Monday, August 17, 2009

WELCOME TO THE CONFIRMATION PREPARATION PROGRAM 2010

Welcome!
Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life.

Thank you for choosing to participate in the Confirmation Preparation Program at St. Joseph Parish. Your willingness to commit yourself to completing the program and receiving the sacrament of Confirmation convey to the entire faith community how much you value both your faith and your community. Your faith formation throughout the Confirmation preparation program will both assist you in identifying the gifts and talents you possess and challenge you to put these gifts and talents to use in our community. You will be invited to take responsibility for your own faith formation, as well as to assist others in that same endeavor.

The Confirmation preparation program here at St. Joseph Parish assumes that: 1) you are regularly participating in Sunday Liturgy, and 2) you are exploring and learning about your faith with your family. The individual sessions, while containing some catechetical formation, will primarily focus on creative faith-building and reflective faith-sharing exercises. This program aims to provide participants with both a more profound understanding of their faith, as well as the tools they will need in order to be able to continue to grow in faith after having received the sacrament of Confirmation.

The model of formation this year could be very different from what many of your parents probably experienced in their own Confirmation Preparation Programs. Why? Because the Church’s understanding of the Theology of Confirmation has evolved over the years – and it will continue to do so. This handbook contains some information concerning the theology of Confirmation, an overview of the program, program expectations and requirements, as well as other sources of information intended to be both helpful and useful for you as a candidate for Confirmation. In addition, supplementary communications and materials will be distributed to you throughout the course of the program. All of our Confirmation information can be found at our blogspot.

http://sjpm-the-journey.blogspot.com

This blogspot is interactive so you can leave your comments, suggestions and messages. However, this does not take away the importance of direct and open communication with us. If you would like additional information or resources, please do not hesitate to contact me at the rectory or my email address: boytee2764@yahoo.com

Thank you once again for your commitment and dedication to your own faith formation and to our entire parish community. May God continue to bless us all as we work, play, and pray together in the year ahead.

Fr. Manolo