CONFIRMATION 2010-2011
“Alive in You!”
Confirmation 2011 from STJWca on Vimeo.
FOR FACILITATORS
Facilitator Commitment: September 2010 – May 2011
Mandatory Formation Meetings.
Wednesday September 15th – 8pm-9:30pm
Wednesday September 22nd – 8pm-9:30pm
Wednesday September 29th – 8pm-9:30pm.
CONFIRMATION DATES
Saturday, May 7, 2010
Saturday, May 14, 2010
FORMATION STRUCTURE
FIRST FRIDAYS – Adoration – (7:30 PM – 8:30 PM) (OPTIONAL FOR CONFIRMANDI)
SECOND FRIDAYS – Faith Night (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM) (MANDATORY FOR CONFIRMANDI)
THIRD FRIDAYS – Issue Night (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM) (MANDATORY FOR CONFIRMANDI)
FOURTH FRIDAYS – Social Night (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM) (OPTIONAL FOR CONFIRMANDI)
CALENDAR
OCTOBER
Enrollment Ceremony: Saturday, October 2 and Sunday October 3
Keyword: Balance
First Friday, October 1 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus the Bread of Life)
Second Friday, October 8 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: What if? The Person of Christ)
Third Friday, October 15 – ISSUE NIGHT (Theme: Balance)
Fourth Friday, October 22 – SOCIAL (Theme: Family Feud)
NOVEMBER
Keyword: Identity
First Friday, November 5 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the Light of the World)
Second Friday, November 12 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: Consumed by Grace)
Third Friday, November 19 – ISSUE NIGHT (Theme: Self-Image)
Fourth Friday, November 26 – SOCIAL (Theme: Casino Night)
DECEMBER
Keyword: Commitment
Wednesday, December 1 – CONFESSION
First Friday, December 3 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the door. (John 10:9))
Second Friday, December 10 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: Faith as our response to Christ)
Third Friday, December 17 – ISSUE NIGHT (Issue – School)
JANUARY
Keyword: Service
First Friday, January 7 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the Good Shepherd)
Second Friday, January 14 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: The Holy Spirit: Breath of Fresh Air)
Third Friday, January 21 – ISSUE NIGHT – (Theme – Family)
Fourth Friday, January 28 – SOCIAL (Theme: Once upon a time ball)
FEBRUARY
Keyword: Passion
First Friday, February 4 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the resurrection and the life.)
Second Friday, February 11 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: Big Brother, Big Sister: Meeting the saints)
Third Friday, February 18 – ISSUE NIGHT (Theme: Sexuality)
Fourth Friday, February 25 – SOCIAL (Theme: Be My Valentine)
MARCH
Keyword: Paradox
First Friday, March 4 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the Way, Truth and Life)
Second Friday, March 11 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme: Hypocrites Welcome – the Humanity and Divinity of the Church)
Third Friday, March 18 – ISSUE NIGHT (Theme: Dating)
Fourth Friday, March 25 – SOCIAL (Theme: It’s a Jungle Out There)
APRIL
Keyword: Discernment
First Friday, April 1 – ADORATION (Theme: Jesus, the True Vine)
Wednesday, April 6 – CONFESSION
Second Friday, 8 – FAITH NIGHT (Theme – Go Fish – Discipleship and the Call to holiness)
Third Friday, April 15 – ISSUE NIGHT (Issue – Discernment)
Fourth Friday, April 22 – SOCIAL (Theme: Mystery Dinner)
IN DETAIL
OCTOBER
Enrollment Ceremony: Saturday, October 2 and Sunday October 3
Keyword: Balance
First Friday, October 1 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus the Bread of Life
Lectio: Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:53-57)
Second Friday, October 8 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: What if? The Person of Christ
Vision: This night will introduce the Confirmation Program. The goal of this night is to have the teens understand that everything we believe hinges on the reality of Jesus as the Christ. He is the full and perfect revelation of God. Fully God and Fully Human, Jesus Christ demonstrates perfect balance. Without Christ nothing we profess or believe makes sense.
At a Glance: The challenge of this night is to create a sense of excitement about the person of Christ. This night uniquely presents the Incarnation as the central mystery of our Faith. It will show that everything we believe points to and flows from the reality that Jesus is God. The flow of this night will take some creativity to pull off. The night takes the teens through two different locations. The first location is a bare, dark room. A video will introduce how different our lives would be if Jesus was not God. After the video, a large group discussion will help the teens flesh out this idea. After a few moments of silence, the night will move to the second location. The second location restarts with the reality that Jesus is God. The teaching will focus on Jesus as the fullness of God’s revelation. The night will end with a time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Third Friday, October 15 – ISSUE NIGHT
Theme: Balance
Vision: The goal of this night is to have the teens understand the importance of balance: Physical, Mental AND Spiritual. Often, emphasis is placed only on the mental and the physical with little focus on the spiritual. Like the three legs of a stool, a person loses perspective and insight when the spiritual dimension of their humanity is neglected.
Fourth Friday, October 22 – SOCIAL
Theme: Family Feud
Vision: The goal for this Night is to build community with your teens.
