Confirmation

Confirmation is the sacrament that completes Baptism; in it the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon us.  Anyone who freely decides to live a life as God's child and asks for God's Spirit under the signs of the imposition of hands and anointing with chrism receives the strength to wtness to God's love and might in word and deed.  They are now a full-fledged, responsible member of the Catholic Church. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285-1314).  

The Confirmation program at Our Lady of Sorrows is a two-year program offered to young people typically beginning their freshman year of high school (if older students would like to enroll, they are more than welcome).  The mission of the program is to help young people enter into loving relationship with God so they can change the world. Over the two-year period, Confirmation students are invited to grow in faith and prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by attending monthly class sessions, participating in a retreat, and learning outside the classroom through service, spiritual, and enrichment opportunities.  

2021-2022 Hybrid Confirmation Preparation

The reality of the pandemic required us to rethink and reimagine faith formation activities last program year. As we return to a sense of normalcy this year, we seek to integrate what worked well last year with what we missed from years past, as well as to continue to prioritize safety for all of our students and teachers.

Confirmation preparation will occur in a hybrid format this year. Monthly sessions will take place over Zoom, and a beginning- mid- and end-year mini retreats will be held in person. See below for more info. We will follow CDC and Archdiocesan guidelines regarding social distancing/masking/other best practices.

If you determine that our plans for faith formation sessions will not work well for your family and would like to explore homeschooling curriculum, feel free to contact Teresa Coda for resource recommendations. 

Monthly Small Group Zoom Meetings

We received overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the Zoom structure of last year's faith formation program and so will continue to host our monthly sessions virtually. Hour-long sessions involving community building, a short lesson, small group discussion and prayer will be taught by Teresa Coda, with smal group discussions led by 2-3 Peer Ministers or an adult facilitator.

Confirmation I sessions will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. one Sunday each month. Confirmation II sessions will meet from 8:00-9:00 p.m. one Sunday each month. See below for the full program schedule.

Volunteers are always needed!  If you are available to serve as a facilitator, please contact Teresa Coda.

Seasonal Mini Retreats

Confirmation mini retreats will take place in O’Connell Hall at the beginning, middle and end of the year. The purpose of the retreats is to give students the opportunity to strengthen their sense of community with one another in a way that is best done in-person. Three two-hour mini-retreats will take place throuughout the year. See below for the full program schedule.

Service

Service Opportunities provide students with a chance to live out their faith and participate in the Acts of Mercy to which Jesus calls us.  Though the social distancing necessitated by the current Covid-19 pandemic limits the number and type of service opportunities available, the Office of Faith Formation is attempting to provide ideas and opportunities for service as we are able to do so.  Click here to learn more.

Registration

Click here to register!

For more information about the Confirmation program at Our Lady of Sorrows, please contact our Director of Faith Formation for Youth and Young Adults, Teresa Coda (tcoda@olossharon.org.)

Confirmation I (typically 9th Grade)

The theme of Confirmation I is Faith in Our Lives: revisiting, reviewing and applying the basics of our faith to everyday life.   The overall goals of the program are to create a space for thoughtful conversation, demonstrate the relevance of our faith to the lives of teens in 2020, and build community. Curriculum resources used for the development of our sessions include: The Center for Ministry Development, Education for Justice, Catholic Central, Busted Halo and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. 
 
Schedule
E-Orientaiton:  Information about what to expect for the year will be sent out via email in early-September.

Monthly Zoom Sessions: Small groups will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom on the following Sundays each month:

Confirmation II (typically 10th Grade)

The theme of the year is Catholic Social Teaching, and each session will explore one of the seven themes of CST, with the overall goals of creating a space for thoughtful conversation about peace and justice and translating faith themes to everyday life.

Primary resources used for the developement of this year's curriculum are Catholic Relief Services and Education for Justice.

You may determine that virtual faith formation would not work well for your teen and decide to take the year off and enroll them in Confirmation II once sessions are in-person again.  
 
Schedule

E-Orientaiton:  Information about what to expect for the year will be sent out via email in early-September.

Monthly Zoom Sessions: Small groups will meet from 8:00-9:00 p.m. via Zoom on the following Sundays each month:

Confirmation & Reception: Friday, May 13, 7 p.m.