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.  

2020-2021 Virtual Faith Formation

After careful consideration of the constraints imposed by our facilities, which even in ordinary times require us to borrow space at the Cottage Street Elementary School, and after consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council, the OLOS staff has decided that Pre-Kindergarten through Confirmation faith formation programs will be online during the 2020-21 faith formation year.

Monthly Small Group Zoom Meetings

Small groups consisting of 8-10 Confirmation students and led by 2-3 Peer Ministers and/or an adult facilitator will meet monthly via Zoom, for hour-long sessions involving community building, a short lesson, small group discussion and prayer.

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

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.

Spiritual and Enrichment Experiences

OLOS typically offers a variety of Spiritual and Enrichment experiences, intended for parishioners of all ages to build community, practice their faith, learn in varied ways, and deepen their spirituality.  Confirmation students are especially encouraged to get involved in the OLOS community by taking part in our parish ministries and events.

Click here to learn more about our usual Spiritual and Enrichment Opportunities.

Please note that many of our usual Spiritual and Enrichment experiences will be unavailable for the forseen future due to the social distancing required by the Covid-19 pandemic.  
 

Optional Parent Sessions

Confirmation sessions will be supplemented by optional online sessions that will help parents explore ways they can share our Catholic faith with their teens at home. As the Church teaches, parents are the first and foremost educators of their children, with both a right and a duty to form, develop and guide their children into adulthood.  More information about these sessions will be provided to families who register for the 2020-21 Faith Formation program.

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.   We will be using a video series called Catholic Central, which offers entertaining and authoritative information about Catholic thought, spirituality and practice. Catholic Central is a ministry of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and has assembled a team of witty writers, appealing hosts and learned theologians to produce a collection of videos that entertain, enlighten and inspire.  

Parents of 9th graders, along with their sons and daughters, may determine that virtual faith formation would not work well for their teen and decide to take the year off and enroll them in Confirmation I once sessions are in-person again.  At that time, students would begin their 2-year preparation process and eventually be confirmed in 11th grade.  
 
Schedule
Orientation:  Wednesday, October 7, 7-8 p.m. (Zoom call link will be shared with registered families)
 
Class Schedule: Small groups will meet from 7-8 p.m., one Wednesday of the month.  The program year will run from October through May.  Small group gatherings will take place on the following Wednesdays:

November 11
December 16
January 13
February 24
March 17
April 14
May 12

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
Orientation:  Sunday, October 4, 7-8 p.m. (Zoom call link will be shared with registered families).
 
Class Schedule:  Small groups will meet from 7-8 p.m. one Sunday of the month. The program year will run from October through May.  Small group gatherings will take place on the following Sundays:

November 8
December 13
January 10
February 21
March 14
April 11
May 9

Sponsor/Candidate Sharing Session: TBD

Confirmation & Reception: Given the uncertainties of our current situation, we don’t yet know how the actual celebration of the sacrament will look or when it will take place; but know that by spending the year preparing for the sacrament, your son/daughter will be ready to be confirmed whenever we are able to safely confer the sacrament.