At a Glance: This Night is framed in the Game Show Network, and the classic “Family Feud” Game Show. It is a unique night geared to bring the confirmandi closer together and get them connected in community. Much of the Night will be spent in small groups, challenging the teens to get to know each other and work together for a common purpose. The Night begins with some high-energy, fast-paced activities.. Following the small group initiatives in the Gather, the Night will move into small group projects.
NOVEMBER
Keyword: Identity
First Friday, November 5 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the Light of the World
Lectio: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ”No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 3-12)
Second Friday, November 12 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: Consumed by Grace
Vision: The goal for this night is to give teens a working understanding of grace as God’s free gift of Himself. This night will show the teens how grace is always at work in their lives. They will also see that we can DO nothing without God’s grace but we are called to actively receive God’s free gift.
At a Glance: This night looks at what grace is and how we are to actively receive and in turn be consumed by it. The entire night has a gumball theme. The night begins with a gum sculpture contest. The teaching is split into three different rotating sessions that will look specifically at sacramental, habitual, and actual grace. After the rotating sessions the teens will have the opportunity to name an area of his or her life that he or she needs God’s grace. The night will close with a time of worship to give thanks for God’s free gift of grace because without it we can do nothing. Finally we will look to Mary as our perfect example of what it means to be consumed by grace.
Third Friday, November 19 – ISSUE NIGHT
Theme: Self-Image
Vision: The goal of this night is to effectively communicate to teens that, as people of faith, we are defined by only one thing: God’s love for us. We are not to define ourselves or others based on power, prestige or possessions.
Fourth Friday, November 26 – SOCIAL
Theme: Casino Night
Vision: The goal of this Night is to have an enjoyable time with the teenagers by creating an environment to compete – just for fun – in casino style games.
At a Glance: This social Night will bring in tons of teenagers. Games like Texas Hold ’Em, Blackjack, and other casino style games are becoming ever more popular. Our intent with this Night is not to encourage gambling– it is simply to have fun. There will be no monetary betting but there will be small prizes. The teenagers will bet play money and will cash in their winnings for prizes at the end of the Night.
DECEMBER
Keyword: Commitment
First Friday, December 3 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the door. (John 10:9)
Lectio: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:7-10)
Second Friday, December 10 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: Faith as our response to Christ
Vision: This night is about our response to God’s free gift of Himself. Just as Jesus fully gave Himself to us, we are called to give completely of ourselves to God using the faith given to us in Baptism. This night will provide teens with the definition of faith and the role the Church plays in our faith.
At a Glance: This night focuses on the free gift of faith given to us in the waters of Baptism and the call to live out our faith with the Church as our guide. The night is set up as a whitewater river scene. The teens will compete in teams to build rafts out of materials they are given in a box. This competition sets up the teaching on faith as the river we travel to Christ with the Church as our guide on the river. A video featuring teens who have chosen to live out their faith and respond to Christ will be shown after the teaching and before small groups. The video will help lead into a small group discussion about where the teens stand in their own faith. The night will end with the renewal of Baptismal vows and each teen will receive a bottle of holy water.
Third Friday, December 17 – ISSUE NIGHT
Issue – School
JANUARY
Keyword: Service
First Friday, January 7 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the Good Shepherd
Lectio: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:11-16)
Second Friday, January 14 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: The Holy Spirit: Breath of Fresh Air
Vision: To connect the Holy Spirit to the everyday decisions that we make to either give life or take it away. To challenge teenagers to examine their actions and to unconditionally set the Holy Spirit in motion by putting others before themselves.
Night at a Glance:
This night is a collection of ideas designed for you and your CORE to create a Night specifically designed for your teens. This night is different than anything we have put out from LIFE TEEN and is intended to be manipulated to fit your parish. The night is an example of what a Night might look like before the finished product is given to the youth minister. Throughout the planning of this night, bullet points might inspire your creativity to go a different direction and bring the night together, please allow for that to happen. Have fun with the night and allow it to be a learning experience of the stages of Night development for you and your CORE.
Third Friday, January 21 – ISSUE NIGHT
Theme – Family
Fourth Friday, January 28 – SOCIAL
Theme: Once upon a time ball
Vision: To create an inter-generational experience by organizing and hosting a Senior Ball/Prom for senior citizens that invites all participants to a special night of dressing up, celebration and serving others where all can dance away misconceptions.
Night at a Glance:
It’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and don your finest party attire. This social Night is for youth and the aging young at heart. Celebrate the achievement and blessing of aging. Dance away misconceptions and bridge generations. Crown a King and Queen. The key to this night is warm hospitality and going all out for the senior guests.
FEBRUARY
Keyword: Passion
First Friday, February 4 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
Lectio: When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” (John 11:17-27)
Second Friday, February 11 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: Big Brother, Big Sister: Meeting the saints
Vision: The goal of this Night is to show the teens how they are a part of the communion of saints – our holy family of faith – and that God has placed a call to each and every one of them to pursue holiness and sainthood.
