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Your Child’s Confirmation

Understand the significance of Confirmation in the Catholic faith journey and the continuous renewal of baptismal vows. Explore the sacramental grace and responsibilities involved. Your role as a parent or godparent in nurturing faith.

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Your Child’s Confirmation

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  1. Your Child’s Confirmation Parent Formation St. Veronica Parish November 2018

  2. Prayer “All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord.” -Rite of Confirmation 25

  3. What is Confirmation really? • Not something we get • It is a reality we celebrate • It reaffirms what has already been celebrated • At Baptism

  4. The presence of God in our lives so that we can live the life of God in the world… with all its rewards and demands.

  5. Baptism, and therefore Confirmation, are not once and for all sacraments.  We are baptized and confirmed everyday of our lives.

  6. Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

  7. The celebrant speaks to the parents in these or similar words:You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? At Baptism

  8. The celebrant speaks to the parents and godparents:Dear parents and godparents: You have come here to present these children for baptism. By water and the Holy Spirit they are to receive the gift of new life from God, who is love.

  9. On your part, you must make it your constant care to bring them up in the practice of the faith. See that the divine life which God gives them is kept safe from the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in their hearts.

  10. If your faith makes you ready to accept this responsibility, renew now your vows of your own baptism. Reject sin; profess your faith in Christ Jesus. This is the faith of the Church. This is the faith in which your child is about to be baptized.

  11. At Confirmation • The Bishop says, “You have already been baptized into Christ and now you will receive the power of his Spirit and the sign of the cross on your forehead. You must be witnesses, before all the world to his suffering, death, and resurrection; your way of life should at all times reflect the goodness of Christ” • “Be active members of the Church, alive in Jesus Christ. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit give your lives completely in the service of all as did Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

  12. Our baptismal promises…Do you believe…? • In God – the Father - and that you are not God? • That means your life has purpose, but you are not the one who assigns it. • In Jesus – the Son – and that you are wonderful in God’s sight? • That means God has chosen to be one along with you and that means everything! • In the Holy Spirit and the Church – and that God exists in relationship? • That means God is not foremost experienced in you or me, but in us. • Community.

  13. What happens in Confirmation? • In Confirmation the soul of the baptized Christian is imprinted with a permanent seal that can be received only once and marks the individual forever as a Christian. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the strength from above. . . in which this individual puts the grace of his Baptism into practice through his life and acts as a “witness” for Christ. [CCC 1302-1305, 1317] YOUCAT 205

  14. THE INDWELLING PRESENCE There is nothing you can do to lose the Holy Spirit; the most you can do, as Ephesians cleverly says, is to “grieve” the existing Presence that is “sealed” within you (4:30). You can, therefore, be totally ignorant of your “birthright” and your adoption as sons and daughters of God. You can neglect the gift, and thus not enjoy its wonderful fruits.  But there is nothing you can do to “get” the Holy Spirit either. Why? Because it comes with the product! All you can do is fan the gift into flame that inherently lies within you, and within everything that God has created. Richard Rohr, OFM Adapted from The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, p. 21

  15. The Confirmation ministry All sacraments are about a faith relationship with God. Gifts of grace on the journey of faith. FOCUS: Scripture – know Christ, be His disciples (study the Master), and model ourselves after Him. Foundations of Faith – what has been passed on by Jesus and the apostles, and on and on. Creed, beliefs and practices, traditions, etc. Liturgical Life – our sacred events and seasons, Eucharist as our Source and Summit, calendar of saints and role models for living the faith. Growing as Disciples on a Mission in the Church – contributors to the life of the Church and the benefit of society. Begin to see ourselves as servants in a servant Church.

  16. Just the beginning… An ongoing process of being persons of faith, growing in understanding of our beliefs, and practicing the faith. Our young people are not a finished product, just as we are not. Need support and guidance. We are all part of helping to carry them a step farther on the journey of faith. Rely on God’s grace, and each other (parents and teachers), the good will of the Church community and the faith life lived at home and in society.

  17. How parents can help their child celebrate the fullness of Confirmation. Living, Teaching, Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ

  18. What is your wish?

  19. Teens were asked: “If you could change anything about your family situation, what would it be?”

  20. “To become closer to my parents.” Teens were then asked: “Why aren’t you close to them? “I don’t know how to do it.” Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers,

  21. Two of three teens and three of four parents say they would be willing to give up a weeknight activity if it meant they could have dinner with their family. (CASA, 9/2009)

  22. How do you feel about your family time at home? • Only 34 percent of North American families eat one meal together each day. • The average father spends eight minutes per day with his children (includes meals and TV). • Parents spend fewer than 3 minutes of non-directive communication with children per day.

