is a violation of the law.
Therefore school personnel cannot:
Threaten the student in any way (example: removal form the team)
Mock or make fun of a child’s religious convictions.
Point out the reason why a student is not present or leaving early to other student
or staff
Place penalty such as “extra laps”, “benching”, or any
other type of action, which is placed upon the student because of his/her absence or early dismissal.
If your family has a problem with a teacher or coach, please do not hesitate to
call our office.
