About Me
Syllabus
Introduction
This program is designed for students who are in 8th -12th grade. Like all Sacraments, there is not a correct age or time to receive a Sacrament but you need to prepare for First Communion and Confirmation by participating in this class before taking on the responsibility that comes with reception of the Sacraments.
The primary texts that will be used this year are:
Chosen: This Is Your Catholic Faith. This book and accompanying videos take young people on a journey through the Catholic faith in all its richness and vitality. The series attempts to address many of the questions that teens and young adults have about their faith and provides tools to help you discern some of the answers to those questions at this stage of your faith and life journey. Along the way we will touch upon salvation history, the sacraments, prayer, and discipleship and how they are keys to a happy and faith-filled life and being a disciple of Christ
The Holy Bible: First and foremost, the Bible is the Love Story between God and His creation. Pope Francis has said,“Since God became story, every human story is, in a certain sense, a divine story. In the history of every person, the Father sees again the story of his Son who came down to Earth. Every human story has an irrepressible dignity. Consequently, humanity deserves stories that are worthy of it, worthy of that dizzying and fascinating height to which Jesus elevated it.” In a real sense then, the Bible can be our story, too, if we but open its pages.
Handouts: Materials I pass out in class will also be used. Please mindful that anything that is passed out is NOT TRASH and should not be discarded as our discussions will sometimes refer back to these materials and future lessons will build upon them.
Classes this year will be offered on Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 7:15 pm. Classes run from September 21, 2023 through May 9. 2024. The class schedule set out on the website and here set out the dates that will be covered during the year. However, because of different events and issues that come up, the schedule is merely tentative and subject to change or shuffling.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DURING THE SUMMER YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED A PROJECT TO DO WHICH MUST BE TURNED IN AT THE MANDATORY RETREAT THAT WILL OCCUR IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. DETAILS OF THE PROJECT WILL BE PROVIDED ONCE MS. RITA MORANO, THE Religious Education Coordinator, HAS FINALIZED IT.
I have also set up a web page that will have helpful information concerning sponsors, picking a confirmation name, the Course Schedule, postings of the materials used in class, and links to videos and other materials that will be useful as we walk on this year’s journey to prepare for reception of the Sacraments of First Communion/Confirmation. It is important for you to check the web site regularly to make sure you are prepared for class and review anything that you may have missed.
It is important that you come to class and be prepared to discuss what you read before class and any assignment that is given. If, for any reason, you can not come to class, please make every effort to let me know before class. You may send me an email. If you must miss a class, you are still responsible to read the material for that week and do any assignment(s) that you missed. While the material will be posted on my web page, it is important that I have both your current email address as well as your parent’s email address so I can get any materials that were assigned or handed out in class. Please feel free to call me to discuss anything you missed that week. For that matter, feel free to e-mail me about any matter that you wish to discuss concerning class, something that you wish to know about your Catholic faith, or any matter you do not wish to discuss in front of your classmates. Anything that is discussed will be kept with the strictest confidence, unless it is a matter of law that I must disclose or you give me permission to discuss what we talked about with Deacon Frank or Ms. Rita.
Additionally, here is the contact information for Ms. Rita if you would prefer to discuss these matters with her or if you or your parents have concerns about anything I am sharing with you.
Mrs. Rita Morano, REC: (863) 422-4370.
Likewise, your parents may email me if they have any questions or matters they wish to discuss with me. Please be aware, however, that I do not speak or write Spanish and may have one of the other catechists who are bilingual translate for me.
It is also important that you try to attend Mass once a week and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation when you have committed any serious sin before receiving Communion.
A WORD ABOUT SPONSORS FOR CONFIRMATION
Each Candidate for Confirmation must have someone who sponsors their final stage of initiation into the Church. The sponsor should be a person who is willing to present the candidate to the Church and affirm that they are ready for Confirmation. A sponsor should be someone you consider to be a model to follow and exemplifies the Catholic faith to the candidate. The function of a Sponsor is not a social role of honor given to a relative or family friend simply because they are relatives or friends. A sponsor dos not have to be a godparent. It is about the child or adult who is going to receive this once-in-a-lifetime sacrament of the Church. Sacramental Sponsorship implies a knowledgeable understanding of the Catholic Faith, and willingness and intention to help the one being sponsored continue with their religious training during their life by word, deed, and example.
A Sponsor has three primary roles:
● To assist the candidate in preparing for Confirmation.
● To present the candidate for Confirmation.
● To help the Confirmed person to live out his or her Christian Faith, fully.
A Sponsor must have the following qualifications according to Church Law (Canon Law: 873 and 874 summarized, concerning Confirmation Sponsors):
● He/She must be knowledgeable of the fundamental truths of the Faith and be a Practicing Catholic who regularly attends Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and is free to receive the sacraments according to the Church’s tenets.
● The Sponsor must themselves have received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church.
