Confirmation- Dartmouth Life Teen

Life Teen Program:
February 12th, Life Night (Mandatory) – Subject “Re-Gifted”
This Life Night will address the universal vocation of holiness and the special gifts that God has given each one of us as we consider our life’s vocation
February 19th, Life Night (Make-up) – Subject to be determined
February 26th, Life Night – Subject “For Better or Worse”
This Life Night will look at the vocation of marriage as a unique calling from God designed to mirror Christ’s love for the church
March 4th, Life Night – Subject “Catholics Love”
This Life Night will give teens practical ways to be chaste and modest – God’s plan for chastity in thoughts, words and actions
March 11th, Service Night – Project to be determined
March 18th, Life Night (Mandatory) – Subject “Consumed”
This Life Night will show that every movement of the Church points to and flows from the Eucharist
March 25th, Social Night – Theme to be determined
April 1st, Life Night – Subject “Domino Effect”
This Life Night will help teens understand that their actions, either positive or negative, have impact on the world around them
April 15th, Service Night – Project to be determined (this night may switch to a “make-up” night if needed)
April 22nd, Life Night – Subject “Dead Strength”
This Life Night will help teens understand that true strength is found in suffering and sacrifice
April 29th, Life Night (Mandatory) – Subject “True Life/holy Orders”
This Life Night will help teens understand why Holy Orders is a vocation and how the vocation is lived out
May 6th, Life Night – Subject “Called to Action”
The goal of this Life Night is to explain that our belief in God demands that we respond in faith

Confirmation Preparation and Mass:
Sunday, May 20th, Confirmation Preparation (Mandatory – Candidates and Sponsors)
Starting with 5PM Youth Mass
Monday, May 21st, Confirmation Preparation (Starting at 6PM)
Tuesday, May 22nd, Confirmation Mass (Starting at 7PM) – arrival times for candidates and Sponsors to be determined

DOWNLOAD FORMS (PDF)Enrollment Form | Sponsor Form | Service Tracking Form

Candidate Responsibilities (parents help needed)

MUST BE COMPLETED & DEADLINE

Parent & Candidate Meeting
Life Teen Orientation, September 11, 2011
Sponsor Paperwork, October 23, 2011
Retreat, December 2-4, 2011
Attend all Mandatory Life Nights
Attend 6 additional Life Nights, May 6, 2012
15 Hours of Parish Service, April 29, 2012
15 Hours of Community Service, April 29, 2012
Confirmation Name, April 29, 2012
Confirmation Letter, April 29, 2012

Confirmation Schedule

Sunday’s 5:00-8:00PM

Confirmation Nights (Mandatory Life Nights):

Orientation, September 11, 2011
September 18, 2011
October 23, 2011
November 13, 2011
Feburary 12, 2012
April 29, 2012

Life Nights (attend a minimum of 6):

October 2,2011
October 9,2011
October 16,2011
November 6, 2011
December 18, 2011
January 2, 2012
January 22, 2012
February 26, 2012
March 4, 2012
April 1, 2012
April 22, 2012
April 29, 2012
May 6, 2012

Parents & Candidate Interview

Parents/Guardians and Candidate’s are asked to set up a one on one meeting with either the Youth Minister or one of the Core Members. This gives us the chance to meet with each family individually and to address any questions or concerns that the Candidate or family may have.

Sponsors (& Sponsor Paperwork)

A sponsor is a person chosen by the candidate as a mentor in the process of full initiation into the Catholic Church. The sponsor’s role is to walk the journey as a companion to the candidate being fully initiated.

A Sponsor must be a practicing, confirmed Catholic, who is at least 16 years of age. He/She may not be the Candidate’s mother or father. A godparent is a good choice. The Candidate is encouraged to choose someone close by. The Sponsor should be a person who is prayerful, open, dependable, loving and is comfortable sharing his or her faith with young people.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SPONSOR
The Sponsor represents the support and prayers of the entire Church. He/She will be the Candidate’s “spiritual friend.” In this program the following is asked of the Sponsor:

Accompany the Candidate to the Sponsor & Candidate Life Night, October 23, 5-8PM at St. Julie’s.
Sponsors are encouraged to attend the closing Mass of the Retreat weekend, December 4, 2011, 2PM.
Attend all Confirmation rehearsals. (Dates to be announced.)
Attend the Liturgy of Confirmation.
Meet with the Candidate regularly throughout this year of preparation to discuss the Life Night topics, etc.
Share your faith story with the Candidate.
Pray for and with the Candidate.
Continue to be there for the Candidate and lend spiritual support after the Confirmation ceremony is over.

