SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

CONFIRMATION CLASS 2012

REQUIREMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Sunday and Holy Day Mass Attendance

The Mass and the Eucharist are the very center of our Catholic faith. The obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses and to avoid unnecessary work on those days is a responsibility for all Catholics. We expect all of our Confirmands to understand and accept the rule, which is based on the Third Commandment. In the United States the Holy Days of Obligation are:

            January 1                   Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (on Sunday in 2012)

            April 8                                    Easter Sunday

            May 17                       Ascension of the Lord **

            August 15                   Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

            November 1               Solemnity of All Saints

            December 8               Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

            December 25             Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Day – on Sunday in 2012)

** The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the following Sunday (May 20, 2012) in many dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Washington

Additionally, the Confirmation class will attend Mass together on the third Sunday of the month at the 5:30 Vigil Mass on Saturday evening. The dates are September 17, October 15, November 19, January 14, February 18, March 17 and April 14.  All Confirmands must be in their seats in the center section of the church by 5:15.

Retreats

There will be 3 retreats during the year that all Confirmands must attend (Grace Passes cannot be used for retreats): 1) Parent/Confirmand Retreat on Saturday, September 24 at 2:00pm, 2) Sponsor/Confirmand Retreat on Saturday, November 19 at 3:30pm and 3) Confirmand Retreat on Friday, March 23 from 4:30pm – 11:00pm.

Parent/Confirmand Retreat and Rite of Enrollment

There will be a Parent/Confirmand Retreat on Saturday, September 24 at 2:00pm.  The retreat will end with us all attending the 5:30 Mass. The retreat will include attending 5:30pm Mass and the Rite of Enrollment for the Confirmands and Parents (parents and students will be called as a group to stand around the altar after the homily for a special blessing). This retreat is required for all Confirmands and at least one of their parents.

Parents and Confirmands should come to the retreat in comfortable, casual dress but it also must be appropriate for Mass.

Sponsor/Confirmand Retreat

All Confirmands and their Sponsors are required to attend a retreat on Saturday, November 20 at 3:30pm.  The retreat will include attending 5:30pm Mass for the Confirmands and their Sponsors; parents are also encouraged to join us for Mass. The retreat is required for all Confirmands and their Sponsors.

The Sandwich Sunday Service Project will follow the 5:30pm Mass

Confirmand Retreat

All Confirmands are required to attend the Confirmation Retreat. It will be held on Friday, March 23 from 4:30pm to 11:00pm. It is a time of activity, reflections, and prayer directed toward the reception of Confirmation. The retreat is required for all Confirmands.

Faith Sharing Journey

Each student must complete a Faith Sharing Journey during the year.  Each month they will be asked to reflect on their faith in the areas of Worship, Knowledge and Service.  They will be required to write down their reflections by answering specific questions in these areas and hand them in each month.  The due dates are September 25, October 30, November 27, December 31, January 29, February 26 and March 25.  The completed Faith Sharing should be placed in the envelope on the Confirmation Bulletin Board (located in the CCD hall).

On the schedule each month there is a Tuesday evening “Faith Sharing Help Session.” The help session can be used if you need help on that month’s Faith Sharing.  If the Faith Sharing from the prior month has not been handed in, you will be required to attend the help session.  Also, if the Faith Sharing that was handed in was incomplete, you and/or your child will be notified and required to come to the help session.  The specific help session dates are: September 20, October 11, November 15, December 6, January 10, February 14, and March 13. If a student has not completed all of his/her Faith Sharing by the end of March, he/she will be required to stay after practices in April (from 7:15 to 8:00) until their Faith Sharing is complete.

Confirmation Interview

All students (along with at least one of their parents) should have had an interview with Father Barry and Mrs. Curtis at the end of May or beginning of June (please contact Mrs. Curtis if you have not had your interview yet).  There will be a second interview scheduled for students and their parents in April with Father Barry.

