Dear Parents of Confirmation Candidates,

Transcription

1 Dear Parents of Confirmation Candidates, What an exciting year this will be for you and your family! In a few short months, your child/children will receive the sacrament of Confirmation! Fr. Zlock, the Confirmation preparation teachers, and I look forward to sharing in your child s Confirmation Day. Please carefully review these instructions before completing the forms and cover of the Confirmation packet: 1. Read and review the entire Confirmation packet before proceeding. 2. Candidates are reminded that their Candidate Letter to Father Zlock is due on or before November 22 nd. This requirement was set forth in the letter from the Religious Education Office dated September 17, Please remember NOT to put these letters into envelopes. Religious Education students can deliver their letters to their Religious Education Catechist. All other candidates can drop off their letters to the Religious Education Office located in the rectory. 3. First, request the sponsor s Letter or Certificate of Eligibility. The chosen sponsor should request this of his or her own pastor. Without this letter or certificate, the chosen sponsor can not serve as the candidate s sponsor. (Even if the sponsor is a St. Monica Parishioner, a Letter or Certificate of Eligibility is available online at Click on Parish Organization, Religious Education, Sacramental Information) If for any reason a chosen sponsor is not permitted to serve as a sponsor, there is sufficient time to choose a new sponsor and obtain the required letter/certificate. 4. Next, locate your child s Baptismal certificate in your file. A copy of the original Baptismal certificate is acceptable. If you do not have the original or a copy of the Baptismal certificate, a new copy can be obtained by calling the rectory of the parish where the sacrament of Baptism was administered. **Candidates baptized at St. Monica Parish: These candidates do not need to include the Baptismal certificate in the packet. The Religious Education Office staff will verify this information. 5. Please write the complete name of the saint that your child has selected. For example: If your child has selected St. Francis, please indicate St. Francis of Assisi or St. Francis de Sales. 6. Love Letters for the candidate by family members are very much encouraged. The letter from the sponsor is mandatory. Any letters received after January 13 th cannot be guaranteed to be received by the candidate during the Retreat on March 28 st. Please make every effort to enclose ALL letters to candidate in the Confirmation packet. 1

2 7. Do not submit the Confirmation packet to the Religious Education Office unless all of the forms requested are completed and enclosed in the packet. Incomplete packets will be returned to the candidate and eligibility to receive the sacrament in April could become jeopardized. Completed Confirmation packets will gladly be accepted prior to January 13 th. 8. REMINDER: Confirmation Candidates and their sponsor or parent are required to attend a Mandatory brief rehearsal of the Confirmation liturgy on Sunday, April 6 th immediately following the 11:00 Mass. Sponsors and candidates are encouraged to attend mass together and stay for the rehearsal. Thank you for assisting and supporting your child. Thank you also for your careful attention to these directives. Sincerely, Mary Pizzano Director of Faith Formation mpizzano@saintmonicachurch.org

3 CONFIRMATION INFORMATION Important Dates Monday, January 13, Confirmation packet due* Friday, March 28, 2014 (9am to 3pm) - Confirmation Retreat* at the Malvern Retreat House Sunday, April 6, :00 Mass and Rehearsal (Attendance at Mass is encouraged but not mandatory; the rehearsal is mandatory) Thursday, May 1, 2014 (4:00 p.m.) - Confirmation Day Bishop John J. McIntyre, Presider *Mandatory The Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation is a sacrament through which we receive the Holy Spirit to make us stronger and more perfect Christians and true witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a sacrament of our initiation which began in Baptism and continues in the Eucharist. As the candidates come forward to be confirmed, they profess their faith in the Catholic Church. The candidate personally takes on the responsibility for continuing their own religious journey by regularly participating in Sunday Mass, by continuing their spiritual formation within the Church community, by serving others needs, and by spreading and defending the faith in word and deed. The period of Confirmation preparation builds on the candidate s faith foundation, encourages community building, and helps the candidate to make good life decisions. Expectations of Confirmation Candidates Must have been baptized in Roman Catholic faith Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days in accordance with our Catholic tradition Regularly participate in the Sacrament of Eucharist and Reconciliation Achieve a deeper knowledge of what Catholics believe by studying the information provided and participating in group discussions and activities Complete all areas of the preparation process as outlined in the Confirmation packet Make a mature decision to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation 3

