H
Horton
Guest
We were able to hold three Confirmation Masses this weekend for our teens who have been preparing for the last year. When we went into shut down we weren’t sure how it would all play out so we didn’t really cancel our original scheduled date of May 5th. However I did let parents know to be prepared for anything.
We went to using Zoom for classroom instruction. Almost all my catechists are either teachers or professors and were struggling with their real jobs over online media, I had to take it on myself to finish the confirmation prep. It worked out fine once I got a system down.
Once we were able to open the church up again for Mass we started thinking about a new date. We had canceled the May 5 date as unrealistic. Father & I discussed Pentecost and felt that would be a meaningful day to do confirmation. We had a really small group this year, and of the group only 40 were actually going to be confirmed so that did make things easier.
To keep in with the restrictions set by the diocese, we could not do one Mass, so we planned three Masses. Our bishop had delegated to all the parish priests this year because of the situation. So we had 2 Masses yesterday, both in Spanish only, one with 11 teens and the other with 13. By keeping the numbers small we could allow them to have two sponsors, which is customary in Hispanic culture and allow for their parents and siblings to attend. A few had a special guest such as a grandparent but we could only allow those if we space to safely seat them.
We had another Mass this afternoon with 16 teens, this one in English. All the Masses went well and in a way it was really nice having small groups like this. It seemed a little more intimate, the teens received some attention they may not have had in a large group.
I’m not sure if I want to do it again this way. Planning one Confirmation Mass is difficult, 3 of them is beyond difficult :crazy_face: :crazy_face: :crazy_face: The rite itself isn’t the hard part at all, but the logistics of 70-80 kids (our normal numbers) and their sponsors and then mom & dad, siblings, and the rest of the family…There is a reason I go on vacation after Confirmation Mass every year.
But it is done for the year. Our kids had an extraordinary Mass on Pentecost, and extra boost of the Holy Spirit to lead them on from here. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids than I am of this group. The way their lives came to such an abrupt change in March and they persevered and got to today. I know God will bless them abundantly, even the kid who came to Mass chewing gum.
We went to using Zoom for classroom instruction. Almost all my catechists are either teachers or professors and were struggling with their real jobs over online media, I had to take it on myself to finish the confirmation prep. It worked out fine once I got a system down.
Once we were able to open the church up again for Mass we started thinking about a new date. We had canceled the May 5 date as unrealistic. Father & I discussed Pentecost and felt that would be a meaningful day to do confirmation. We had a really small group this year, and of the group only 40 were actually going to be confirmed so that did make things easier.
To keep in with the restrictions set by the diocese, we could not do one Mass, so we planned three Masses. Our bishop had delegated to all the parish priests this year because of the situation. So we had 2 Masses yesterday, both in Spanish only, one with 11 teens and the other with 13. By keeping the numbers small we could allow them to have two sponsors, which is customary in Hispanic culture and allow for their parents and siblings to attend. A few had a special guest such as a grandparent but we could only allow those if we space to safely seat them.
We had another Mass this afternoon with 16 teens, this one in English. All the Masses went well and in a way it was really nice having small groups like this. It seemed a little more intimate, the teens received some attention they may not have had in a large group.
I’m not sure if I want to do it again this way. Planning one Confirmation Mass is difficult, 3 of them is beyond difficult :crazy_face: :crazy_face: :crazy_face: The rite itself isn’t the hard part at all, but the logistics of 70-80 kids (our normal numbers) and their sponsors and then mom & dad, siblings, and the rest of the family…There is a reason I go on vacation after Confirmation Mass every year.
But it is done for the year. Our kids had an extraordinary Mass on Pentecost, and extra boost of the Holy Spirit to lead them on from here. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids than I am of this group. The way their lives came to such an abrupt change in March and they persevered and got to today. I know God will bless them abundantly, even the kid who came to Mass chewing gum.