Night at a Glance: This Night is a great night in which the teenagers will realize the big brothers and big sisters that they truly have in the communion of saints. The Night starts with a crazy matching game where the teens will be asked to match the saint to what they are patron saint of. The teaching will lead into a time where the teenagers will choose a saint to adopt as their confirmation patron. They will move through three different stages in order to choose the saint that they most relate to. And finally, they will have time to pray together as a group that the Lord will move powerfully through their brokenness as He did through the lives of the saints.
Third Friday, February 18 – ISSUE NIGHT
Theme: Sexuality
Vision: The goal for this night is to help the teens understand God’s plan for sexuality and the need for chastity in thoughts, words and actions. This night will give the teens practical ways to be chaste and modest in all their relationships and live with purity of heart.
At a Glance: This Life Night lets the teens learn and discuss how the virtues of modesty and chastity are related to each other. The night begins as a “house divided” with a battle of the sexes game. The teaching looks at the roles of men and women and how God created each to be good. Combining video and personal sharing, the Proclaim of this night gives the teens the opportunity to rethink how they are called to reflect God in the world. The Break allows the guys and girls to ask the opposite sex why they do or don’t do certain things. The night ends by challenging the teens to take a stand for purity and place their sexuality under the intercession of St. Joseph and Mary.
Fourth Friday, February 25 – SOCIAL
Theme: Be My Valentine
Vision: The goal of this Night is to have a Valentine’s Day social to build community and fellowship. This night will also give a brief overview of St. Valentine and the virtue of charity.
At a Glance: There’s love in the air—must be Valentine’s Day. This is a social Night to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This Night is intentionally written to be very simple. Be sure to plan in advance and enlist help from parents and other volunteers. The Night begins with a brief explanation of St. Valentine and our call to the virtue of charity. The night continues with the movie Lady and the Tramp and a few games/activities on love. The night closes in prayer by praying for an increase of charity. The night closes in prayer by praying for an increase of charity.
MARCH
Keyword:
First Friday, March 4 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the Way, Truth and Life
Lectio: Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (John 14: 2-14)
Second Friday, March 11 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme: Hypocrites Welcome – the Humanity and Divinity of the Church
Vision: The goal of this night is to answer common objections to the Catholic faith. In particular, this night will deal with the holiness of the Church, despite the sin of its individual members, and the need for community.
At a Glance: Teens are often bombarded with objections to involvement in the Catholic Church such as: “they are all hypocrites,” “I don’t need Mass, I can just pray to God on my own” and “the Church claims to be one family but there is so much division.” This Night will help answer these objections. The first half of the Night is set as a trial. Here the teens will hear the objections and get a chance to discuss their opinions. A short teaching follows the trial. The night ends with the Good News that Christ came for sinners and hypocrites just like us, but He loves us too much to leave us there. Through a reflection on the prayer during the Penitential Rite, the teens will seek the forgiveness and the prayers of the community.
Third Friday, March 18 – ISSUE NIGHT
Theme: Dating
Fourth Friday, March 25 – SOCIAL
Theme: It’s a Jungle Out There
Vision: The goal of this night is to build community and have a great time. It’s really that simple.
Night at a Glance: This night is Double Dare meets “Where the Wild Things Are”. In this popular book, Max is sent to bed without dinner, and dreams that he is in the land of the wild things. He also dreams that he is the king of the wild things, and throws a big party. This night is how Max became king. The night is a team-based competition to become “King of the Wild Things.” If you do not remember or have never read the book, get your hands on it and possibly give it a read for more inspiration.
APRIL
Keyword: Vocation
First Friday, April 1 – ADORATION
Theme: Jesus, the True Vine
Lectio: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15: 1-17)
Second Friday, 8 – FAITH NIGHT
Theme – Go Fish – Discipleship and the Call to holiness
Vision: The goal for this night is to help teens hear God’s call to discipleship and holiness. This night will also help them understand what it means to be a follower of Christ through practical applications such as prayer and service.
At a Glance: This night brings the Paschal Mystery theme to a very practical level for the teens. This night is about the universal call to holiness and discipleship and how we are called to “drop our nets” and follow Christ on his terms, and not our own. The fish-themed night starts with a crazy, messy icebreaker. Then the teaching breaks discipleship down to three essential elements: call to holiness, conversion and prayer. The Break for the night will ask the teens to take an honest assessment of where they are at this point and then the small group discussion will be tailored to their answers. Finally, the Send calls on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us respond to the call of holiness.
Third Friday, April 15 – ISSUE NIGHT
Issue – Discernment
Fourth Friday, April 22 – SOCIAL
Theme: Mystery Dinner
Goal of the Night: This night is a fun night that will entertain and involve the teenagers in solving a mystery while enjoying dinner.
Night at a Glance: This social night is fun for the teens if done well. There are a number of characters in the skit, so invite some of the teenagers to play the roles, along with some Leaders who can “improvise and ham it up”. In the skit, the teens are served food. Your parish will decide the menu- with courses for appetizers, salad, main dish, and dessert. Attempt to involve the parent ministry or outside volunteers for cooking the food. Have fun with the night and strive for actors to be prepared ahead of time. Actors should try to memorize most, if not all, their lines.