4 Sponsors The sponsor s role is to help the candidate fulfill the baptismal promises made at the time of Baptism. He or she has the responsibility to set a good, Catholic example. The godparent, who initially accepted this responsibility, is the ideal choice as a sponsor. The sponsor is expected to be present in the candidate s life. One of the primary roles of the sponsor is to answer questions that the candidate might have and to help the candidate explore our Catholic faith through the sponsor s own faith experiences. *The sponsor must have a letter of eligibility from his/her pastor. Sponsors who are members of St. Monica Parish must also present a letter of eligibility. These letters of eligibility are available on the St. Monica website. Please click on Parish Organizations, Religious Education, Sacramental Information for the letters of eligibility. Criteria for Sponsors 1. A person who is practicing faith-filled Roman Catholic adult. 2. A person who is able to relate in friendship to a teenager and is a good listener. 3. A person who is willing to share his or her own experience of faith. 4. Sponsors must be fully initiated Catholics, that is, they must have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Preferably, the baptismal sponsor should be the Confirmation sponsor whenever possible. 5. A sponsor must be at least sixteen years old. N.B. Parents may not be sponsors for their sons and daughters. Choosing a Confirmation Name For Confirmation, the candidate may keep his/her baptismal name to complete the baptismal grace. A new name may also be chosen in honor or inspiration of a saint. Confirmation Interviews Fr. Zlock will be interviewing each candidate prior to the reception of the sacrament to assess readiness to receive the sacrament. Each interview will take approximately 10 minutes. Candidates are asked to be prompt for their interview. Scheduling for the interviews will take place in the near future. Confirmation Retreat Day for candidates only (Mandatory Friday, March 28, 2014) The Confirmation Retreat will be held at the Malvern Retreat House from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. More details will be forthcoming as the date approaches. The Retreat will consist of attendance at Mass, various activities, reflection time, a prayer service, (Sponsors do not attend) lunch will be provided. Attendance at Retreat Day activities is considered an excused absence for public school students if the Release Letter to Superintendent is received, via the Confirmation packet, by January 13, On the enclosed Release Letter (Page 7), please write in your name, address, date and signature and return it in the Confirmation packet. The letters are mailed together directly to the Superintendent s office by Mary Pizzano in advance of the retreat. Parents of students in the local catholic schools and academies are responsible to inform your school principal of your child s participation at his or her retreat. 4

5 Confirmation Rehearsal Mandatory Sunday, April 6 th 2014 Confirmation Candidates and their sponsor or parent are required to attend a brief rehearsal of the confirmation liturgy on Sunday, April 6 th immediately following the 11:00 mass. Sponsors and candidates are encouraged to attend Mass together and stay for the rehearsal. Sacrament Fee The Confirmation fee is $ The fee helps to cover the cost of: The Confirmation robe Confirmation textbooks Certificates Retreat Day facilities, materials, lunch and snacks Sacrament Saturday speakers and materials Gift to the bishop, etc. Checks should be made payable to Saint Monica Church. Please include payment of this fee in the Confirmation packet. *For families with two sacramental candidates a discounted fee of $100 will cover the cost of both sacrament fees. Works of Mercy (Service Hours) Each Confirmation candidate is strongly encouraged to perform Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy (Service) in the parish and/or community in response to our call to service as Catholics. Through serving others, we learn lessons and put our lives into perspective. You have many talents and time that can be used to benefit those that are less fortunate. The Corporal Works of Mercy Feed the hungry Give drink to the thirsty Clothe the naked Shelter the homeless Visit the sick Visit the imprisoned Bury the dead The Spiritual Works of Mercy Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant (This and the next work are extremely pertinent categories today, when so many people are confused by what the Church teaches on contraception, abortion, homosexuality, etc.) Counsel the doubtful Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the dead 5

