Rant about Confirmation Program

[MarkInOregon]

“What is wrong with studying the New Testament and the Catechism as Confirmation prep?” Absolutely true. Kids respond to being treated like adults and seriously learning about the Church, the Bible, the Sacraments, how those thing influence and give meaning to one’s life.

The problem that I see is too few adults are in a position in their own faith journeys to impart that kind of content to anyone else. Thus time is filled up with condescending pap which the kids of course will loathe.

 

[marci]

Confirmation is a three year process? I’ve never heard of that before. Why is it a three year process? How long is the RCIA process? I have just a few observations:

#1 – I am resistent to this type of thing as an adult and I was resistent to it as a high schooler–Your Mass sign in and the requirement to bring a signed bulletin to prove attendence elsewhere. Nothing screams I don’t trust you, I think you’ll lie to me any louder than this and it seems the wrong way to get kids to attend Mass. It would make me resentful and drive me to want to do the opposite. How would those who came up with this requirement like it if when they presented themselves to receive the Eucharist–they had to present a log book of Mass attendence, a doctors note if they had missed when they were sick, or a sheet signed by the priest they went to confession to? The Church doesn’t operate that way and neither should the confirmation process.

#2 --the whole process sounds unappealling–it sounds like boot camp. Our kids need to see us loving God, loving Mass, loving our faith, living our faith. They need to see us involved in service and getting great joy from it. What they don’t need are mandates, attendence sheets and a checklist of requirements to robotically complete and checkoff. Confirmation is a process of helping them prepare to receive the Holy Spirit–not get a diploma for meeting certain competency requirements. Obviously you don’t confirm the child who was never there but neither should you confirm the child who attended but just went through the motions–there needs to be some engagement.

#3–regarding 5 service projects a year–how does you parish define a service project? As I think of a service project–5 sounds like a little much–unless you simply mean a one day thing–i.e one shift at a soup kitchen–but then I wouldn’t call that a project. I think it would be more meaningful–if the confirmation leaders organized group opportunities for service–around the service things they do in their own lives. I assume they are involved in service activities in their personal lives after all they are requiring 5 per year for 3 years from the confirmation candidates. If Bob regularly serves at a soup kitchen–he should take groups of confirmation candidates with him so that they can participate and see him in action–see an active parish member actually doing service in his daily life–see an active parish member living out his faith. Now if the parish members who came up with this requirement are not doing these things in their own lives it will seem hypocritical of them to require it of others. We teach best by our actions.

Peace,
Mark

The three year thing is diocesan wide. If you are in a catholic diocesan school you only have to go for two years, if not you have to go for three.

I haven’t spoken with the DRE yet because my schedule last week wouldn’t allow it. I’ve been looking at other options, including finding a smaller parish. No matter what happens, I won’t be returning next year to this program–not as a teacher or a parent

 

[kkollwitz]

I’d say two years of substantial catechesis is plenty of prep for Confirmation, forget all that service business, retreats, etc.

On the other hand hand, if substantial catechesis is lacking, then it doesn’t matter how much other stuff gets tacked on.