11th Grade Faith Formation

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 the week of September 15-22 . 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.  Students will have the option of choosing between one of five small group meeting times.

1. Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30 a.m.
2. Wednesday evening 7:00-8:00 p.m.
3. Sunday morning 11:15-12:15 p.m.
4. Sunday afternoon 5:00-6:00 p.m.
5. Sunday evening 7:45-8:45 p.m.

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:

• 9/8/19                   Parent/Teen Intro Session
• 9/22/19                Teen Large Group Session –Renewal of Baptismal Promises/Safe Environment
• 10/13/19              Parent/Teen Session -Presentation by Deacon Ralph Poyo            
• 12/15/19              Teen Large Group Session -Q AND A
• 1/05/20                Teen Large Group Session -Catholic Social Teaching and Information about Confirmation Project
• 1/26/20                Teen Large Group Session -Praise and Worship, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation
• 3/9/20                   First Choice Clinic Tour                  
• 4/5/20                   Teen Large Group Session -Q AND A
• 4/19/20                Parent/Teen Session -Service Project presentation

 
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 -Saturday, November 9, 2019 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in The Gathering Place. (Please bring the Sponsor Verification form signed by the sponsor’s Pastor to the Sponsor Meeting)
2. Sponsor/Candidate Service Project –Easter Baskets for the Homebound –Sunday, April 5, 5-7 p.m.
3. Confirmation Day of Reflection on Wed. April 22, 2020 7-9 p.m.
4. 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:

5. Attend the Kick-Off Retreat –Sunday, September 15 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Park Rapids.
6. Service/Justice Experiences and Reflections:
   1. Fall Service/Justice: Students will participate in three service experiences either in the parish or community and one Liturgical experience with a reflection form due in class on Sunday, December 15.
   2. Spring Service/Justice: Students will be empowered to come up with a service project as a small group that supports one of the seven Catholic Social Teachings learned about in small group. Students will present their service project in the large group session on Sunday, April 19.
7. Write a letter to the Bishop –due April 5, 2020. See form for details.
8. Complete Saint Report- due April 5, 2020
9. Participate in an 11^th grade Retreat, either a TEC Retreat through the Crookston Diocese or a SEARCH Retreat through the Fargo Diocese. Shanley School Retreats DO NOT count as a Confirmation Retreat. (See below for retreat dates.)

 
2019-20 TEC Retreat Dates:

• February 15-17, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Church, Moorhead
• March 21-23, 2020 at Sandhill Lake Bible Camp near Fosston

 
TEC Retreats cost $100.00 for the weekend which includes housing and all meals. Families are responsible for transportation to and from the retreat location. TEC Retreats are limited to a specific number of participants from a given parish. Each year TEC retreats fill up with students from St. Joe’s so it is important that you plan ahead and register early. For More information and to register for a TEC, please go to http://www.agassizvalleytec.com
 
2019-20 SEARCH Dates:

• November 1-3, 2019
• January 10-12, 2020
• February 28-March 1, 2020
• April 17-19, 2020

 
All SEARCH Retreats are located at Maryvale Convent near Valley City, North Dakota. The cost for a SEARCH Retreat is $60 for the weekend which covers housing and meals. Families are responsible for transportation to and from the retreat center. Retreats are limited to a specific number of participants from a given parish. Each year the SEARCH retreats fill up from St. Joe’s so it is important that you plan ahead and sign up early. For more information and to register for a SEARCH Retreat, please go to http://www.fargodiocese-search.org/
 
Confirmation is set for Sunday, April 26, 2020 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 23, 2020. 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)