ICC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

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1 ICC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CONFIRMATION PROGRAM Immaculate Conception Parish offers a comprehensive approach for high school faith formation and preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a 2 year process for public high school teens and is typically completed in the 9th and 10th grades. Candidates are eligible for presentation for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the fall of the 11th grade. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: All Confirmation candidates are expected to have received continuous religious education up to this point. Typically, teens attend a mandatory night of Religious Education on consecutive Sundays from 5:00 to 7:30pm and on occasion may also attend a Saturday educational day (specific dates TBD). This is the religious education program for the Sacrament of Confirmation. OTHER ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS: Mass is the source and summit of living the Catholic Faith. Regular attendance at mass on Sunday and Holy Days is expected. To enter more deeply into the Gospel message teens will turn in 8 Mass Reflection Sheets per year; a downloadable form is available on our website. In addition, public high school teens will, 1. Attend 1 retreat each year of preparation, 2. Participate in mission-service opportunities that fulfill the Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy, 3. Select and attend 1-2 enrichment opportunities per year, AND, 4. Attend the 1 full-day Confirmation Preparation Workshop (in grade 10 or year 2 of participation) ALL of these components will be fulfilled through parish sponsored programs and offerings. Opportunities for satisfying each component are described below. 1. RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES: Public school teens will attend 1 retreat each year. Several retreat options are available and include, but are not limited to the following (an additional cost is typically associated with each retreat), Immaculate Conception High School Retreat - IC will offer one in-house retreat per year for 9th and 10th grade each. Specific retreat dates will be included in parent packet on info night. NET (National Evangelistic Team) Retreat - the NET retreat will be offered at nearby parishes in Oct. or Nov. This is typically a 1-day retreat. The NET retreat is facilitated by a group of college aged adults trained in retreat work & youth ministry, who travel all over the U.S. bringing Christ to youth through a variety of methods, including skits, games, fun, discussions & personal sharing. Specific retreat details will be ed upon request to parents of teens enrolled in our H.S. program. For more information please visit: NH Catholic Youthfest - Youthfest is an annual, day-long retreat (9am to 6:30 pm) led by a committee of clergy & lay individuals who have a passion for the Catholic youth of our area. It typically takes place at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH the 1st Sat. in May. Youthfest began in 2004 as a small gathering & has steadily expanded in size, outreach & attendance to Catholic youth in NH and beyond. Over the years, thousands of area youth have been evangelized & catechized in their Catholic faith through sacraments, speakers, workshops, music and more. For more information please visit: http: //nhyouthfest.com Steubenville East Youth Conference - This is an overnight, weekend retreat (Fri. - Sun.) that takes place each year in July. It is co-sponsored by Franciscan University & Life Teen, Inc. This retreat offers a weekend of inspiring music, challenging talks & powerful liturgies. Teens journey into the reality of Christ s redemption & what it means for their lives today! Each year presents a different theme & offers a host of dynamic & popular speakers. Teens can participate in fundraising opportunities & apply for parish subsidy to help defray the total cost. For more information visit: Miscellaneous Retreats - Watch the bulletin and your s for any additional retreat offerings that would satisfy the high school retreat requirement. Public H.S. Welcome: Page 1 of 2

2 ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS: (CONT D) MISSION-SERVICE PROJECTS - All teens enrolled in our High School Religious Education program will participate in at least one mission-service project per year of enrollment. Participation IS NOT quantified by the number of hours completed, but rather, by the level of commitment given and good of the community served. The hope is that by making a commitment to serve and seeing it through to completion, teens will gain a practical understanding of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. All Mission/Service should fit into what we call Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. These reflect the way in which Christ calls us to serve God and care for the spiritual and physical needs of others. They express mercy, and are thus expected to be performed by believers insofar as they are able, in accordance with the Beatitude, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). These acts help us to keep the two greatest commandments: Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 25:34-45) The Corporal Works of Mercy (tend to bodily or physical needs) 1. Feed the hungry 5. Visit the sick 2. Give drink to the thirsty 6. Visit the imprisoned 3. Clothe the naked 7. Bury the dead 4. Shelter the homeless Examples: visiting the elderly, sick or homebound; helping the elderly with chores or errands; volunteering at a soup kitchen, food pantry or homeless shelter; initiating fundraising for a soup kitchen, food pantry or homeless shelter; organizing collections or improvements to benefit a shelter or other community service organization, assisting with fellowship programs at the parish. The Spiritual Works of Mercy (tend to spiritual needs) 1. Help the sinner 5. Bear wrongs patiently 2. Instruct the ignorant 6. Forgive all injuries 3. Counsel the doubtful 7. Pray for the living and the dead 4. Comfort the sorrowful Not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first 3 spiritual works of mercy if they do not have proper tact, knowledge or training to do so. The last 4 are considered to be the obligation of all people without condition. Examples: forming a prayer group; helping with the religious education programs at our parish; volunteering in actions that would improve people s comfort or ability to worship such as planting a prayer garden or cleaning the church; helping with the worship environment at church; volunteering at the religious education or parish office; sharing your skills by mentoring or tutoring younger children for the sole purpose of serving as a Christian role model. 3. CONFIRMATION PREPARATION WORKSHOP - All high school teens (grade 10 & up) who are eligible to be presented for the Sacrament of Confirmation will attend the Confirmation Preparation Workshop. This is a full-day workshop held at IC which typically takes place on a Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. This workshop is offered in compliance with the Diocesan mandate that teens have immediate preparation for the Sacrament. The day includes a continental breakfast, lunch & snack. The entire day must be attended. 4. ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES - All teens enrolled will participate in one to two enrichment opportunities per year, available through our youth ministry and parish offerings. Watch your for more details. Public H.S. Welcome: Page 2 of 2

