Parish of St. Francis Xavier & St. Albert the Great Confirmation Program Prep I: Theology Bootcamp 2023-2024
Program Coordinators: Jack & Fiona O’Reilly Email:[email protected] Phone: (781) 337-2171 Google Classroom Code: ppc3jga Instagram: @SFXSAGFaithFormation
Key Information
Prep I Overview
Our first year of confirmation prep is designed to provide our confirmandi with a firm foundation in the basics of what it means to live and believe as a Catholic. Through our core formation pillars, we aim to give our confirmandi the resources needed to pursue friendship with Christ, and to come to know Him through their participation in the Church and service to neighbor. Our first year also includes a particular focus on some of the more pressing questions faced by young people today including: “How can we know that God exists?;“How do I pray and develop a relationship with God?”; “How do sacraments work and why is the Church necessary?”; and many more. Through our survey of the Catholic tradition, we hope to prepare our confirmandi to fully enter into the sacrament of confirmation and be well disposed to the abundant graces it provides.
Three Formation Pillars
The Christian calling is truly multi-dimensional – it engages each one of us in our intellect, our spirit, and our actions. Our formation has three core pillars which reflect this reality:
Spiritual: Friendship with Christ is the foundation of what it means to live as a Christian. Through our spiritual pillar, we will explore what it means to develop a relationship with Christ through our personal prayer and through the sacraments.
Intellectual:The Catholic Church has a rich intellectual heritage that is often overlooked. Through this pillar, we will explore the relationship between faith and reason and how we may address challenging questions of our time.
Human Flourishing (Service): As St. Paul reminds us, a “faith without works is dead.” Through this pillar, we will explore how we might more fully participate in the life of the Church through service to our community and neighbor.
Course Requirements
Attendance at Sunday Mass: While Mass attendance will not be recorded, an active participation in the sacramental life of the Church is essential to truly benefit from this program. We ask all confirmandi and their families to make every effort to attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis.
Attendance at monthly in person meetings & Mass: Confirmandi will be expected to attend all in person sessions included on the attached schedule. These in person sessions will include attendance at the 4pm Mass. Any conflicts or expected absences should be communicated to our faith formation team at the contact information noted above.
Completion of monthly virtual course material: Each month, our faith formation team will post course material on Google Classroom. This material will include videos, short readings, and comprehension exercises aimed to reinforce core topics and allow for increased flexibility within the formation program. Material should not take more than 30 minutes per month. Families are encouraged to review the material together. All virtual assignments are due by the following meeting.
Completion of 1 elective event in each of our 3 pillars: In an effort to allow for a more flexible and personalized faith formation experience, this year we will be asking confirmandi to complete 3 elective activities – one in each of our core formation pillars noted above. Each month a list of events or activities qualifying for each pillar will be posted to Google Classroom only with a sign-up sheet. Students/ groups of students should select events that most interest them. Friends and family are welcome to participate in all events.
Parish of St. Francis Xavier & St. Albert the Great Confirmation Program Prep II: Growth in Christian Life 2023-2024
Prep II Overview
Year two of our confirmation program has its sights fixed firmly on reception of the sacrament of confirmation. Over the course of the year, confirmandi will be challenged to deepen their relationship with Christ as they approach the date of confirmation. Our focus will be primarily on living as Catholics in today’s world and developing a mature spirituality that will allow our confirmandi to approach the sacrament confidently and sincerely.
Three Pillars of Faith Formation
The Christian calling is truly multi-dimensional – it engages each one of us in our intellect, our spirit, and our actions. Our formation program has three core pillars which reflect this reality:
Spiritual: Friendship with Christ is the foundation of what it means to live as a Christian. Through our spiritual pillar, we will explore what it means to develop a relationship with Christ through our personal prayer and through the sacraments.
Intellectual:The Catholic Church has a rich intellectual heritage that is often overlooked. Through this pillar, we will explore the relationship between faith and reason and how we may address challenging questions of our time.
Human Flourishing (Service): As St. James reminds us, a “faith without works is dead.” Through this pillar, we will explore how we might more fully participate in the life of the Church through service to our community and neighbor.
Confirmation Name
At important moments in our lives such as baptism and confirmation, the Church maintains a wonderful tradition of invoking the name of a saint or blessed of the Church. The Church encourages us to choose a saint to whom we have a particular devotion in the hope that we may be inspired by their particular example of holiness in their lives. Confirmandi will be asked to finalize the name they plan to take along with a half page description of why they intend to choose that particular saint. Decisions must be finalized by our December 13th meeting on the Google classroom form.
Course Requirements
Attendance at Sunday Mass: While Mass attendance will not be recorded, an active participation in the sacramental life of the Church is essential to truly benefit from this program. We ask all confirmandi and their families to make every effort to attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis.
Attendance at monthly in person meetings & Mass: Confirmandi will be expected to attend all in person sessions included on the attached schedule. These in person sessions will be followed by adoration and confession at 7pm, which students have the option to attend. Any conflicts or expected absences should be communicated to our faith formation team at the contact information noted above.
Completion of monthly virtual course material: Each month, our faith formation team will post course material on Google Classroom. This material will include videos, short readings, and comprehension exercises aimed to reinforce core topics and allow for increased flexibility within the formation program. Material should not take more than 30 minutes per month. Families are encouraged to review the material together. All virtual assignments are due by the following meeting.
Completion of 1 elective event in each of our 3 pillars: In an effort to allow for a more flexible and personalized faith formation experience, this year we will be asking confirmandi to complete 3 elective activities – one in each of our core formation pillars noted above. Each month a list of events or activities qualifying for each pillar will be posted to Google Classroom only with a sign-up sheet. Students/ groups of students should select events that most interest them. Friends and family are welcome to participate in all events.
Retreat Attendance: A retreat will be held in February prior to our confirmation date. This retreat will allow students the chance to reflect on their own life of faith and relationship with God as they approach the important moment of their Confirmation. Attendance at this retreat is required. A final date will be communicated shortly via email. Please reach out to the confirmation team with any concerns.
Other Information
Absence Policy: Please email the program coordinators as soon as possible if you expect to miss a class or are unable to complete a course requirement. We will work with families to find an appropriate solution.
Schedule & Key Dates: Refer to attached schedule within the information packet.