9th Grade Faith Formation

9th Grade: Theology of the Body
The Confirmation Program at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church begins in 9th Grade with Theology of the Body.

Identity. Gender. Love. Chastity. The world is a difficult place for teens, and it has become increasingly hard for parents and educators to help teens discover the truth about their bodies, their sexuality, and their unique call to love.
In an age of “selfies” and egocentrism, You cuts through the noise to present an authentic view of the human person. It presents young people with the extraordinary story of their creation as unrepeatable individuals. But the program doesn’t stop there.
YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body introduces teens to the truth that life is not, in fact, all about them; it is about going out of themselves to be a sincere gift for others.

Our 9th Graders experience Theology of the Body in a large group/small group setting with the small groups being gender specific. The class allows the teens a safe space to question and discuss these more difficult issues on chastity and morality.

9th Graders meet every Sunday from 7:30-9 PM in the School Library.
Outside of class, the 9th graders will participate in the following as part of their Confirmation Experience:

1. Commit to attending Sunday evening sessions, up to three absences are acceptable. If more nights need to be missed for any reason, youth can make up these sessions by participating in an Advent or Lent Bible study taking place on Sunday afternoons from 4-6 PM. 
2. 9^th grade Fall Retreat Sunday November 5^th 12:30-6:00 p.m. located at St. Francis De Sales in Moorhead. If youth absolutely cannot make it to the Fall Retreat they need to attend the Diocesan High School Youth Rally in its place-Sunday, October 28^th 12-9 pm)
3. Parent/Youth Entrance Interview with Priests –September 17-23 2017 
4. Participate in two Sunday evening Hospitality Nights during the 6:30 PM Mass.
5. Service/Justice Experiences and Reflections -See Service/Justice Forms. Reflections for 5 hours are due in class by Sunday, December 17 and the remainder are due in class on Sunday, April, 15.
6. Four Theology of the Body Parent/Youth Sessions from 7:30-9 PM located in the Gathering Place:
   • 9/17/17                9^th Grade Parent/Youth Session #1
   • 12/10/17              9^th Grade Parent/Youth Session #2
   • 2/11/18                9^th Grade Parent/Youth Session #3
   • 4/15/18                9^th Grade Parent/Youth Session #4
7. Attend the Parish Mission Sunday evening, October 15h with their parent presented by Deacon Ralph Poyo: Are You in? Or Just Playing Church Parent/Youth Night
8. Participate in a Vocation’s Pilgrimage on April 22, 2018 (More details to come)
9. Participate in a Vocations Project and present it to the class on May 6, 2018.