Sponsors are asked to download a Sponsor Form, complete it and return it to St. Julie’s Parish no later than Sunday, October 23, 2011. Click here to download a Sponsor Form.

Retreat Weekend

Retreat Location:
Cathedral Camp
167 Middleboro Road
Freetown, MA 02717

Emergency contact numbers will be given to parents/guardians before the retreat.

Arrive at Cathedral Camp no later than 7pm on Friday, December 2. No dinner will be served on Friday night.

ALL parents, family, sponsors and friends are asked to attend the closing Mass for the retreat on Sunday, December 4 at 2pm at Cathedral Camp.

Things to Bring:
Clothes (comfortable, but appropriate)
Jacket
Toiletries (& towel)
Sleeping Bag (pillow)
Medications (to be turned in)

NOT To Bring:
iPod/MP3
Games/Cards
Cell Phone
Laptop

Service Project Information

Each Candidate is responsible for completing thirty hours of service: fifteen within our Parish and fifteen on their own. Service is giving of one’s time where payment is not received for work completed. It is recommended that the candidate begin working on this responsibility sooner rather than later! Please use the tracking sheet to record dates, locations, hours volunteered and a signature of the person for whom the Candidate volunteered for. Life Teen does NOT keep track of parish or community services hours, you must download and track your own progress. Click here to download a Service Form.

Note: Community Service does not count if it is done for Parents! That’s called chores, not service!

Suggestions

Parish Service (Within St. Julie’s Parish)
- Soup Kitchen, Food Drives
- Nursing Home Visits
- Edge Core or Faith Formation Support
- Adoration
- Living Stations / Living Nativity
- Knight of Columbus Dinners
- Extra Credit Life Nights
- Youth Mass Team Member
  - Lector
  - Collector
  - Greeter
  - Altar Server

Community Service (Outside the parish)
- Visit Senior Centers / Disabled Children
- Service Clubs at School
- Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry
- Peer Tutoring, YMCA
- Cutting Grass, Shoveling Snow
- Helping Neighbors
- Babysitting (other than the Candidate’s brothers or sisters)

Confirmation Name

In this Sacrament of Confirmation, Candidate’s choose a name to be confirmed under. This name should be the name of a Saint or a person from Scripture that models for them what it truly means to pursue holiness. Candidates may choose to retain the name given to them at Baptism as a symbolic way of confirming the choice their parents made for them, which was to become a disciple of Christ.

Candidate’s Letter

Candidates will need to write a letter to our Pastor, Fr. Greg answering the following questions:

What does being Confirmed Catholic mean to you?

Why do you feel you’re ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation?

The letter must be 2 paragraphs long with 5-7 sentences per paragraph.

Code of Conduct

I realize that as a participant in the Confirmation/Youth Ministry Program I represent my church community, my family and myself. I will conduct myself in an appropriate manner at all times.
I will treat and be treated by adult and peers with courtesy and respect. I will refrain from profanity, abusive, offensive or sexual language and/or humor. I will not engage in or permit any form of sexual activity, or unwanted touching of any kind.
I will not engage in any illegal activity, including possession or use of alcohol, tobacco products, or any other controlled substance, and agree that such behavior will result in me being removed from the program and/or being held by law-enforcement personnel until picked up by my parent/guardian.
I will respect the property of others: vehicles, both public and personal lodgings, and will not engage in or permit vandalism, theft, or destruction of any kind.
I will comply immediately with all instructions given by an adult leader. If I have disagreements or concerns, I will bring them to the attention of the Youth Minister or Priest.
To the extent that I am able, I will participate fully in the activities that are planned or chosen by the group or its leaders.