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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 9:04am | IP Logged
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HELP! What are your favorite confirmation resources. Prep. at our parish is something we can't get out of. Confirmation here is 10th grade and they treat them like they are stupid. I know lots of kids don't know much about their faith - all the MORE reason not to dummy things down!! Last night we went to a student/sponsor session (I stood in for my dd's sponsor). It was sooooo lame! Example: did a sign of the cross with olive oil on each others palms, had to close our eyes and rub it in - how does it feel (well that wasted at least 20 minutes!). OR - what color would you make the Holy Spirit (no wonder some bored teens started to say things like: "hot pink"). It was 3.5 hours of crap. Useless. Didn't delve past: "how do we use oil in our daily lives". I get asking that question - but then move on to the spiritual PLEASE. But they would have us do these things - and they wouldn't connect them to any real spiritual meaning!
So, a couple things I things I am thinking of for this year. I am going to read bible more with my kids (will include my ds age 10 too in this) daily ( we have done this but somehow lately the day goes past and I realize we haven't read the daily mass readings!), and pray together. I am going take them to adoration at least once per month.
Now - what else have you all done?
If your parish confirmation prep was lame - how did you not let it drag your child's faith down! I think that surely some kids are walking away thinking that Catholicism is lame!
I hear the retreat that she has to do in winter/spring is more of the same stuff. Have any of you been successful in your parishes in getting your child out of these retreats?
All I say is no wonder youth leave the faith (I'm not saying its right they do - just saying. . . .).
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 9:07am | IP Logged
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The bottom line is that it really is up to the parent to form your child's religious education. R.E. should just be supplemental. Of course, not everyone realizes that or has a good background to do it, but you are blessed to realize that it's your responsibility.
In our parish there is an overnight co-ed retreat. The only way to opt out is to do another retreat in a nearby parish. Lots of strings to pull, but you could do it.
Do you have a local Catholic homeschool group? Are there other parents in the Confirmation prep? Perhaps you could try to see if you could do a retreat with the homeschooled children to count as the retreat.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 9:12am | IP Logged
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OH - heres another from yesterday: we had to listen to 2 ladies talk about the importance of touch. OK - I went into this time with an open mind; I could see where I would lead this. But - they never got past giving examples of how it is important to touch one another every day: hold hands when dating (their example not mine), messaging feet, hand on shoulder before a hard test. Thats it - sat in that session really bored. Thats all they did - babbled about how touch is important to their lives.
I honestly am COMPLETELY SHOCKED at how bad this was.
Barb
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 9:18am | IP Logged
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Yes, its like that here - only way to opt out is to go on another (equally lame) retreat. So, I told dd she is basically stuck going. Our only hope is we have a new Pastor and he is so far awesome: love his homilies, he is starting a WEEKLY lifeteen -like Mass . . . So, I am HOPING he will also get involved and change the CONTENT of the retreat. I don't object to a retreat - just a retreat filled with useless, secular crap!
I ended up telling dd that let's use this to develop patience; realize that these folks most of the time are not presenting our faith the way they should and take it with a grain of salt!
OH - did I say they ending the session with the teens making individual banners. They had felt pieces and pre-cut construction pieces to glue on. . . these kids are in 10th grade not elementary school! DD quickly glued 3 crosses on hers and said : "there, done in 30 seconds!" I laughed - so true - it was stupid and demeaning!
Barb
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 9:25am | IP Logged
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OH - so 2 questions:
1. those of you who have had teens confirmed: what are your favorite resources and things you did with your teen.
2. if I approached our pastor (either personally or through email) stating my concerns - how should I word it. . . .
Barb
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Erin
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Barb
I am fortunate here in that I am able to totally prepare my children myself. I recently compiled a listof 'what they must know' and what resources I use. However I'm hesitant to list my books as I was preparing a 12 and 9 year old, also it appears to me that in America there is a huge emphasis on community service, which we don't have in our preparation here at all.
Spreading and Defending the Faith by Image of God series may suit your situation better than mine.
Another resource I used this time, (which I haven't yet listed on my post) was A Confirmation Reader Retreat by Janet McKenzie
Maybe some of the other books I use would be suitable, just hard for me to be sure as I've never prepared a child as old as 15, so haven't looked at them in that light.
Regards your priest I would approach him very well prepared with what you intend on using (have resources written and on hand) and with alot of tact. Personal would probably be better than email in my opinion, less chance of misunderstanding.
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Erin
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 14 2013 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Erin,
If I approach our priest I may just try to get out of the retreat. But as I look into this online - I am thinking I have no chance of getting her out of it. I thankfully get to homeschool my kids for faith formation. Our parish has separate confirmation classes in addition to the weekly faith formation: 8 seesions - once per month (usually 2 hours each, except last night was 3.5 hours). We have gone to 2; so I guess 6 more isn't so bad. But suffering through a weekend (Friday 5:00 pm to Sunday 1:00 pm) of fluff seems more damaging then not.
The last though I had was I really won't do much different this year then usual. My kids know their faith. This year she said she wanted to review the Baltimore Catechism as she said the question and answers stick in her mind and she remembers them. Also, we read daily mass readings. So, then I am thinking - if confirmation is a free gift - we anticipate that, get excited for the grace God gives. . . I mean it is something God does; not like a test we prepare to pass.
Also, I told her if she has to go to the retreat - offer it up. There's a phrase I love (offer it up) that isn't taught mush in faith formation!
Barb
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Maureen
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| Posted: Oct 15 2013 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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We had a similar situation years ago when my oldest was to be confirmed. Some of the homeschool moms were not pleased with the situation and obtained permission from the pastor to form their own class. The parents took turns teaching the class. We used this book: Catholic Book of Character and Success originally titled How to Live Nobly and Well. I don't have the book here as someone has borrowed it, but from what I remember it was very good--written by a priest in the '30s. I am actually planning on using it again as it appears that I'm faced with a watered down situaiton again.
It is so sad and makes me want to volunteer to teach a CCD class, but with my load right now, I can't accomplish it. My parish does have some very good CCD teachers (many homeschool moms), so maybe it is just a case of teaching to the lowest denominator. Some parents don't reinforce the teachings and the teen culture is unsupportive of high ideals.
Another resource I may use are some of Pope Francis' homilies or talks posted on the internet. Our former priest often links to these on his facebook page. Some have been very inspiring!
I hope you have a good year of Confirmation prep. I will say a prayer for your meeting with the pastor.
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Maureen, mom to 8 treasures
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ekbell
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I read the following passage before preparing my oldest .1309 Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. the latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.125 CCC
So over and above our normal practices (which hopefully encourage a close relationship with Jesus) I hunted up material on the Holy Spirit ( there was a small book from Tan that was useful), and encouraged parish involvement - she ended up in Choir and the Christmas and Passion plays. There was also learning and discussing the Church around the world (made easier by the fact that our priests and fellow parishioners come from all over the world).
Mostly it was living and being involved with a touch of book learning on the Holy Spirit.
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glorify
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Check out this new confirmation program called "Chosen", coming out in January 2014 with Jackie Francois, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Chris Stefanick, and other great popular speakers. http://confirmationstudy.com/
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: favorite confirmation resources
