Confirmation Expectations

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As a parent or parishioner what expectations do you have or would like to see in a confirmation prep program? I am a new youth minister and would like to hear get some feed back on the expectations of the average parishioner.

We are using a good program and I want to create a way to measure outcomes based on something other than the number of youth who are confirmed each year. I’m not looking for another program, I like the one we use.
 
Horton I have no answers to your question,
but I’ll pray that as God has trusted you with this significant ministry,
He will ensure that you have all the material and advice that will be of most benefits to those preparing for Confirmation, and also their parents and sponsors.
For the adults, the preparation of the younger ones is also a time when they can refresh and grow in their faith.

God bless you, and everyone involved.
 
First, every person involved - from parents to volunteers - read the Catechism section on Confirmation. Dispel the mythology that has crept into every parish.

Next, read “Forming Intentional Disciples” and have all the catechists/volunteers read it. Like, tomorrow!

Another good book is “Converting the Baptized”. Out of print, but you can find it used on Amazon.

I’ve heard amazing reports of using Catholic Alpha for Teens as a Confirmation program.

Avoid the “jump through this hoop and win Confirmation then never have to learn on more thing” sausage grinder. Avoid the “cram all the Apologetics you can into them because they will leave after Confirmation” pitfall.

Did I say read “Forming Intentional Disciples”? They also have a facebook group.

Talk about the dress code for Confirmation from day one and re-state it over and over (nothing like someone showing up dressed for the club in front of the Bishop!)
 
Horton said:
…I want to create a way to measure outcomes based on something other than the number of youth who are confirmed each year…
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Have you come up with any measures yet? I don’t know, but just to try to brainstorm here, how about the percentage who regularly attend Mass after they are confirmed? Of course, this might be hard to measure if they change parishes or go off to college. Involvement in parish ministries and programs would be another measure.

But those are outward signs. Parents may pressure teens to keep attending Mass. Involvement in ministries and programs might be driven by social factors. How do you measure faith, hope, and love?
 
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Horton said:
As a parent or parishioner what expectations do you have or would like to see in a confirmation prep program? I am a new youth minister and would like to hear get some feed back on the expectations of the average parishioner.

We are using a good program and I want to create a way to measure outcomes based on something other than the number of youth who are confirmed each year. I’m not looking for another program, I like the one we use.
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How old are your confirmation students?
 
I have several copies of the book “Forming Intentional Disciples”. I haven’t the whole book yet.

I was very fortunate to step in to an ongoing program that was mostly well run. I have great catechists who are very knowledgeable about the program. I don’t want to change the program we currently use unless I can determine it isn’t working.
TheLittleLady said:
Avoid the “jump through this hoop and win Confirmation then never have to learn on more thing” sausage grinder. Avoid the “cram all the Apologetics you can into them because they will leave after Confirmation” pitfall.
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This is exactly what I want to avoid. I don’t want confirmation to be the prize at the end of program.

Thank you for your comments
 
RandomAlias said:
Have you come up with any measures yet? I don’t know, but just to try to brainstorm here, how about the percentage who regularly attend Mass after they are confirmed? Of course, this might be hard to measure if they change parishes or go off to college. Involvement in parish ministries and programs would be another measure.

But those are outward signs. Parents may pressure teens to keep attending Mass. Involvement in ministries and programs might be driven by social factors. How do you measure faith, hope, and love?
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The only thing I’ve thought of was a tracking our post confirmation high school youth group with on going surveying through collage and up to age 30 or so. I’m not quite sure how to do this yet but am working on figuring it out.

Much of what I’ve read so far is sacramental prep must start with baptism. Educating parents & godparents on what it means to raise the child in the Catholic Church. The optimum way is to have the child enrolled in all the years of RE and Youth Ministry rather than just the years of sacramental prep for first communion and confirmation.

One of the issues I’m confronted with this year is qualified sponsors. We have some kids who have chosen sponsors who are not qualified under canon law, mostly dealing with the issue of marriage.

I have a good program so I’m not looking to change it at this time. I do agree the kids need to be ignited regarding their faith and then taught how to stay ignited. Maybe I need a thermometer.
 
I wished that my parish dedicated a part of the program to answering questions the teens wanted to ask about the faith. Maybe a focus on modern issues as well (homosexuality, gender, abortions etc). Maybe a segment on Science and Religion. Mine focused on God and adoration, which is fine, but imo some saw the religion as incredibly boring because they felt that their minds weren’t stimulated enough. There was also a weird TOB segment where they basically just meant ‘Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve’ it was horrible lol, we learnt nothing besides ‘being gay is so wrong’.

