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Father_Chris
Guest
Which Confirmation programs are the most trustworthy, orthodox, AND engaging? I have a small team and need something easy to use that will actually TEACH the Faith! Any recommendations?
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1ke
Guest
We used Chosen this year and I liked it for the most part. I do think I will need to supplement. My diocese is super orthodox, and it is on their recommended list. I’ve also used the materials from Ignatius Press.
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wild_thing
Guest
Okay, I haven’t used it yet, but I actually bought it for my two oldest boys- Decision Point. It’s a program by Matthew Kelly, of Rediscovering Catholicism. There are short videos and a workbook. They look engaging to me for teens (obviously, or I wouldn’t have bought it). I’m just debating for myself whether to start with that or Father Barron’s new series on atheism for them.
You can find Decision Point on the Dynamic Catholic website, if you’re interested.
You can find Decision Point on the Dynamic Catholic website, if you’re interested.
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pianistclare
Guest
We write our own…taking the best parts from other series. Most have at least one really good part, but often, weaker in some areas.
We invite in the best catechists we can find and mix up presenters.
30 hours of prep, a 3 day retreat, 20 hours of community service, a Saint project and interviews with the pastor. In addition to their regular formation class (LifeTeen).
One of our Deacons wanted us to use Decision Point because it’s free. It’s fine.
Ignatius Press is excellent.
We invite in the best catechists we can find and mix up presenters.
30 hours of prep, a 3 day retreat, 20 hours of community service, a Saint project and interviews with the pastor. In addition to their regular formation class (LifeTeen).
One of our Deacons wanted us to use Decision Point because it’s free. It’s fine.
Ignatius Press is excellent.
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1ke
Guest
Yes, and just to mention, our diocese has a curriculum guide which sets the expectation for confirmation prep.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
If you trust your team, and they are up for it, I would encourage you to develop your own plans and teaching of the faith. This can be extremely useful if the group of kids is smaller.
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phil19034
Guest
Father,
What age does your diocese (or parish) confirm children? Early childhood, 6th grade, 8th grade, 9 or 10th grade? I think the age makes a difference with SOME of the programs.
May God Bless you and your priesthood. Amen.
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1ke
Guest
Your own plans that are shared with and approved by the diocese.
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1ke
Guest
Good point!
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pianistclare
Guest
With all due respect…for those of us who Confirm at 15 (10th) grade that is the only reason those kids are in formation. we see many families today walking away from formation once they make their First Communion. We all know where teens are headed if they continue to be solely “catechized” by the secular media, celebrities, and the internet.
It behooves the Church to teach them when then a captive audience. Of course we teach about the Sacraments, Biblical history, Covenants, the Mass, and the inspiration of the Saints.
It’s not a graduation, but a chance to teach at a level they can more fully understand, beyond “well, my mom said”.
It’s a precious opportunity. We take it very seriously. They really have no idea how much they have missed, and they really rejoice when they are finally Confirmed. They return to the Mass and the Sacraments. It’s a win in our book.
Peace.
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dconklin
Guest
We have written our own as well for our “traditional” program (8th graders who have gone through faith formation). We have used parts of Decision Point as Chosen as well with a sprinkling of Theology of the Body. I also coordinate our middle school/high school RCIC/RCIA for children and use Faith Fusion from OSV for that.
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DCNBILL
Guest
This is much like the program at our school and Rel ed program.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
Sure, whatever form that takes. In my old diocese The parish I was a member of, the faith formation, including confirmation prep was done by Father with no curriculum. And of course the confirmation prep would look different in the diocese of Denver where the age has been moved to right after baptism. Of course any parish should be under the direction of the Bishop. Perhaps not the “diocese” per se, but the Bishop for sure. In my current diocese the curriculum would be whatever the sister in the office of faith formation thinks is the next big thing…
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pianistclare
Guest
I don’t discount the Holy Spirit.
But sometime we, the faithful, have to do put part in the process. The Catechists can be inspired by the Holy Spirit as well…who directs our teaching. We cooperate with God’s graces. We have precious little time to be vain about it. 
God Bless, Monica!
