CONFIRMATION

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CONFIRMATION

• Level 1
• Parent Orientation

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• Why do you want the Sacrament of Confirmation for
  your teen?

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• Email Address
• confirmation_at_saintkateriparish.org
• Confirmation Website
• www.skconfirmation.org
• (was www.bkconfirmation.org)
• Confirmation Office Phone Number
• 661-296-3180 Ext 7908

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• The Goal for Confirmation Preparation is
  Discipleship
• Discipleship means to make a conscious decision
  to follow Jesus in the midst of His church and to
  direct ones life with this always in mind. In
  other words, our goal is to help the teens served
  by High School Confirmation develop a personal
  relationship with Jesus that affects how they
  live their life on a daily basis.

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• The Confirmation Sacrament is a celebration of
  our faith in the Holy Spirit. After Baptism,
  along with the Eucharist, it completes the
  baptismal graces and fully initiates the baptized
  as an adult member of Gods adopted family.
• High School Confirmation Prep is intended to
  bring about conversion in the hearts of teens so
  they see Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life
  and therefore come to the Sacrament with hearts
  properly disposed to receive it.

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Who is invited to participate in High School
Confirmation Prep Level 1?

• Teens entering 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade
  in the fall of 2014
• 9th, 10th, or 11th graders can complete their
  2nd year of preparation in High School
  Confirmation
• 12th graders will complete their 2nd year in
  Adult Confirmation
• Weekly mass attendance is expected of students
  enrolled in High School Confirmation Prep

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Format

• 2 Sunday sessions per month
• Teens meet in the hall at 4pm promptly
• 4-430pm Large group session where catechesis
  is covered via video, review games and live
  speakers
• Small group sessions 435-515pm
• Mass 530-630pm (teens escorted to sanctuary
  by their facilitator)

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Small Group Structure Discipleship

• Each small group will have 7 teens (ideally), 1
  adult facilitator and 1 Confirmed Teen Peer
  Leader
• Small groups stays the same for whole 2 year
  process
• Team trust building games/activities designed
  to build community within the small group
• Trusting dynamic within the small group is
  essential for a teens journey to discipleship

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Additional Elements

• Welcome to Confirmation Prep! on Saturday, June
  14 at 445pm (Youth mass then Life Teen
  Freshman Welcome BBQ on patio after)
• 1 Retreat Experience per year
• Christian Living
• Participation in 1 or more of Triduum masses
  during Holy Week
• Reconciliation (at Penance Services or weekly
  offered)
• Confirmation Preparation Rites during mass
• Life Teen
• Discernment Interview 1 time per year
• Sponsors
• Parent Sponsor Formation Sessions

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Catechesis

• The Goal of Catechesis is to bring about a
  personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Saint Kateri High School Confirmation has adopted
  a new curriculum with this goal in mind
• CHOSEN Your Journey Toward Confirmation
• www.AscensionPress.com
• Video Driven Plug Play
• Leader Guide available to check out or view in
  the Confirmation office
• DVDs available to view in Confirmation office by
  appointment
• Students receive their own CHOSEN resource to
  keep and use as reference personal journal for
  whole 2 year process
• Parent and Sponsor Guides from CHOSEN are
  excellent resources and provide Conversation
  Starters (available for purchase through the
  Confirmation office)

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Scripture

• Students will each receive a personal copy of the
  New American Bible at the Rite of Promise on
  November 16
• Same version of Scripture that is read at mass
• Facilitators will guide them during small group
  time on how to find the readings they will hear
  at mass in their bible

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Confirmation Prep Welcome

• Saturday, June 14 445-515pm
• Information Forms needed to begin Christian
  Living over the summer will be covered Ex VBS
• Volunteering for Vacation Bible School would
  fulfill 1 Christian Living Experience
• All teens invited to Youth mass at 530pm
• Parents please attend mass w/teen
• Life Teen Freshman Welcome BBQ on the patio
  immediately following mass

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Retreats

• 1 Weekend Retreat per year of Confirmation Prep
• Luggage drop off for retreat is Thursday, October
  23 6pm-730pm in Hall 3
• Medications are checked in at retreat drop off on
  Friday at 530pm
• A pizza dinner will be provided at Saint Kateri
  during retreat drop off
• Teens all ride on buses to retreat center
  Salvation Army Camp Mt. Crags 26801 Dorothy Dr,
  Calabasas
• Retreat Contract will be part of registration
  packet
• Teens return for Wrap Up with parents in the hall
  about 2 pm
• Wrap Up will last about 45minutes

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Christian Living

• Each teen asked to participate or serve in 5
  different ministries throughout the year.
• Purpose is to provide opportunities to explore
  some of the 50 ministries offered at our parish
• One page worksheet to be completed for each of
  the 5 experiences will be available on the
  website with the goal of finding out who the
  ministry serves and how that ministry helps
  others in their lived relationship with Christ
• Options available year round will be posted on
  the website and one time options emailed blasted
  to all Level 1 Confirmation families as they
  arise
• 2 of the 5 will be completed in the already
  established Level 1 schedule
• Level 2 students will join a ministry to
  fulfill Christian Living component

