Contact us:
1200 Memorial Drive
Box 610
Crookston, MN 56716
Phone
218-281-4533
Fax
218-281-5991
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| CONFIRMATION PREPARATION GUIDELINES |
| I. |
The preparation process for Confirmation
must be seen within the total faith formation processes of a parish community.
Although the actual preparation takes place within a particular time frame,
we must strive to assist participants in living their faith on a daily
basis far beyond the celebration of sacrament.
This preparation process, taking place within the parish
community, needs to be designed so as to more fully incorporate the candidates
for Confirmation into the life of the parish. The parish community, as
well, has the obligation to participate in the preparation of those to
be confirmed and to be models of lived faith. In order to realize this,
the preparation of adolescents for Confirmation is to:
- be 1-2 years in length;
- include these dimensions:
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1. |
Word:
It is impossible to prescribe a single catechesis for confirmation (cf.
NCD, #119) which meets the needs of each parish in the diocese. It is,
however, important that the candidates have an understanding of Church
teaching. The four areas or instruction, drawing upon the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, are to include:
- the Creed;
- the Sacraments;
- Life in Christ/Discipleship;
- Prayer.
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2. |
Worship:
The preparation program should assist the candidates in becoming people
of prayer, individually and communally. Participation in the sacramental
life of the Church is an important expression of a person of prayer. Candidates
are expected to:
- attend weekly Sunday Eucharist and Holy Days of Obligation; if
this expectation is not being met, Confirmation should be delayed;
- regularly celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially
during the Advent & Lenten seasons;
- be integrated into the liturgical ministries (e.g. proclamation
of the Word, music, hospitality) in accordance to their particular
gifts and abilities;
- take part in a retreat experience as an opportunity to reflect on
their relationship with God, self, and others. Retreat experiences
could include: parish sponsored retreats, Quest, TEC, NET, or retreat
center offerings.
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3. |
Service:
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All Christians are called to live their faith through
acts of service. The Corporal
Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe
the naked, visit the sick, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned,
and bury the dead) serve as a framework and model from our Catholic
tradition for a life of service. Those preparing for Confirmation
are to participate in service throughout the preparation process.
This is best realized by integrating the candidates into the life
of the parish as it lives out the Corporal Works of Mercy.
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An effective method for engaging youth in service
activities is through group experiences where the candidates are exposed
to ways of living out the Corporal Works of Mercy. It is also recommended
that time be given after times of service to process the experiences
with the candidates. This would provide a framework for connecting
their experience to scripture, tradition and a lived faith response.
It could also serve as a means to help the candidates explore ways
in which they can live out the Corporal Works of Mercy.
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Parishes are encouraged to provide a minimum of
three service opportunities
annually for adolescents preparing for Confirmation. These service
opportunities should be designed so as to promote and develop an attitude
of Christian service rather than an accumulation of service hours.
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4. |
Community:
At the heart of the Confirmation preparation process is the faith community.
Confirmation preparation takes place within a faith community and the
initiation is into a faith community. The community dimension should be
realized through:
- parental involvement in the process;
- parish prayer support;
- members of the parish serving as sponsors, mentors, service companions,
prayer companions, catechists, etc.;
- assisting with the discernment process by means of interviews with
the candidates at the beginning of the process, mid-way through the
process, and prior to celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation;
- the active participation of a sponsor or representative of the
parish for each candidate; this sponsor or representative MUST BE
A FAITHFUL AND ACTIVE CATHOLIC.
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| II. |
The period following the celebration
of Confirmation must be seen as a time for those who were confirmed to
continue to be active in the life of the parish, in its ministries of
Word, Worship, Service and Community. Continued assistance and mentoring
in these ministries is essential.
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| III. |
The Pastoral Office of the Word is available
to assist parishes in designing any of the dimensions of a Confirmation
preparation process. |
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