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MomaMary8
Guest
Speaking as a parent…
My child was confirmed last year and the program used was “Chosen.” She found it lacking in instruction but thought it might have been worth while for those kids who were lacking in catechesis. She was 17 when confirmed, one of those groups that are “kept hostage” as Monica might say.
My child was confirmed last year and the program used was “Chosen.” She found it lacking in instruction but thought it might have been worth while for those kids who were lacking in catechesis. She was 17 when confirmed, one of those groups that are “kept hostage” as Monica might say.
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pianistclare
Guest
Well, our Archdiocese publishes a list of approved curricula.
And if Father wanted to go solo? (I can’t imagine he ever would) they would certainly trust his learned judgment.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
No doubt going solo with a program that is your size is too daunting, one must consider the Rural Parishes in many diocese. A confirmation “class” of 1-10 is a lot different than the 60-100 of many parishes. Which is why I pointed out that one need not always get “permission” of approved curriculum from the diocese. Some dinners with Father over at the farmhouse is also a way to go. (A superior way than most curriculum if you ask me)
Now, I live in a city where this would be impossible. But I do think that most programs and curriculum lack an intimacy and personal touch that is needed more and more these days. One thing we are experimenting with for religious ed in our parish is a few families are breaking off and trying a more “family” led religious ed. With one session a month for parents and then the other three session led by the parents with their own children. We are trying it with the lower grades and ages first. But who knows where it will go. About 20 families are going to participate. The rest are going to do regular “ed”
But one of the biggest complaints in religious ed are parental in nature. The Catechists whine about the parents lack of involvement or instruction and the parents whine about the Catechists teaching wonky things or fluffing it up. This seems to give both sides a chance to show they are not the problem.
A great move by our priest if you ask me:thumbsup:
You know the drill well I bet.
Parent: Why do we have to do this, we send our kids to Catholic school or homeschool anyway. Parents are to be the primary educators. Faith formation should be a family activity.
Catechist: Parents don’t follow through with the faith formation with their kids. They drop them off and figure it is free babysitting. Or parents whine about time away from family or other schedules or activities. Parents need to be catechized too.
Well, we will see if this works out!
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mikeeh
Guest
If you’re working with teenagers, good luck. They usually have so much going on in their lives, Confirmation classes are the last thing on their minds. If you want to keep them somewhat engaged bring them food. I tried bring my second year Confirmation teens cookies and juice every class.
I haven’t found anything that is an all-in-one program. I usually build my own from different resources. First year is called the discernment stage and it’s basically a Bible Study. We read through the Gospel of Luke over the year. Mind you, we only meet about twice a month and when you factor in any Holy Hours we may have and/or penitential services, you’re looking at about a dozen classes. They are also required to attend the general youth group twice a month.
In the second year, called the immediate preparation stage, I created my own lessons mostly on the Sacraments because many of them don’t know anything about them, or very little. The lessons consisted of an ice breaker game, a discussion/lesson on the Sacraments with citations from the Catechism and related videos from the internet (Chris Stefanick and Busted Halo’s Sacraments 101 were used regularly), and a section on where to find the Sacraments in the Bible sometimes done in small groups. If there was time, one of the other Catechist would play his guitar for praise and worship as a closing prayer.
We were given Decision Point (it’s free online), but the videos are very boring. Matthew Kelly is a great writer, Rediscovering Catholicism was amazing, but he needed to do way more in those videos to keep teens engaged. The workbook for the program has a lot of good ideas. Chosen is said to be a great program and the makers of it just came out with a program called Altaration which focuses on the Mass. The program Encounter seemed interested. It’s a Bible study program for pre-teens.
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PrayPsalm51
Guest
We are using YouCat Confirmation and Theology of the Body. We confirmed high schoolers this past spring but will confirm 8/9 graders this year. It’s a great curriculum and teaches the kids to use and read the YouCat (Youth Catechism). They actually learn to find things in the CCC and Bible. It gives suggestions for ice breakers and activities and we added some of our own group/written work. We liked it a lot. We also use lots of video supplements like busted halo and outsidedabox. We mixed it up with alternating the YouCat lessons with Theology of the Body (which is taught by our priest).
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