  23. How do you feel about your family time at home? • Only 12 percent of families pray together. • The average couple spends only four minutes of uninterrupted time together a day. Source: “Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium,” by Alvin Reid

  24. The Church speaks… • “The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute." (CCC 2221). • “Parents are the most influential agents of catechesis for their children.” (NDC 234) • “…the Christian Community must help [parents] assume their responsibility of educating their children in faith.”(GDC 227).

  25. “The single most important influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.” In fact…

  26. PMS - Parents Matter Supremely • Parents still have the most powerful and long-lasting impact on the faith of their children. • Family Faith Conversations • Family Rituals and Devotions • Family Outreach and Service • Best way to ensure teens will have faith? Parents will… • Know their faith. • Share their faith. • Live their faith. • We’ll get what we are. • The best social predictor, though not a guarantee, of what the religious and spiritual lives on youth will look like is… what the religious and spiritual lives of their parents DO look like. (NSYR – Soul Searching)

  27. 2. In terms of positive life outcomes, highly religious young people appear to be doing: Better than, worse than, or about the same as other teenagers?

  28. 2. In terms of positive life outcomes, highly religious young people appear to be doing: Better than other teenagers.

  29. “…religious faith and practice themselves exert significant, positive, direct, and indirect influenceson the lives of teenagers, helping to foster healthier, more engaged adolescents who live more constructive and promising lives.” Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, p 263

  30. More = More “The greater the availability of religiously based relationships, activities, programs, opportunities and challenges for teenagers… …the more likely teenagers are to be religiously engaged and invested.” Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers

  31. Consider the possibilities… Youth who have participated in at least one retreat, rally, conference or mission trip report: ✔being significantly closer to God; ✔ that religion helps shape their daily lives; ✔reading the Bible more often.

  32. YET…71% of junior high youth, and 61% of high school youth have NEVERattended a religious retreat, rally, conference or mission trip.

  33. More = More “The more they attend Sunday worship and participate in religious activities and groups, the more they make religious practices their own, but most do not participate.”

  34. In most variables measuring religiosity, the Catholic Church in comparison to other Christian churches was: Better than, worse than, or about the same as all others?

  35. In most variables measuring religiosity, the Catholic Church in comparison to other Christian churches was: Worse than all others.

  36. Our NSYR Report Card • Mormon youth are faring best, followed by… • Conservative Protestant • Black Protestant • Mainline Protestant • Catholic • Jewish • Non-religious Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers,

  37. “…Catholic teenagers stand out among the U.S. Christian teenagers as consistently scoring lower on most measures of religiosity… 5 to 25 points lower.” Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, p 194

  38. Why are Catholics doing poorly? • Upward mobility and mainstream acculturation • Catholic school and CCD/religious education are no longer primary • Catholic teens reflect their parents’ relative religious laxity You can’t give what you do not have.

  39. Why the difference? Those religious groups that have historically relied heavily on parents and family to transmit faith, and the church to “mission” it, appear to be doing better (e.g., Mormons).

  40. Why the difference? Many/most Catholics have been shaped differently, to delegate this responsibility to others: teachers, catechists, schools, priests, nuns, etc.

  41. Good News The Church wants to be our partner and is working towards providing opportunities for living authentic faith. Service & Outreach, Inviting and Sharing Faith, Building community through Small Groups, Serving in ministry and mission (Ministry in the parish, Mission outside the parish.

  42. Bad News Faith, religion, church, prayer, religious education, service, Mass, Sacraments, etc. have been “demoted” in our busy lives and in the larger culture.

  43. What are the 5 Keys to Strong Families & Strong Youth?

  44. The 5 Keys • Live the faithyou want to pass on: At home, during the week, live, model & talk about your faith. • Make faith a top family priority (see “Family Faith Inventory”).

  45. The 5 Keys • “Gatekeep” your kids’ activities & time - Where your heart is... • Support one another & build inter-family networks of faith and life support. • Let the Church be your partner.

  46. Create a Household of Faith • Homes of Study/Formation – Parents lead • Called to a life of discipleship – • Learning the way of the Master. • Support lifelong faith formation • Expect to Pass It On • Family Faith Stories – connecting faith, forgiveness, suffering, grace, etc.

  47. Households of Faith • Family and Community • Make Meal Time Sacred • Share Cross Moments • Choose Wisely – top two memories (love and time) • Model God’s Love and Forgiveness • Connect with Other Parents to support one another in the faith – Moms 2.0, Small Church Communities, Wednesday Café, Lenten Retreat, Parish Mission, FORMED.org, Bible Study • Decorate Your Home with Faith Images

  48. Households of Faith • Homes of Prayer • Pray on your own • Pray together • Attend Sunday Mass weekly as a family • Offer daily blessings • Pray before meals when you eat out • Seize the seasons and be creative

  49. Household of Faith • Homes of Justice and Service • Serve together • Reach beyond the parish • Embrace times of suffering, loss, and death • Teach the difference between wants and needs • In Family Discussions – use a Catholic Lens

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