6 Providing Works of Mercy to Others When giving service, the following points should be considered: - Your service is not just a job well done. It is selflessly and lovingly helping those in need. - You should reflect on how your service project is helping you take on the mind and heart of Christ, fulfill the needs of others, and build up the Christian community. The giving of service should continue after Confirmation and all through your life. Monetary gifts cannot be accepted for service. Suggested Works of Mercy Find out what your parish or school organizations are doing. Join in on one of their projects or help in one or more of the following ways: - Become involved in one of the projects sponsored by the St. Monica Outreach Program - Help at a food kitchen/shelter - Collect food and clothing for the poor or for Birthright - Bring books or tapes from the library for the elderly - Organize a yard sale or raffle to raise money for the missions or other organizations - Offer to baby sit free of charge for parents attending Mass or church activities - Rake leaves, run errands, wash windows, etc. for infirmed or elderly neighbors - Volunteer to assist at Special Olympic activities in the community - Spend time playing with a handicapped child - Read or help a young child with assignments - Collect and wrap loose pennies from family and donate the money to a charity Please call Mary Pizzano at if you need additional suggestions. Please complete the Description of Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy (Service) sheet (Page 6) in the Confirmation Packet (Due: January 13, 2014) Saint Project Candidates are required to complete a one page research paper on the saint whose name they have chosen. Names of saints are chosen to serve as patrons and models for those being confirmed. Candidates are encouraged to choose a saint s name as the Confirmation name, not because of the attractiveness of the name, but because of the attractiveness of the Christian life that the person led. The chosen name for Confirmation is the same name which the candidate researches for the Saint Project. If the candidate has not chosen a saint s name, research should be completed on his/her Baptismal name. Requirements for Saint Project: Cover of Project: Due: Includes name of Saint researched and candidate s name January 13, 2014 (to be returned with the Confirmation packet materials) 6

7 Information about saint should include: - Family life of saint - Occupation of saint - Life and/or death of saint - Feast Day - Virtues practiced by saint - Candidate s reason for choosing this saint - Characteristics of saint that inspire the candidate Personal Reflection Each Confirmation candidate is also required to write a Personal Reflection. The Personal Reflection should include: service performed and describe how performing the service affected the candidate the saint name chosen and reason for choosing it reflect about your sponsor, the candidate s relationship to the sponsor and the reason why the sponsor was chosen. This reflection should be included in the Confirmation packet when handed in on January 13,

8 Description of Works of Mercy (Service) I,, have completed the following Spiritual and/or Corporal Works of Mercy (Service) in God s name without payment of any kind. Activity Hours 8

9 RELEASE LETTER TO SUPERINTENDENT Parent name and address: Date: Dear Superintendent Waters, Under section 1546 of the Public School Code, as amended by Act 175, I hereby request that my child/children,, Name(s) currently enrolled at, Name of School be excused from classes on Friday, March 28, My child/children will be receiving religious instruction on the grounds of the Malvern Retreat House, Malvern, PA. The instruction will begin at 9:00 a.m. and is expected to end at 3:00 p.m. I appreciate the excused release of my child/children and understand that he/she/they will be given ample opportunity to make up any missed class work and/or assignments. Mary C. Pizzano, Director of Religious Education at St. Monica Parish will confirm my child s attendance at the program, if needed. Respectfully, Parent Signature 9

10 Dear Parents/Guardians, Sponsor Information Please complete the form below and return it in the Confirmation packet, on or before January 13, *Sponsor must be 16 years of age or older Thank you for your assistance. Sponsor Information Please print clearly. Confirmation Candidate s Name: Confirmation Candidate s Phone Number: Sponsor s Name: Age: Sponsor s Address: Sponsor s Phone Number: Sponsor s Address: Sponsor s Parish: Parish Address: 10

11 Sponsor Letter for Retreat Day Dear Sponsor, On Friday, March 28, 2014, the Confirmation candidates of St. Monica Parish will gather to celebrate the Holy Spirit in their lives at their retreat. Among the day s various activities, the candidates will reflect on the love and support of those they know. We would like to surprise each candidate with a love letter of encouragement from you, their sponsor. As their sponsor, you are a model and inspiration to the child who has chosen you as the sponsor. Your message, if written from the heart, can have a great impact on the life of the candidate. Here are a few topic suggestions for your letter: Your pride in the candidate for his/her preparation for Confirmation the extra study effort, their service, and attention to prayer. How special/unique the candidate is and why. How he/she has brought love and joy to the family and others. Encourage the candidate to come to you in times of pain, discouragement, failure. Speak about these times in your own life. Encourage the candidate to always strive to grow in his/her relationship with God and to live a moral, responsible life as a fully initiated Catholic. Describe how the Holy Spirit has touched your life. Please place your letter in a sealed envelope marked with the candidate s first and last name. Letters from parents and siblings and others close to the candidate are welcome and strongly encouraged. (All letters can be sealed together in a larger envelope). PLEASE WRITE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING YOUR LOVE LETTER. The letters should be included as part of the Confirmation packet to be handed in by the candidate you are sponsoring. The packet, (which includes your enclosed Love Letter ), is due January 13, Thank you for your assistance in making your candidate s Retreat Day both a spiritual and memorable experience. Sincerely, Mary Pizzano Director of Faith Formation mpizzano@saintmonicachurch.org