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Holy Week/Triduum

• All teens attend at least 1 of 3 of the following
  Triduum masses
• 1. April 2 7-830pm Mass of the Lords supper
  with washing of feet
• 2. April 3 1pm Good Friday Mass including
  Veneration of the Cross
• 3. April 3 730pm Good Friday Mass including
  Veneration of the Cross
• Teens that attend training on March 22 3-4pm may
  serve during the Triduum and to fulfill a
  Christian Living
• FYI Hart District Spring Break is Monday, April
  6-Friday, April 10

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Reconciliation

• Sacrament of Reconciliation is crucial to
  preparing for a properly disposed heart when
  receiving the Sacrament
• Level 1 Teens will be encouraged to start
  frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation after
  their February 22 session Why tell my sins to a
  priest? The Healing Power of Confession
• Teens may attend Reconciliation during an Advent
  Penance Service, Lenten Penance Service or
  Confession times offered weekly at local parishes

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High School Confirmation Rites

• 1st Time offered at Saint Kateri as part of High
  School Confirmation in our new Church
• Rite of Promise during Sunday 530 mass after
  Confirmation session on November 16
• Sponsor presence requested as they are part of
  the rite
• A parent may stand in for a sponsor for Rites
  only (not the Confirmation ceremony)
• Opportunity for public commitment to Confirmation
  Journey
• Opportunity to connect candidates to wider
  parish community and for the parish community to
  show their loving support

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Discernment Interviews

• Designed to help confirmandi, aka teens in the
  Confirmation preparation process, to discern
  where they are in their relationship with Jesus,
  their readiness to continue on the Confirmation
  Preparation journey and what ministry in the
  parish to which God may be calling them
• Scheduled in 20 minute intervals on April 14, 15
  or 16

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Confirmation Saint

• Teens encouraged to find a saint that inspires
  them personally
• Teens will be asked to complete a report about
  their saint over the summer between Level 1 and
  Level 2
• Teens will be able to declare a Confirmation
  Saint Name

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Life Teen

• The most prolific youth ministry in the Catholic
  Church
• Leads teens closer to Christ by participating in
  lively youth masses and offering a fun,
  teen-centered community in which to grow in faith
• Saint Kateri Youth Mass is every Saturday at
  530pm
• Following the Youth Mass, Life Teen ministers and
  CORE members lead Life Nights that start with a
  yummy dinner
• Life Nights Themes are either faith-building,
  social or deal with current teen issues
• Is a drop in program, after registering for the
  first night of attendance teens are welcome to
  come as often or as little as works for them
• 2 Retreats offered each year, one in the summer
  one in the winter
• Current 8th graders are eligible to attend Life
  Teen Retreat this July
• Check out their website for more info
  www.bkym.org or the Life Teen International site
  www.lifeteen.com

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Choosing a Sponsor

• The best sponsor is someone that is truly excited
  about their Catholic faith and wants to share it
  with your teen
• Must be 18 years old and a Confirmed, practicing
  Catholic
• May be male or female
• May not be a parent
• Eligible to receive the Sacraments and expected
  to receive Holy Communion at the Mass of
  Confirmation
• Sponsors are asked to commit to being in regular
  contact (weekly ideal) with their candidate so
  they can share their faith, answer questions and
  discuss the Confirmation journey. Text, skype,
  email, snail mail, social media, phone calls, etc
  are all valid avenues
• Sponsors are asked to commit to attending 3
  Parent Sponsor Formation Sessions

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Confirmation Preparation is a Family Journey

• Parents asked to commit to attending 3 Parent
  Sponsor formations
• Parent and family members attitudes greatly
  affect their teens experience
• Confirmation Preparation provides the time and
  space for teens to explore and decide what they
  believe in so they can experience the invitation
  to Jesus call personally.
• This invitation and opportunity to make faith in
  Jesus and His Church their own will only be
  effective if your teen is supported by you
  prayerfully, vocally and physically
• Momentum, frequent participation, is crucial to
  growth in faith and understanding therefore
  regular attendance needs to be a family priority

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Parent Sponsor Formation

• 415-515pm in the Sanctuary 3 times during the
  year during your teens Confirmation session
• September 14, November 16 and February 22
• Covers some of the same topics Level 1 teens are
  exploring
• Videos from CHOSEN curriculum will be used (you
  will see some of the videos your teens will see!)
• Designed to encourage conversations interaction
  with your teen as well as inspire parents
  sponsors
• If unable to attend all three, attendance at a
  Level 2 Parent Sponsor Formation Session is
  requested or attending another parish wide
  formation opportunity. Check page 7 labeled
  FORMATION in the Saint Kateri bulletin for
  parish wide opportunities
• Parents will be asked to sign a covenant
  committing to Formation attendance as part of
  registration process
• Sponsors will be asked to sign a covenant
  committing to Formation attendance and frequent
  contact with their candidate at the November 16
  session (same day as Rite of Promise)

