Confirmation Resources

2020

Programme Outline

The structure of You Shall Be My Witnesses is based on the sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

·         What we believe!

·         What we celebrate!

·         What we live!

·         What we pray!

There are Five Sessions:

            Session 1         Belonging

                                    How do I belong?

            Session 2        Believing

                                    What do I believe?

            Session 3        Being a Christian

                                    How can I be a Christian?

            Session 4        Becoming a Witness

                                    How do I share the Good News?

        Session 5     Beginning Again

                              What happens next?

Note:

This programme is usually delivered in a parish setting with volunteers who facilitate the programme.  Parents are encouraged to join in at the end of each session for prayer.  Children are asked to complete some tasks and worksheets at home and these activities provide a conversation for both the parents and children around the topics discussed in each session.  In the light of the current situation I would like to encourage all members of the family to provide the support and encouragement needed to prepare your child/children for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Acknowledgement:

I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to Maeve Mahon, who developed the You Shall Be My Witnesses programme for parishes and for giving us permission to use this wonderful resource in a new way to help our Confirmation candidates prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Easter Sacred Space.jpg

Suggested Activity

Create a Prayer Space

Providing a Sacred Space

In order to deliver each session, I invite you to create a sacred space in your home.  This sacred space will also serve as a focus of prayer at the end of each session.

You will need:

  • A candle (battery is safe)

  • A white or red cloth

  • A cross or Bible (or both)



Session 5

Post Confirmation Session

Beginning Again: What Happens Next?

Start the session by lighting the candle and saying the opening prayer together.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us, especially upon ___________________ (child’s/children’s name (s)) as he/ she/they prepare for the sacrament of confirmation. Amen

Confirmation Report

Congratulations you have completed the third and final sacrament of initiation.  You have said your ‘Yes’ to being a member of the Christian community.   The hope is that this session will be held in a parish setting, but I invite you to consider the following especially if the restrictions relating to covid 19 have not been lifted.

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Activity

Write a report on all the events leading up to and including your confirmation day.  Consider the circumstances that you as an individual person, a family member and a community member experienced being in isolation away from your friends, family, school and parish. 

  1. How did you prepare for the sacrament of confirmation without your class mates? How did this make you feel?

  2. How did you engage with the community or parish during the build-up to your confirmation date?

  3. What Acts of Random Kindness did you accomplish in preparation for this special day?

  4. How did ‘doing’ your Acts of Random Kindness change or affect the way you think and behave around others?

  5. What was the most challenging part of preparing for your Confirmation?

  6. What was the highlight of your Confirmation preparation?

  7. What was the highlight of your Confirmation ceremony?

Let us Pray

Leader             Only the Spirit creates

All                    But we are called to enhance that creation.

Leader             Only the Spirit gives life.

All                    But we are called to cherish life.

Leader             Only the Spirit makes to grow.

All                    But we are called to nourish that growth.

Leader             Only the Spirit give faith.

All                    But we are called to be signs of faith for each other.

Leader             Only the Spirit gives love.

All                    But we are called to care for each other.

Leader             Only the Spirit gives hope.

All                    But we are called to give each other reasons to hope.

Leader             Only the Spirit gives power.

All                    But we are called to get things going.

Leader             Only the Spirit can bring peace.

All                    But we are called to build bridges.

Leader             Only the Spirit brings happiness.

All                    But we are invited to be joyful.

Leader             Only the Spirit is the way

All                    But we are called to show the way to others.

Leader             Only the Spirit is light.

All                    But we are called to make that light shine in the world.

Bringing Parish Home

Killaloe Diocese has created this wonderful resource that gives some advice on how we can ‘Bring Parish Home’ during these uncertain and difficult times.