Youth group

[Andreamary]

Just typed a large posting but lost it… So, in short I’ll ask is there an alternative way a teen can prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation instead of through the typical youth group program method used at many churches today? DS would rather sit in a classroom and be taught what he needs to know rather than partake in the “fun and games” used to keep the interest of the other teens today.

 

[1ke]

Just typed a large posting but lost it… So, in short I’ll ask is there an alternative way a teen can prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation instead of through the typical youth group program method used at many churches today? DS would rather sit in a classroom and be taught what he needs to know rather than partake in the “fun and games” used to keep the interest of the other teens today.

Speak to your pastor, perhaps arrange an interview between the pastor and your son. Your pastor may deem your son ready for the sacrament, or may have an option for you to prepare him at home.

It is a local decision, we cannot tell you “yes” or “no” because it is up to your pastor.

Also, youth group and confirmation preparation are typically two different things, with two different purposes.

 

[Andreamary]

Doesn’t seem right to have to “shop around” for a church with a religious ed. program/director willing to deviate from the norm. As a side note we’re a Catholic homeschooling military family of many years very new to our current area/parish. I have an appointment scheduled to meet with the religious Ed. director, however upon our initial phone conversation our situation wasn’t warmly accepted and I was reminded of the importance of church community in the life of our son, something that I am very well aware of and have gone above and beyond to ensure my children partake in even at the cost of overloading them with weekly double doses of religious Ed. (Our curriculum used at home is Catholic) All of my children never missed a year of CCD, were alter servers ect. I probably should’ve gone straight to the pastor… Lastly, if there is supposed to be a differentiation between youth group and confirmation prep I wasn’t aware of it since the last parish we belonged to required the high schoolers to go to Youth Group every Sunday night in order to be eligible to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. I’ll address this with the director at our meeting.
Thank you for your insight/suggestions.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Just typed a large posting but lost it… So, in short I’ll ask is there an alternative way a teen can prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation instead of through the typical youth group program method used at many churches today? DS would rather sit in a classroom and be taught what he needs to know rather than partake in the “fun and games” used to keep the interest of the other teens today.

Of course there is! Youth Groups are just a way to mainstream sacrament prep. Many many many people all over the world are confirmed outside of a youth group program. Right now I am involved with sacrament prep for the children of illegal immigrants who have no records of any sacraments at all. It is a messy process and of course the answer is not to put them all in youth group for a good game of kickball with their counterparts…

I am also involved in a youth group that runs like a normal youth group and we also have a separate program for home school or family led types who wish to be confirmed.
scroll down for a secret…
All youth ministers and DREs please stop reading here.
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DREs and YMs want to get “numbers” and they have “mandatory” benchmarks you have to do. Retreats attendance etc. it is their job. Literally. But the Church is not run by the DREs. It is run by a Pastor, a Shepherd and a Father. Almost always if you go to your Father, and are a squeaky wheel. (respectfully of course) there will be a compromise in your favor. We have done sacrament prep for baptism and confession and communion for a child without mainstream religious ed or youth groups…

Take Denver for example. No need to have a “life teen confirmation program” there anymore.

 

[1ke]

Doesn’t seem right to have to “shop around” for a church with a religious ed. program/director willing to deviate from the norm.

I don’t believe I suggested you “shop around”.

I suggested you talk to your pastor. Your pastor, is the legitimate authority over sacramental preparation. The bishop is they ordinary minister of the sacrament, and he may or may not have set specific standards for the military archdiocese. In absence of diocesan standards, it is the pastor who makes such decisions.

As a side note we’re a Catholic homeschooling military family of many years very new to our current area/parish. I have an appointment scheduled to meet with the religious Ed. director, however upon our initial phone conversation our situation wasn’t warmly accepted

Talk to the pastor-- whoever the military chaplain is. It is not within the religious education director’s authority to deny sacramental preparation done by the parents, nor to delay or deny access to the sacraments.

It’s the pastor’s decision as to whether or not the candidate is ready for the sacrament. So again, I suggest an interview between your son and the pastor, not your son and anyone else.

Lastly, if there is supposed to be a differentiation between youth group and confirmation prep I wasn’t aware of it since the last parish we belonged to required the high schoolers to go to Youth Group every Sunday night in order to be eligible to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. I’ll address this with the director at our meeting.

Thank you for your insight/suggestions.

“Youth group” is not a canonical requirement for reception of the sacrament of confirmation and it cannot be denied your son for that reason. Contact stjosephcanonlaw.com/ for guidance.

 

[1ke]

DREs and YMs want to get “numbers” and they have “mandatory” benchmarks you have to do.

Well, not all DREs. Some of us believe grace is more important than hoops.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Well, not all DREs. Some of us believe grace is more important than hoops.

Yes. And from your posts would that all DREs were like you!

But you were not supposed to read that you know… Shame shame…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I don’t believe I suggested you “shop around”.

I suggested you talk to your pastor. Your pastor, is the legitimate authority over sacramental preparation. The bishop is they ordinary minister of the sacrament, and he may or may not have set specific standards for the military archdiocese. In absence of diocesan standards, it is the pastor who makes such decisions.

Talk to the pastor-- whoever the military chaplain is. It is not within the religious education director’s authority to deny sacramental preparation done by the parents, nor to delay or deny access to the sacraments.

It’s the pastor’s decision as to whether or not the candidate is ready for the sacrament. So again, I suggest an interview between your son and the pastor, not your son and anyone else.

“Youth group” is not a canonical requirement for reception of the sacrament of confirmation and it cannot be denied your son for that reason. Contact stjosephcanonlaw.com/ for guidance.

Many parishes I have seen have indeed married the youth group with confirmation. Teens are commonly told. “If you do not go to the retreat you cannot be confirmed.” If you do not attend x number of life nights you cannot be confirmed. etc. In youth programs there is a distinction between the “youth group” and confirmation prep. But that line gets blurred and even goes away in some cases.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Talk to your pastor about doing prep privately. As parents you have the right to be the primary teacher in sacramental prep. There are a number of appropriate traditional confirmation courses you can order online. The stuff they teach now is all warm fuzzies.

 

[dconklin]

Our program is a weekly class. While we may occasionally have an activity, our classes are usually classes. A large parish near us has four all day Saturday sessions the kids have to attend.