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The Confirmation Program Needs Volunteers

• How can you help?
• Become a facilitator
• Office Help
• Set Up before sessions
• Audio Visual help during sessions
• Please see a member of the Confirmation team
  after the meeting if you are interested

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Registration

• Opens April 23 by1159am
• Cost is 300.00 all materials and level 1
  retreat costs are included in registration fee

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Registration contd

• Items needed to gather BEFORE starting the online
  registration process
• Baptismal Certificate
• First Communion Certificate
• Sponsors name and email
• Emergency Contact information
• Health Insurance Information
• Print out a copy of the Level 1 Schedule
  (available on the Level 1 home page at
  www.skconfirmation.org)

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How to register

• Go to our website
• www.skconfirmation.org
• Click on REGISTRATION
• Click on the link for Level 1
• Enter registration access code SKCL1
• Enter registration information as prompted
• Print out all materials as prompted and mail them
  to Saint Kateri Confirmation office along with
  full payment
• You will receive an email confirming submission
  of registration once paper work and payment has
  been processed your registration is complete.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What if I do not have a sponsor committed to my
  teen by November 16? Parents may stand in for
  sponsors during a rite, but are asked to find a
  sponsor no later than Level 1 Discernment
  Interviews in April
• What if I cannot find a sponsor? Email the
  Confirmation office at confirmation_at_saintkateripar
  ish.org and we will try you find someone in the
  parish to match with your teen
• Can I request that my teen be placed with a
  friend in their small group? Yes, there will be a
  space for that on the registration form. Your
  friends request must match up with your own
  friends request. Please use honest discretion
  when deciding to request a friend in your teens
  small group. Only request a friend if you truly
  believe it will help your teen experience
  transformation on this Confirmation Preparation
  journey. Do not request one if that relationship
  will be a distraction or cause for your teen to
  not bond with others in their small group. We
  will provide ample time and fun opportunities at
  the beginning of Level 1 (especially on retreat)
  for small groups to get to know each other.

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FAQs contd

• What if we are attending mass as a family earlier
  in the weekend, does my teen have to stay for
  mass? No. A parent may retrieve their teen from
  their facilitator in the sanctuary before mass.
  We hope you will choose to attend the Sunday 530
  mass when your teen does, but we also strongly
  encourage attendance at the 530pm Saturday Youth
  Mass (with Life Teen available after!) We are
  thrilled to offer lots of options for mass
  attendance here at Saint Kateri.
• What are some other ways to fulfill the Christian
  Living component? Christian Living is new so we
  are still meeting with the ministry leaders in
  order to fully integrate the component. Some
  more examples of Christian Living we hope to be
  able to offer are serving at mass as an
  usher/bringing up the gifts/greeting, attending a
  session of a Life Teen bible study, trying out
  being in the choir or band at mass, helping
  decorate the sanctuary with our Environment
  ministry, assisting as a peer leader in
  training during a Monday night Jr. High Edge
  volunteer, assisting in an elementary or Little
  Church RE classroom, serving at Sunday
  Hospitality, helping in the Gift Shoppe, etc.

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FAQs contd

• What if I am unable to afford the 300
  registration fee right now? We do have payment
  and reduced fee options. Please email the office
  at confirmation_at_saintkateriparish.org to request
  an application.
• What if my teen misses a session? Can they make
  it up? Not really. There will not be a make up
  lesson provided. The teens CHOSEN resource does
  have a summary of the main points covered during
  each lesson. There is really no way to replicate
  the small group discussion experience, which is
  where we anticipate the most transformative
  experiences during Sunday meetings. However, the
  CHOSEN videos are very engaging. If your teen
  misses a session, we hope to offer a way for the
  videos segments to be viewed at a later time. As
  of right now, we have not established a format in
  which to provide this.
• What if we discontinue during the year, do we get
  a refund? If the Confirmation office is notified
  at least 1 week before the retreat, we can refund
  200. 2/3rds of the registration fee goes
  directly to retreat costs. The rest go to
  material costs that are expended or budgeted for
  based on the number of enrollees at the close of
  registration

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FAQs contd

• How many sessions can my teen miss and still
  remain in the program? This question would need
  to be answered on a case by case basis. Humans
  get sick, grandmas turn 100 and teams earn their
  way to national championships. In other words,
  there are certain events in life that are
  unavoidable or so special that one must not miss
  them. When important events like these conflict
  with a meeting time, we ask that you just let
  your teens facilitator know. If a teen misses a
  session and we have not heard from them, we will
  follow up to make sure all is well. If a teen
  misses more than that, we will also follow up and
  try to help your family discern if the
  Confirmation preparation we are offering is able
  to meet the needs of your teen and family
  schedules. If your teen will be committing to
  something during the 2014-15 year that will
  frequently conflict with the scheduled meetings,
  we ask you to either wait to start the
  preparation process another year or look into the
  Confirmation processes offered at the other
  parishes in our area.

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Thank you for attending

• Have a blessed evening