But yeah, an ‘apologetic’ session would be great. Teens on social media are bombarded with very liberal ideas and opinions. Not just about controversial issues, but even false stuff about the religion. People don’t realize how ‘serious’ it is. Every time I log onto Twitter, or Tumblr, I see weird stuff about our faith. Sjws saying that waiting till marriage is sexist or whatever. Teens are craving for rational arguments, and if they don’t, give it to them anyway.
 
These are great ideas that can be incorporated into an existing programming. I agree with the social media issue, the program we use does address the issue but I’m sure we could go deeper into it.

One of the concepts I’m hoping to incorporate is would be a forum where the kids can ask the questions they want answers to, giving them a way to discuss among themselves with some adult facilitation.
 
If we could clone our priest this would be a viable solution but we cannot clone, so we have to make do with good catechists. Fortunately we do have good catechists here.
 
Most students kinda protested being required to attend youth group but it was the best thing for me. The class trip was excellent but I won’t elaborate.

There are really two formal ways to conduct classes and I would ask if seminar style is ok. That style incorporates more participation. Instructors also usually gain the students’ respect by jokingly saying “so it doesn’t get boring, we are going to have a film included” and let them choose BUT loan the kid who’s movie doesn’t get picked the movie they wanted to see…

Also, I would let class out early and tell them the last 10 minutes are for questions. Tell the parents not only is it ok to be late, but they should be so you can see where they are. A “your parent arrived” system keeps the students from wandering around. But, wandering around for some is the best part.

Enrollment of a Scapular and a day of a Priest blessing their Saint Medal (or bracelet would be a cool option) with unresolved questions (kept by the teacher) would be a great one and I would celebrate it as a “half day.” Having optional confessions afterwards, with a short lecture of not forgetting the Sacraments benefits later in life, let them know that when they are “soldiers of God” it is important to update Saint Michael (the leader) of where your weaknesses are and that sin is replaced with grace thereafter.

Feel free to PM me if you need more ideas! Thanks for doing Gods work!
 
Horton said:
The only thing I’ve thought of was a tracking our post confirmation high school youth group with on going surveying through collage and up to age 30 or so. I’m not quite sure how to do this yet but am working on figuring it out.
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That really IS the measure.

Could you maybe go back to folks Confirmed last year, 5 years ago, 10 years ago etc and survey them? Those who are still practicing, ask what worked for them. Those who left ask for the real reasons why.
 
I could that but…I’ve only been a member of this parish less than two years, the Director of Y&YAM since July. I don’t really have many of the contacts needed yet to go back. Our program isn’t a bad program at all, just like all things it can be improved.

In my main career I worked in social services so my mind goes to measurable outcomes, affirming or negative data, what works & what doesn’t. Years ago I was part of a pilot project developed to reduce the number of folks with significant mental illness in the criminal justice system. In order to show what we were doing was beneficial we had to find measurable outcomes. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded because we had created individual plans for each participant. What we finally came up with is counting the reduction of hospital days and jail days as that directly transferred into money savings.

So I’m brainstorming what could be measured. Maybe I just need to have more faith, trust in the process and let God do the measuring. 😃
 
Horton said:
High School age. Mostly 9th grade with a few in higher grades.
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I think that age, the best thing thermometer is to have a post graduation program (teen group) and see what percentage of kids stay active after confirmation.
 
The parish has a list of everyone who was confirmed since it became an office. It is all in the Sacramental Registers. Work with the parish secretary to see who still has contact info in the parish database, family still at the parish, etc. Many times there is a silo where CYM does one thing, the office does another and they never fully “exploit” the data that they can produce when working together. (Former Business Analyst/IT geek now a parish secretary speaking from experience)
 
@Horton would you please share the name of the program you are using.

I am a Confirmation catechist for my diocese and we are in process of standardizing our Sacramental prep program, so all the resources I can bring to the table will be helpful.
 
We use Decision Point from Dynamic Catholic. It is a very flexible program in ways that it can be delivered. The books for the kids are not outrageous in price and all of the program is online if that works better for your parish. The parents can look up exactly what is being taught in the program at home. The videos, student book, and leader book is all online.

Decision Point allows for introducing concepts and lessons from another source. Go to Dynamic Catholic and search for Decision Point. Take a look at some of the videos. You can order the leader guide, videos, and a student book for very little money or you can print from the online source.
 
We do have a post-confirmation group but of approximately 50 confirmandi, we get about 15-20 who return for p-con group.
 
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