My parish's confirmation program is awful. What can a teen/confirmandus do about this?

[CilladeRoma]

Infants in the Eastern rites are Chrismated as part of their Baptism. No knowlege or consent needed, except by parents.
We are holding the grace of the Sacrament hostage and make “book learning” more important. That’s a problem.

 

[Maximian]

For example, somebody whose training is in classical Latin will pronounce words differently than somebody whose training is in ecclesiastical Latin.

There is only one way to pronounce ecclesiastical Latin in the liturgy, and that is as if it were Italian. This is the established practice of the Church.

 

[tafan2]

@CilladeRoma, we don’t always see eye to eye, but on this you are spot on.
I simply do not understand why this does not change.

 

[CilladeRoma]

I watched what happened in my diocese when our new Bishop did away with restored order and created a 2 year Confirmation program that doesn’t start until 8th grade. We have lost a loy3 of kids, and their families. Very sad.

 

[tafan2]

We had a restored order for a 4 or 5 years in our parish, it was going great by all accounts. Other parishes were starting to follow suit so the bishop decided it needed to be standardized. He appointed a committee, which only diocesan staff on it. No one even came and talked to our pastor or DRE about how it worked at our parish. Ended up saying confirmation would be at the 8th grade.

I strongly suspect it was driven by the diocesan superintendent of schools. Our parishes restored order was only for CCD kids, school kids still received in 8th grade. I personally tried to argue for the change and was told the diocese school department would nit allow restored order. I then asked the superindent about it in person (saw him at a meeting we were both attending) and he looked at me as if I was crazy.

 

[babochka]

I strongly suspect it was driven by the diocesan superintendent of schools. Our parishes restored order was only for CCD kids, school kids still received in 8th grade. I personally tried to argue for the change and was told the diocese school department would nit allow restored order.

This doesn’t make sense. The argument most often heard for teenage confirmation is the need to keep kids in catechesis longer and the high drop-out rates after the sacrament is received. The kids in Catholic school are (presumably) getting the catechesis, whether Confirmation is on the line or not.

 

[tafan2]

Oh,vi know the argument. And I am sure that came into okay, but the head of the committee was from the schools, and the schools were very opposed to it. No where had the idea of it being a tote of adulthood taken a better hold than in the schools. I tried to get some other school parents on my side and was met with nothing but the thought it was part of 8th grade graduation.

 

[blackforest]

He had such a laundry list of complaints that I’m suggesting narrowing them down to the 2-3 most important. Perhaps I replied to him hastily; crafts is one that I’d personally leave on the back burner, especially if they’re doing them for a charitable endeavor. But if he wants to include the issue as something to broach, his preference is valid.

 

[mdgspencer]

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If you complain to the bishop you should provide evidence for what they say. Perhaps sending handouts of material provided during the sessions, perhaps recording a lesson or two, perhaps providing written statements from others attending. Then he would be more likely to hear what you say.

 

[Emeraldlady]

Two separate 2-night retreats during both of which I was involuntarily exposed to pornography and quite a bit of marijuana (things which I have worked hard to and otherwise successfully managed to exclude from my life)

I’m shocked and horrified that this part of a Catholic RCIA. Definitely contact the Bishop. I googled Bishop Michael Barber. He has been proactive in removing Priests that don’t conform to Catholic teaching. This is a totally unacceptable behaviour.

 

[do_justly_love_mercy]

First, the OP is not talking about Latin in the liturgy, he is talking about Latin in his confirmation program. Secondly, the pronunciation of liturgical Latin does vary. In the English-speaking world, for example, the word excelsis is typically pronounced in the Italian manner, “ex-chel-sis”. But in the German-speaking world, for example, it is normally pronounced “ek-sell-sis”.

 

[Horton]

I’m shocked and horrified that this part of a Catholic RCIA. Definitely contact the Bishop. I googled Bishop Michael Barber. He has been proactive in removing Priests that don’t conform to Catholic teaching. This is a totally unacceptable behaviour.

This isn’t an RCIA program, it is a confirmation program for teens. Going to the bishop without going to the director of the priest first is inappropriate. I agree it is unacceptable but it should be handled locally. I seriously doubt the priest or director approved of that activity.

 

[do_justly_love_mercy]

I think it would be a mistake to refer this matter to your bishop as a first resort. If you have issues with the way the program is taught, your concerns can almost certainly be addressed within the parish. You should work your way up the chain of command, not go straight to the top. If the first that your parish learns of your dissatisfaction is an email or phone call from the bishop, they will wonder why you didn’t raise the matter internally first. You will just come across as arrogant and trouble-making and you will alienate people who are trying to help you.

 

[1ke]

I’m shocked and horrified that this part of a Catholic RCIA.

Well of course it isn’t PART of the program.

The OP is a teenager in confirmation prep in the parish. The way I read it, fellow teens brought contraband items to the retreat.

The priest needs to be notified.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I seriously doubt the priest or director approved of that activity.

Exactly.

Should there have been better chaperoning? Yep.

I’d speak to the pastor, the DRE, etc.

 

[LukeShalz]

I think what your husband received is great an I would be happy and willing to participate in such a project. In my case though, our “projects” are usually not to significant ends and quickly find themselves in a recycling bin.

 

[patricius79]

I suggest that you pray to Jesus Christ through His Immaculate Mother for everyone involved, invoking their holy names frequently.

 

[InThePew]

I am the director of youth ministry at my parish and would like to hear feedback from a youth in a program. However, no one wants to hear it in the manner you have presented it here today. I am always striving to make our program better, more relatable, delivered in a way the kids understand and internalize it.

@LukeShalz This. Likewise, no priest wants to be presented with a laundry list of complaints and criticisms. That’s not to say that your criticisms don’t have at least some validity or that you should just put up and shut up, but at the same time, decisions are made by those who show up and good help is hard to find! This isn’t just a problem of competency, it’s also a problem of willingness.

Don’t just criticise; get involved - if you think the materials suck, then offer to work with your priest and program coordinator to see how they can be improved. That said, while confirmation programs should contain catechesis they’re not supposed to be a master class is theology and apologetics. Many of your peers - as I’m sure you’re only too aware - aren’t anywhere near the level of understanding (never mind enthusiasm) about their faith as you. It’s great that you’re fired up and enthusiastic about your faith, certainly, the Church needs many more young people to be like you, be don’t forget that holiness is a journey in community side-by-side with others moving forward by little and little because we cannot be saved by ourselves - you are your brother’s keeper!

 

[do_justly_love_mercy]

You have received almost 60 responses and have acknowledged hardly any of them. It makes me wonder what was the point of your post. Did you only want to get replies that confirm what you already think? The parish confirmation program has presumably been approved by your pastor. Your pastor will have a minimum of six years’ college-level education in philosophy and theology. He knows more than you do about this. You probably think I’m being mean, and I appreciate that you are still quite young, but, seriously, this attitude will not help you in life.

 

[poche]

I think you should think on what a great treasure the sacrament of Confirmation is. Think also of how the devil will do whatever he can in order to deprive you of this great treasure. Some people are persecuted. For other people he creates barriers. Some of these barriers are visible and others are invisible. In your case I think you should think on this and don’t do anything that would deprive you of being able to receive this most august treasure.