Confirmation programs

[1ke]

No doubt going solo with a program that is your size is too daunting, one must consider the Rural Parishes in many diocese.

I am in a rural parish, average class size of 6, large is 10 and small is 3. I would not/do not “go solo” without diocesan approval.

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.

Class size is not relevant. Large or small, follow diocesan guidelines.

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.

I am not sure what makes you think that is possible in a rural parish either. It isn’t.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I am in a rural parish, average class size of 6, large is 10 and small is 3. I would not/do not “go solo” without diocesan approval.

Class size is not relevant. Large or small, follow diocesan guidelines.

I am not sure what makes you think that is possible in a rural parish either. It isn’t.

That depends on the parish doesn’t it. I know of a couple Rural parishes in the mountains that every single parishioner has Father over once a month…

I was confirmed by a priest through private instruction in college. I was a convert.

And just last Sunday at our parish a man was confirmed outside of RCIA. (well, the classes anyway) though private instruction as well. Neither case, either me or the man last Sunday had any involvement with curriculum on a diocesan level.
It is a superior way to have the sacraments of initiation instead of a one size fits all “office of curriculum” in the diocese. I’ll give you that it is not practical in all circumstances or even in most. But the fact that the Father who is the OP is asking this on an online forum would lead one to believe that there may be other circumstances here. Because at most parishes I have seen, the Priest is not even really involved with the choosing of curriculum, that is up to the DRE or youth minister and goes directly through the aforementioned all powerful IT at the diocese. (a Wrinkle in Time reference)

Both of the last two Popes have indicated a reconfiguration of the sacraments of initiation, making them available easier. Part of this process may indeed be cutting some red tape at the diocesan level and letting pastors pastor.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

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?

We use “Chosen” and supplement it with Fr. Baron’s “Catholicism” and the “Symbolon” series.

 

[phil19034]

We use “Chosen” and supplement it with Fr. Baron’s “Catholicism” and the “Symbolon” series.

If the kids are high school aged, you can also supplement with YDisciple, esp with a subscription to Formed.org

All parishes with the digital subscription to Symbolon will received a free upgrade** to FORMED once it is launched

** the free upgrade is until the digital subscription to Symbolon (or YDisciple) expires, then the parish must renew at FORMED.org rates, which are awesome.

If anyone wants more info about FORMED.org, please feel free to PM me and/or check out the website.

God Bless!

 

[EvagrianBridge]

I would NOT recommend We Believe/Creemos for students over age 10. I agree with those who suggested Barron’s Catholicism and incorporating TOTB. Other than that, I can’t really help as I teach in a high school so CCD/sacramental prep is out of bounds for me.

 

[hwriggles4]

This is a good question.

I am wondering if Symbolon would be good for high schoolers. I have been going to an Adult Formation program where Symbolon has been used, and I like it. One purpose of Symbolon is to reach the pew sitting Catholics who never really learned their faith in the 70s and 80s (yes, I got the watered down version myself as a kid during this time period). From what I have seen, I haven’t seen anything in the content that would be a red flag for high schoolers.

One thing about confirmation: I could see in a large group of 50 or more 8th graders through 12th grade many kids could come and “coast”, without learning much, or even fall asleep, if they are not expected to internalize and remember. My confirmation program in the 1980s was more of a “well, if you show up at the Monday night classes” and “you take part in the mandatory service projects” you got confirmed. Another thing too was a few kids were given money or a gift after they were confirmed (I wasn’t) and some of them went because “mom said so” and “your grandparents want you to get confirmed.”

Some dioceses have taken confirmation out of the junior high program and moved it up to high school, because many kids confirmed in 8th grade seem to not participate in high school youth. I’ve also seen kids having to come to a youth group as attendance to get confirmed. In one sense, it’s bribing the kids to come to youth group, but in another sense quite a few kids find after coming a few times they enjoy it more than they thought they would (I know, I was one of these kids who expected to do the minimum and found that I enjoyed being a part of a youth group).

One parish where I have helped with Faith Formation made confirmation a 2 year program, which IMHO is better than a one year program. This parish does confirm in 8th grade, and the Baltimore Catechism was used when I was an aide for 7th grade - and this was last year. I may help again this year.

A parish I regularly attend has used Theology of the Body for Teens, which I think is appropriate, and the girls can be separated from the boys for some of the discussions. Years ago, I helped a little with high school youth ministry, and some nights we would separate the girls and the boys, depending on the topics. I also find in some groups “single sex groups” were better for discussion, because some of the boys would try to impress the girls.

Just my two cents.

 

[hwriggles4]

Here’s a resource I would recommend for 7th grade on up.

One book I do think is appropriate for learning the faith and is written in plain English (i.e. easy to understand) is (don’t laugh) *Catholicism for Dummies *by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Ken Brighenti. I learned quite a bit from this years ago (stuff I should have learned growing up), and when I helped teach 7th grade CCD, I would sometimes pull information from here for my lectures. The book is also cheap (about $10 used), and can be found without much effort.

Actually, some colleges are using this book as part of an Introduction to Catholic Theology, and some of the RCIA classes at parishes also use it.

On another note, if you were ever a Boy Scout, I would recommend the materials used in the Ad Altare Dei program. I got this award as a Scout about 18 months after I was confirmed in the 1980’s. The program is geared more for junior high than high school. Seriously, I learned more about the seven sacraments (and I had a good instructor, and we got some clergy support too, which as men made a difference - we even had an interview at the end) in about six months than I learned in three or four years of CCD. We were also required to go on a retreat.

My big regret concerning the Ad Altare Dei when I went through it was I wish I would have done it as a 7th or 8th grader instead of being a 10th grader. I was an altar boy as a kid, and around 7th grade I asked my priest about the Ad Altare Dei and he didn’t know anything about it. It wasn’t until I went to Philmont and attended Mass the night before we went out on the trail did I find some further information, and a Scout leader from another troop in my area told me how to get in touch with a counselor. Later, my mother became an instructor and went through the Ad Altare Dei with my younger brother, who is six years younger than me.