3 FEES: The fee for the high school formation program for public school teens is $75.00 per teen per year. There is a $35.00 additional fee for 10th Grade (or 2nd Year) Sacramental Preparation (i.e., Confirmation). This is a separate program and is in addition to the 10th grade educational component. The total Religious Education fee for teens scheduled to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation is $ Add a $20.oo late fee (per teen) if you are registering after August 31 st. No one will be denied participation due to financial hardship. For more information please contact the Parish Office ( ). *** FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED WITH REGISTRATION FORM *** *** ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE *** TO REGISTER: Complete the High School Registration Form and mail along with full payment to: Immaculate Conception Parish Religious Education Registration 216 East Dunstable Rd. Nashua, New Hampshire THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS AUGUST 31 ST. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO ICC. ALL REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE MAILED... NO DROP OFFS PLEASE!! If you have any questions or if you require any additional information, please contact the R.E. Office at or reled@iccnashuanh.org OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday (9:00am to 3:30pm) Emergency Contact Information: If we are unable to reach you in an emergency, who should we contact? Last Name, First Name Home Phone Relationship to Child Cell Phone Public High School R. E. & Confirmation Program Parent / Teen Expectations and Acknowledgement Please read the description of all components of this program and sign below. Thank you. I,, parent/guardian of, have read the Program description and expectations. By signing along with my teen we acknowledge that we understand the commitment required to complete this process. Parent/Guardian Signature Date: Confirmation Candidate Signature Date: Public H.S. Registration: Page 2 of 2

4 TEEN INFORMATION: School: Immaculate Conception Parish 216 East Dunstable Road, Nashua, NH Religious Education Registration Form PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Current Grade: Gr. 9 Gr. 10 Gr. 11 Gr. 12 Sacraments Rec d: Baptism Penance Eucharist Last grade of Religious Ed Completed: OFFICE USE ONLY Date Rec d: Fee Rec d: Date Notified: postcard Recorded: PROGRAM TUITION & SACRAMENTAL FEES TUITION: $75.00 per teen SACRAMENTAL PREP FEE: $35.00 per teen (per year) (2nd Year Only) ** FULL PAYMENT is required with registration form ** ** ALL TUITION & FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE ** ** Add a $20 late fee per child if registering after 8/31 ** Last Name Legal First Name (for entry in Parish registry) Middle Name / / / / Date of Birth Date of Baptism Catholic Church of Baptism City, State (of Baptism) Important Note: If your child was baptized in a church other than I.C., please submit a copy of his/her Baptismal Certificate to the Religious Ed Office as soon as possible. The Sacrament of Confirmation cannot be rec d without a copy of this certificate on file. FAMILY INFORMATION: Family Name Mother s Name Father s Name Mailing Address Mother s Cell Legal Name (for entry in Parish registry) Legal Name (for entry in Parish registry) Home Phone Mother s Maiden Name Family Street City State Zip Code Father s Cell Please list any special circumstances (including any dietary or environmental allergies) that would be helpful for us to know when working with your teen: MEDICAL FORMS: If your teen needs an epi-pen, inhaler or other medical equipment on hand during a session or event, please speak with the High School Catechetical Leader. PHOTOGRAPH PERMISSION: Photographs are sometimes taken during our programs. They are often displayed publically; e.g., on the parish website, in the newspaper, in a brochure, on bulletin boards, etc. and used to keep the community aware and informed of parish events & activities. If you do not want pictures taken & used as described, please send a written notice to that effect to the High School Catechetical Leader at the address on the heading of this form. GENERAL INFORMATION: My signature below indicates that to the best of my knowledge the information on this form is accurate and true. It also indicates that I have read all the information regarding the program that I am registering my teen and understand all policies and procedures. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Public H.S. Registration Form: Page 1 of 2