Trip to Shrine – November 11, 2011

Father Barry will be leading a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, November 11, 2011.  This is a day off for both Prince Georges County Public Schools and Saint Pius X Regional School. The pilgrimage is required for all students who have the day off from school

Sponsors

Historically, sponsors were those Christians who presented their friends as candidates for Christian Initiation. When infant Baptism came into practice, it was usually the parents who presented their children to the community, godparents being chosen in case the parents could not fulfill their responsibilities. According to the new Code of Canon Law, Baptismal godparents are preferred as Confirmation Sponsors because of the unity of Baptism and Confirmation. This assumes the godparents are practicing the Catholic Faith. However, other practicing Catholics may be chosen as Confirmation sponsors. The Confirmands will be required to write a letter to their sponsor detailing why they chose him or her and what will be expected of them as a sponsor during the upcoming year of preparation. The sponsor letter is due on September 25, 2011. Confirmation sponsors must be mature in their faith and at least 16 years old; this means that he/she must feel comfortable answering questions the Confirmand might have and sharing his/her faith.  The sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. A Parent may not be their child’s sponsor. All sponsors must have a form signed by their parish priest stating they are a Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church; if the sponsor is married, he or she must be in a valid marriage according to the Catholic Church. The sponsor certificate will be included in the letter to the sponsor and should be sent back to St. Edward’s by October 30, 2011.

Confirmation Fee

Each Confirmand will pay a fee of $40.00. This fee will cover the cost of Rental Confirmation Gowns and the Confirmation retreats. The fee is due on September 25, 2011.

Baptismal Certificates

Baptism is necessary before one can receive any other sacrament. Every Confirmand should know the Church in which they were baptized. All church records are kept at the church of Baptism. All Confirmands who were not baptized at St. Edward’s must submit a copy of their Baptismal Certificate by December 31, 2011.

Parent’s Participation

The participation of the parents in the Confirmation program is vital. It is important for you to set the example for your child as he or she takes on the responsibility of a Confirmed Catholic. The example of the parents’ prayer life and attitude toward Jesus Christ and His Church is the best teaching sons and daughters will ever have. Although it is the Confirmand’s responsibility to complete all requirements, it is the parents’ responsibility to assist by making sure all assignments are done one time and that his or her child is at each scheduled activity.

Additionally, we are requesting parent assistance in the following areas:

·         Help at the Sandwich Sunday Service Project

·         Chaperones and Drivers for the trip to the Shrine on November 11

·         Help coordinate the food for January 27 Reconciliation Reception

·         A parent or parents to help make phone calls to other parents when needed

Sacrament of Reconciliation

All students are required to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during both the seasons of Advent and Lent. We will be celebrating this sacrament during Religious Education classes in December and March. All Religious Education students are required to attend on both these dates. Catholic school students must also attend if they have not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation during school hours.

Saint Name and Saint Fair (October 25 and October 26)

A name identifies us and tells others who we are. Confirmands are asked to check into reasons for their baptismal name if they are not already aware of the reason. They may choose a new name as a sign of growth in faith. One may keep the baptismal name to emphasize the fact that Confirmation is a sealing of the Baptismal Commitment.

A saint research report will be required of each student; a written report is not necessary if all of the requirements are included in the Saint Fair visual display. All students will participate in the Saint Fair on Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26.  The requirements for the Saint Fair are on a separate sheet of paper in the student’s “red folder”.  Please note the following:

• Students who attend St. Pius X Regional School will do a written report in school (these reports will be given to me directly by their teacher at St. Pius).  This report does not substitute for the visual display for the Saint Fair.

• Students who attend Religious Education classes must submit a written report by Tuesday, October 25, 2011 only if all of the requirements are not included in their Saint Fair visual display.

We have an excellent set of Catholic Encyclopedias as well as books on the lives of the saints in the CCD office, or you may use the Public Library or Internet, using such sites as: www.catholiconline.org, http://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/indexsnt.htm, http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/byname.asp, http://www.theworkofgod.org/saints/

Letter to the Bishop

Confirmands are required to write a letter to the Bishop indicating a desire to receive, and reasons for wanting to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. It should be a statement of future commitment to study the faith and to advance the cause of Christ Jesus through His Church. Specific guidelines for the letter will be discussed and the letters will be written on Friday, February 24, 2012.

Christian Service Projects

·         Each Confirmands is required to give twenty (20) hours of individual service. Ten (10) of these hours must be done at St. Edward’s church or by participating in one of St. Edward’s ministries; the remaining ten (10) may be done at church or in the community.