12 Sponsor s Responsibilities You will be called to participate in some or all of the following duties: - Attend mass and the Confirmation rehearsal with your candidate if possible, on Sunday, April 6 th at 11:00 a.m. - Regularly communicate with your candidate throughout the entire process. - Commit yourself to daily prayer for your candidate. - Meet privately with and help your candidate on his or her faith journey. - Be willing to contact a member of the Confirmation team if you have any questions or concerns. - Write a brief letter to your candidate which outlines your candidate s talents or gifts. This letter should also pledge your continued prayer and support. - Join with the parish and your candidate in celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation. - Continue as support to the newly confirmed person as he or she discovers more and more about the treasury of his or her own faith along the way. Sponsor s Prayer Welcoming the Lord, stand by me. favor me with insight into hearts hungry for welcome, with hospitality to accept and respect the gifts they bear, with generosity to share my gifts, with faith to share the gift that is You. Fill me with your powerful Spirit that I might lead, guide, sponsor, and support. Speak your living Word to me and to the one I sponsor along the way. When I don t know what to say, Keep me quiet, Lord. Let your Spirit do the talking. Amen 12

13 Sponsor Dates and Times to Remember! Please take the time to read over the page entitled, Sponsor s Letter for Retreat Day, (page 9), as some of the directives apply to immediate family members, as well as the sponsor. Thank You! Important Dates Monday, January 13, 2014 Friday, March 28, :00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 6, :00 a.m. Mass followed by Thursday, May 1, :00 p.m. - Confirmation packet due* - Confirmation Retreat* (Candidate Only) - Confirmation Rehearsal** - Confirmation Day *Mandatory **Mandatory for candidate accompanied by a parent or sponsor Candidates and sponsors are asked to arrive in the auditorium no later than 2:50 p.m. on Confirmation Day. 13

14 *Optional T-shirt design contest for all Confirmation candidates! (See Below for Contest Details) Theme: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit T-Shirt Order and Contest Design Entry deadline: January 13, 2014 Design the front of a T-shirt for yourself and fellow candidates! The T-shirts will be distributed and worn on Confirmation Retreat Day - March 28, 2014 Include on entry: Confirmation 2014 and art work/symbols relating to the theme AND Saint Monica Church, Berwyn, Pennsylvania Candidates, please put your FULL name on the back of your 8 ½ X 11 entry. *The t-shirts are free for each candidate! Order your T-shirt today using the form below. The deadline for all orders is January T-SHIRT ORDER FORM (deadline January 14, 2013) Candidate s Name : Telephone Number: T-shirt size (circle one) ADULT SIZES ONLY! Small Medium Large X-Large Parent Signature Please enclose this order form in the Confirmation Packet. 14

15 THE CHURCH OF SAINT MONICA 635 FIRST AVENUE, BERWYN PENNSYLVANIA Confirmation: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. (This Packet is due in its entirety on January 13, 2014) PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY: Candidate s Name: As you would like it to appear on Sacrament Certificate Chosen Confirmation Name Address: Street City State/Zip Code Home Telephone # School Date of Birth: City/State of Birth: Date of Baptism: / / Church of Baptism: Month/Day/Year Name of Church City State/Zip Code Mother s Full Name (include maiden name): Father s Full Name: Parents Address: Sponsor s Name: Sponsor is 16 yrs. of Age or Older? Sponsor s *ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MUST BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THIS PACKET: Check off when completed. Sponsor s letter of eligibility from sponsor s pastor T-Shirt Order Form (required)/t-shirt Contest (Including St. Monica Parishioners) required Sponsor s personal letter to candidate (required) Confirmation fee $75 *deduct $15 if you use a sibling s robe (Place in sealed envelope, marked with candidate s first & last name) Personal letters from friends & family (optional) Saint Report Baptismal certificate if baptized outside of St. Monica Parish Release Letter to Superintendent *with your signature (public school students only) Candidate s Height: ft in. Weight: Personal Reflection (necessary for robe sizing) Description of Service Form Sponsor Information Form *Families with children making Confirmation and First Holy Communion pay a reduced rate of $100 for both fees Office Use Only: Batch # Check # Amount