5 Immaculate Conception Parish 216 East Dunstable Road, Nashua, NH Religious Education PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ADULT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES OFFICE USE ONLY STV: CBC: Acknowledgement: Date: Home Phone: Name: Cell Phone: Address: The High School Religious Ed. Program has many areas where the volunteers are key to the success of the program. We greatly appreciate any time or talent that you have to offer. As always, parent volunteers receive a discounted rate on tuition. Contact the Religious Ed. Office for more information. Please review the following opportunities and let us know where you are called to serve. We thank you in advance for your support. Mission/Service Coordinator: Assist the Catechetical Leader in the administration of the service component of the High School Program. Act as a liaison between the Catechetical Leader and local agencies to coordinate service projects/opportunities outside of the parish, for the teens. Assist and provide adult supervision during service project meetings and outings. This person will schedule project meetings, serve as an advisor to the teens and assist them in completing their service requirements. The Mission Service coordinator will communicate information back to the RE office for accurate record keeping. Mission/Service Volunteer: Assist Mission Service Coordinator (s) with the management and guidance of teens during their out-of-parish service project planning, execution and delivery. Small Group Facilitator: With materials provided, lead small group discussion and activities during monthly catechetical programs to help teens process the teachings of the night. You have the option to help facilitate small groups during the Confirmation Preparation Workshop. Small Group Facilitator Assistant: Assist the Small Group Facilitator during monthly catechetical programs with small group facilitation, large group sessions, etc. or the Confirmation Preparation Workshop. Prayer Partners: Behind the scenes prayerful individuals at the center of the program. They are committed to serve by praying for the program and for the specific petitions they will receive 2 to 3 times a month from the Catechetical Leader/Youth Minister. Occasionally, they will also receive specific or urgent prayers forwarded from a sister prayer group, the Heart Whisperers. Snack Volunteer: Prepare, serve and cleanup of snacks during monthly meetings. Other ways I would be willing to help: ALL volunteers need to complete the Child Safety training Shielding the Vulnerable process as dictated by the Diocese of Manchester. Please refer to the 2nd page of this form for more information!!! H.S. Volunteer Form: Page 1 of 2

6 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE Volunteers, please read this very important notice. ALL ADULTS WHO WORK REGULARLY WITH MINORS IN THE DIOCESE OF MANCHESTER MUST FULLFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS : 1. Pick-Up A Volunteer Application and Criminal Records Release Authorization forms for All states in which you have resided during the past 5 years* from either the Parish OR Religious Education Office. 2. Complete both forms and return them to either the Parish or R. E. Office. 3. Complete the on-line child abuse awareness training through the Shield the Vulnerable training site (see instructions below) & Read the Diocesan Code & Policy (you will complete this at the end of your online training). Your name will also be checked on the national sex offender website: PLEASE NOTE: All forms and training should be completed and returned to the R.E. Office BEFORE you begin your work with minors (but no later than 30 days after beginning your work). Volunteer eligibility is contingent upon the results of the background check results. CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING GUIDELINES: NEW VOLUNTEERS, please stop by the Parish or R.E. Offices as soon as possible to pick-up all forms. In addition to completing ALL paperwork, you also need to complete the on-line child abuse awareness training. CURRENT VOLUNTEERS WHO COMPLETED TRAINING IN 2013 OR EARLIER must complete a refresher course to continue volunteering. The Diocese of Manchester recently mandated that a child abuse awareness refresher course needs to be taken every 3 years. If you are unsure of when you took the training last, please contact Jean Lepore, Safe Environment Coordinator (jean@iccnashuanh.org or x224). FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO COMPLETED TRAINING IN 2014 OR LATER you are NOT required to take any additional training at this time and are eligible to volunteer for any of our programs. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHIELD THE VULNERABLE ONLINE TRAINING: Go to: and click on First Time Signup On Pick Type dropdown list, choose Catholic Dioceses Choose Manchester Diocese (NH) from second dropdown list and click Confirm Enter your registration information and click Next Step Choose Volunteer and select the appropriate choices that follow Review your information, accept the license and click Confirm Signup Once registered, you will automatically be taken to the training area. Click the green button next to the course listing to begin. (Additional courses may be listed, they are optional and are marked as such.) H.S. Volunteer Form: Page 2 of 2 The safety of our children and young people is paramount! By adhering to the policies set forth by the Diocese of Manchester, we are ensuring a safe environment for ALL our students. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this process.