● He/She may not be the child’s mother or father; or in the case of an adult, the wife or husband of the one to be Baptized or Confirmed.
● He/She must be at least 16 years old and have the use of reason.
● If he/she has children of their own, they have fulfilled their Catholic parental obligation toward raising them in the Catholic Faith.
● He/She must not be bound by any Canonical impediment or penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
Saint's Name
During the Catholic sacrament of Confirmation, God the Holy Spirit comes upon the candidate to bestow numerous spiritual gifts and “confirm” the faith given you in Baptism when Original Sin was wiped away. Before Confirmation, it is highly recommended that the candidate choose a saint whose name they want to take. This new name, imposed by the Bishop during Confirmation, becomes a part of the candidate’s full name. While you do not have to ever use the Confirmation name again, you may choose to do so if you wish. It comes after your first and middle names and before your surname. For example, my Confirmation name is Anthony, so my full name is Paul Richard Anthony Pio (because I am also a Benedictine Oblate) Hoffer. Here is a step-by-step process you may find helpful in choosing a Saint Name.
Find a list of canonized saints in the Roman Catholic Church by reading a book or doing online research. Saints are people who have lived holy lives and are now in heaven as members of the Church Triumphant. Their life stories provide examples for others on how to overcome spiritual obstacles on Earth.
Additionally, you may choose the name of a Catholic person, living or dead, who in your mind, lived a holy and faithful life of virtue. You can also use names found in the Bible, such as Angels and O.T. prophets, saints, and holy people. Remember, a saint is anyone who is in heaven, not just canonized saints.
Pray to the Holy Spirit, and ask Him for help in finding a saint whose life you’d like to imitate. This saint will be bonded with you spiritually, and in essence, becomes your heavenly patron who intercedes for you before God. Think about the specific virtues those saints exhibited, such as patience, perfection, diligence, humility, mortification, meekness, obedience, prayer, charity, or simplicity. Find a virtue that connects with you.
Before you are Confirmed, pray to the saint whose name you will be using as your Confirmation name. Ask this saint to intercede for you, to help you make the right moral choices, and overall to be a powerful spiritual guide for the rest of your life.
Please note, you will be required to provide the name of your sponsor and your saint name at the Retreat and your sponsor will need to attend the mandatory practice the Wednesday before the Confirmation Mass.
Class Schedule
1. September 21, 2023 Orientation and Introductions
2. September 28, 2023 Circle of Grace
3. October 5, 2023 The Importance of Discipleship and Holiness
4. October 12. 2023 Chosen #1
5. October 19, 2023 Chosen #2
6. October 26, 2023 Chosen #3
7. November 2, 2023 Chosen #4
8. November 9, 2023 Chosen #5
9. November 16, 2023 Chosen #6
November 23, 2023 No Class: Thanksgiving
10. November 30, 2023 Mary and the Saints, Chosen #19
11. December 7, 2023 Chosen #7/The Importance of the Incarnation
December 8, 2023 Immaculate Conception (you should go to Mass though as this is a Holy Day of Obligation)
December 12, 2023 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
12. December 14, 2023 Chosen #8
December 21, 2023 No Class-Christmas break
December 25, 2023 Christmas
December 28, 2023 No Class-Christmas Break
13. January 4, 2024 Chosen #9
14. January 11, 2024 Chosen #10 and Chosen #11
15. January 18, 2024 Chosen #12 The Holy Spirit
16. January 25, 2024 Chosen #13 Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
17. February 1, 2024 Chosen #14 The Meaning of Confirmation
18. February 8, 2024 Chosen #15 The Eucharist: the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
19. February 15, 2024 Mini Retreat: in chapel at the School
20. February 22, 2024 Chosen #16
21. February 29, 2024 Chosen #17 Vocation: a talk with Deacon Frank
22 March 7, 2024 Chosen #18
23. March 14, 2024 Chosen #20
March 24, 2024 Palm Sunday
March 28, 2024 No class: Holy Thursday
March 31, 2024 Easter Sunday
24. April 4, 2024 Chosen #21
25. .April 11, 2024 Chosen #22
26. April 25, 2024 Chosen #23
27. May 2, 2024 Chosen #24
28. May 9, 2024 Summary of Class, Review of Summer Project, Answering any Final Questions
May 15, 2024 First Communion Practice @ 6:00 pm
May 18, 2024 First Communion @ 10:00 am
Prayer for First Communicants by St. Padre Pio
My past, O Lord, I entrust to your mercy. My present to your love. My future to your providence.
Prayer for Confirmandi by St. Benedict of Nursia
Gracious and Holy Father,
Please give me:
intellect to understand you,
reason to discern you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
a spirit to know you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
ears to hear you,
eyes to see you,
a tongue to proclaim you,
a way of life pleasing to you,
patience to wait for you
and perseverance to look for you.
Grant me a perfect end,
your holy presence,
a blessed resurrection
and life everlasting.
Amen.