·         All Confirmands must participate in a group project. This year our project will again be making sandwiches for Sandwich Sunday on the third Sunday of the month (see schedule for specific dates). This is required for all Confirmands.  All Confirmands must meet at 5:15 pm in the church and attend 5:30 mass together as a class. We will make sandwiches following Mass; the sandwiches are delivered to Martha’s Table in Washington D.C. These hours will not be counted toward the 20 hours of individual service.

Please review the attached sheet that details the Service Project program. All Confirmands and their parent must sign an agreement to complete a Service Project. Confirmands must hand in twelve (12) hours by December 31, 2011. The remaining eight (8) hours are due by March 25, 2012. Service hours are not considered complete until they are handed in and recorded by Mrs. Curtis.

Grace Passes

All of the above activities are required for all Confirmands.  However, there are times when family or other obligations can prevent a Confirmand from attending a scheduled activity.  Therefore, each Confirmand will be given 2 Grace Passes to be used during the year:

Ø  In order to use this pass, a parent or student must call Mrs. Curtis prior to the event.  Once a student uses 2 passes, it is expected that he/she will be at every scheduled activity.  This includes Sandwich Sunday and Class Meetings. 

Ø  Grace Passes cannot be used for the Parent/Confirmand Retreat in September, the Sponsor/Confirmand Retreat in November, the Student Confirmation Retreat in March or Confirmation Rehearsals in April. 

Ø  A Confirmand does not have to use a Grace Pass if he/she is ill or there is a family emergency.  It is expected, however, that a parent or student call Mrs. Curtis in advance to let her know that the Confirmand will not be at the scheduled activity.

Communications

·         Bulletin Board - There will be a bulletin board in the Religious Education Hall on which will be posted service hour opportunities, reminders of upcoming events and requirement due dates and other announcements. There will also be a folder for all Confirmands to submit their service hour documentation and other required paperwork.  Put all of your completed work in this envelope; do not hand it to anyone or put it on the desk or anywhere in Mrs. Curtis’ office.

·       E-MAIL – E-mail will be another avenue of communications.  Reminders, service hour opportunities and updates will be sent via e-mail.  Please send Mrs. Curtis your e-mail address if she doesn’t already have it (it should be the parent’s e-mail, not the student’s).  You may also e-email Mrs. Curtis at any time at mcurtis@stedwardbowie.org.

·         Web-Site – The schedule, requirements and Faith Sharing are all posted on the St. Edward’s web site - www.stedwardbowie.org.

Lenten and Easter Triduum Requirements

·         All Confirmands will be attending Stations of the Cross together during our meeting on Friday, February 24

·         All Confirmands must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

·         All Confirmands should make every effort to participate in the Easter Triduum, which consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (April 5 – April 7).  This is the holiest time of the year for our Church.  The services on these days are rich in the traditions of our faith.  We will discuss with the Confirmands how they can fully participate in the Triduum during the class meeting on February 24.

Confirmation Date and Rehearsals

Confirmation will be on Monday, April 30, 2012 at 7:00pm.  Bishop Knestout will preside at the Mass and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

The following are the dates Confirmation rehearsals

Ø  The student only rehearsals are on the following Tuesdays: April 10, April 17 and April 24 from 6:00pm – 7:15pm.  These rehearsals are required for all students. 

Ø  A Confirmand/Sponsor Rehearsal will be held on Sunday, April 29 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.    The Confirmands and their sponsor or sponsor representative must attend the rehearsal.

Sports and recreational activities are not an excused absence from the rehearsals.

Confirmation Dress Code

The Confirmands will be wearing robes. The dress code under their robes is as follows:

Boys    Dress Slacks

            Dress Shirt/Tie

            Dress Shoes

If they have a Sports/Suit Jacket, they should leave it with their parent

as it would be too hot under the robe.

Girls    Dress or skirt (any color) of an appropriate length for church

            Dress Shoes

            If nail polish is worn, it should be a subdued or pastel color

NO SNEAKERS

The sponsors should also be appropriately dressed, since in their role they are an official representative of the Church. Men should wear Dress Shirt/Tie and Jacket. Women should wear a skirt or dress of appropriate length or a dress pants suit.

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