Overview: Confirmation is an experience of God the Holy Spirit. Getting ready to encounter the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation is a foundational part of your relationship with God! Living in a life-giving relationship with the Holy Spirit is what happens after confirmation.  Hopefully, you are thinking and praying about how the Holy Spirit through the Seal of Confirmation affects your life! Working with parents, the Confirmation class prepares 3rd through 5th graders to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Eucharist.  Additionally, if a child did not receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the 2nd grade, they will work to receive this sacrament as well.

Who:  children 3rd through 5th grade

When:  Tuesdays 4:30pm – 5:45pm September through April

Where: Parish Hall

Attendance: Parents have the option of sending their child to the in-person class alone, attending with them, or teaching them at home.  Since learning the faith revolves around the imitation of Jesus and Mary, which is basically behavior training, parents discussion of and practice of their faith will have the biggest impact on their child’s formation regardless of attendance choices.  Because of this,  the theology and teaching ideas are sent home weekly for all parents.

Curriculum:

Confirmation and First Eucharist Notebook for parents (an age appropriate version will be developed during the class)

First Reconciliation Notebook for parents (students develop an age-appropriate version during the course of the year)

We use several curriculums including:  Scripture, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Magisterial Documents, The Archdiocese of Denver teaching objectives and curriculum guide, The Baltimore Catechism vols 1 and it’s associated guide, Disciple of Christ Education in Virtue, and Magis Center publications.

The content for preparing for the sacraments involves learning many elements of the Baltimore Catechism which was given approval via imprimaturs* by many bishops in 1895.   At that time, it was meant for the catechesis of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd graders.  Some parents have said to us that the content is not “age appropriate.”  However, generations of 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and beyond have learned their faith through the Baltimore Catechism.

Father Wedow has witnessed 1^st hand in his interviews with students that they do easily absorb the information and are on the beginning of the journey to understand the meaning.  Pope John Paul II said that the Catechism “is offered to all the faithful who want to understand better the inexhaustible riches of salvation.”**  Like Mary, who “pondered all these things in her heart,”  seeds of good formation are being firmly planted. Like Mary, students that go onto to receive the spiritual food of the sacraments and the practice the faith have the opportunity to grow in their relationship of knowing, loving, and serving the Lord.

**Please see the USCCB Catechism FAQs #6 – For Whom is the Catechism intended”

Parents have the option of using the materials that are sent home each week, or they can follow the Our Lady of the Rosary Family Catechism lesson indicated.  Links to that curriculum are below

1. Our Lady of the Rosary Family Catechism   
2. Our Lady of the Rosary Baltimore Catechism #4 Lessons, questions, and Answers 
3. Our Lady of the Rosary Information Packet 

Goals: To form life-long disciples of Christ who practice their faith as active members His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

In Class and At-home Activities: includes instruction, demonstration, prayer, adoration, bible study, stories, games, songs, car talks, videos, crafts, puzzles, coloring pages, games, bonfires, memory activities, simulations, science experiments, and discussions.

In-Person Class format: The class begins with a snack, then prayer calisthenics, whole group and small group instruction, crafts, active games, adoration, review, and a final prayer.

Benefits: Students form and strengthen their relationship with the Triune God, the Saints, and their guardian angel; develop an understanding of the basics of the Catholic faith and how to practice it; and meet face-to-face with a priest at the end of the year to help form a life-long habit of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Confirmation Encounters: During three periods of the year, students and their parents will meet with our priest to demonstrate and prepare for receiving the sacraments.  Students can meet with the priest several times during these periods which are held in the fall, winter, and spring.  Typically, the first few meetings help increase comfort with meeting with a priest and all of the meetings help develop a life-long habit.  Encounter meetings are scheduled for 30 minutes, and a calendar will be sent out so that you may reserve an appointment.