• 11th Grade: Confirmation Preparation
  St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Youth Ministry is committed to the reality that young people are an important and integral part of our parish community. The youth program seeks to foster the maturing of faith in the youth of our parish and the surrounding community.
   
  We affirm the gifts of our youth and we foster opportunities for young people to share their gifts with the larger community. The spiritual and social needs of the youth are to be met with the committed leadership, guidance, and support of our parish adults. The adults and youth of our parish are therefore provided with the opportunity to grow together in Christian faith.
   
  Through a variety of programs, events, and outreach, we seek to draw young people into responsible participation in the life, work, and mission of the parish community.
   
  We believe this ministry is to, with, by, and for young people and is a blessing for the entire community.
  
  Goals of Confirmation Preparation:

  1. To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
  2. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
  3. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. 

  
  Effects of Confirmation:
  Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:
  · It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation [becoming adopted sons and daughters of God] which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”
  · It unites us more firmly to Christ
  · It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
  · It renders our bond with the Church more perfect
  · It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
  
  PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:
  Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their youth. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 2223, 2226)
  Parents are the primary religious educations of their children. This responsibility calls you, as parents to:

  • Participate in weekly liturgies
  • Pray together as a family using required prayers for a particular grade level as a guide
  • Be a living example of your Catholic faith
  • Participate in family and parent activities in the parish
  • Prepare your children for the Sacraments at home.

  
  Weekly Small Group Sessions: In 11^th Grade, students will learn about the Catholic Churches teachings on Morality and Social Justice.  Students will be placed in a small group led by an adult mentor. Groups will meet weekly at St. Joe’s beginning with our Parent/Youth night on Sunday, September 12 . It is our hope that the small group setting will allow for small group leaders to reach the young people at their level, and for flexibility to better meet their needs. Small groups will not have a specific annual calendar but will instead meet each Sunday unless it doesn’t work for the group.
   
  Sunday Evening Large Group Sessions: Students will come together periodically on Sunday evenings for opportunities to grow in prayer, participate in the rituals of the Confirmation Process, and have an opportunity to dive deeper into tough topics with time for question and answer sessions. Knowing that parents are the primary educators of the faith, parent/teen sessions will provide opportunities for rich encounter to open the door for continued conversation outside of the faith formation classes. Sunday evening sessions include the following:

  • 9/12/21                Parent/Teen Intro Session
  • 9/26/21                10^th and 11^th Grade Safe Environment    
  • 11/7/21                Parent/Youth night with the Diocese 8-9 p.m. via Zoom.

  
  Journey with Confirmation Sponsor:

  • Confirmation candidates will choose a Confirmation Sponsor to support them in their final year of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through their support, encouragement, and prayer, sponsors assist the parents in their duty as Christian mothers and fathers.  Sponsors act in a similar role as Godparents at Baptism. Godparents are often the best choice for a Confirmation Sponsor as they are continuing their role as Godparent by supporting the child in their faith.

  
  Qualities of a good sponsor are:

  • Confirmed Catholics
  • Active in their faith and in their parish.
  • Living a life in harmony and agreement with the Catholic Faith.
  • Are able to meet with the candidate regularly, at least four times in the year, ideally in person.
  • Over the age of 16

  
  Candidates will participate in the following alongside their Sponsor. If the sponsor absolutely cannot attend, a parent may attend in their place.
   

  1. Sponsor Retreat - Sat. October 16, 2021 from 10am-12noon. in The Gathering Place. (Please bring the Sponsor Verification form signed by the sponsor’s Pastor to the Sponsor Meeting)
  2. Sponsor Retreat –Sat. January 8, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 12noon in The Gathering Place.
  3. Sponsor/Candidate Service Project –Easter Baskets for the Homebound –Sunday, April 10, 4-6 p.m.
  4. Confirmation Day of Reflection on Wed. April 20, 2022 6-8 p.m.
  5. Sponsors are invited to attend the Sunday night Large Group Sessions alongside their candidate.

  
  As part of their Confirmation program, 11^th grade youth will participate in the following:

  6. Attend the Kick-Off Retreat –Sunday, September 19 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Park Rapids.
  7. Participate in service in the community, parish and in Sunday Liturgy.  Students will participate in three service experiences in the parish, three service experiences in the community, and three liturgical ministry experiences. Ample service opportunities will be provided within their small group or can be done on their own. See service form for more information. The Service Reflection Sheet is due in class on Sunday, April 3, 2022.
  8. Write a letter to the Bishop –due at the Confirmation Interview in April. See form for details.
  9. Complete Saint Report- due at the Confirmation Interview in April.
  10. Participate in one of the four retreats through the Diocese.   

  
  THE REASON FOR HOPE: 24-Hour Youth Formation Retreats
  
  This year we are excited to dive into a new ministry in the Diocese of Crookston. We will be hosting 24-hour Formation retreats for students in grades 9-12. The theme for this year is “The Reason for Hope” based on 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”.
  
  Our goal is to facilitate opportunities for encounter and build on those encounters with Jesus Christ – providing our youth with ways to articulate the hope that lives inside them.
  Retreats will take place at Camp Castaway near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Each retreat will involve a professional worship leader and a team of youth ministers, young adults and other leaders from around the Diocese of Crookston. Retreats will begin Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM and end on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.
  
  The retreat dates are:
  • October 16 -17 with Joe Melendrez
  • January 22-23 with Jon Martin
  • March 5-6 with Aly Aleigha
  • April 23-24 TBA
  
  Confirmation is set for Sunday, April 24, 2021 at the 12:00 p.m. Mass. Sponsors and youth will need to arrive at the Church by 10:15 a.m. In the case that a candidate is absolutely unable to participate in the Confirmation ceremony with his/her class, they must contact Melissa Hund-Cerna no later than February 20, 2021. No exceptions will be made for sporting tournaments, school related activities or work.
  
  At St. Joe’s we aim to provide a program that is experiential in nature, allows students to apply their faith to their daily lives, share in a safe environment, and space to wrestle with the topics of faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation is part of the journey in faith. We recognize that no two students are at the same spot in their journey. We ask that you be open to the Holy Spirit working through the Church, and take advantage of the many opportunities offered of you.
  
  Communication to Youth and Families: We realize that there are a lot of pieces to our Confirmation program which is why we make a commitment to frequent communication to youth and parents. Each week you will receive communication in the following ways:

  • Weekly E-Mail with grade specific updates
  • Bulletin update
  • Remind Text messages
  • Social media updates

  
  The safety of your children is our utmost concern. Small Group leaders and the youth ministry team follow all Diocesan Safe Environment guidelines and are up to date with safe environment certification including background checks.
  
  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Hund-Cerna, the Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
  mhundcerna@stjoesmhd.com
  218-236-5066 (office)
  701-367-3345 (cell)

• 11th Grade Documents

  • Sponsor Verification Form
  • Confirmation Information Form
  • Service Experience Reflection 2021-22
  • Letter to the Bishop and Saint Report Information
  • Letter to Bishop Example
  • Sponsor Journal
  • 11th Grade Faith Formation Calendar