Confirmation
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The final Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Faith is Confirmation (Baptism & Eucharist are the others). Confirmation in the Archdiocese of Boston is conventionally offered as a two-year preparatory program held during Grades 9 & 10 of High School (there are exceptions). In the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative, Confirmation often takes place at the conclusion of this preparation in late April or early May of the 10th grade year. Anyone of High School age (even 11th & 12th grade) who seeks to commit him/herselves to being a life-long follower of Jesus is encouraged to register.
Our program, like everything else in the pandemic, is operating differently in 2020-2021. We are following all safety protocols issued by the Center for Disease Control, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Archdiocese of Boston and functioning almost 100% virtually.Questions about the program, or to learn how to register at any point of the year (since pace is largely determined by the candidate), can be directed to:
Mark Callahan, Youth Minister
(mcallahan@cc-catholic.org)
and
Adriana Nunez-Sierra, Administrative Assistant (anunez@cc-catholic.org).
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1) Our curriculum for both grade levels is "Decision Point" from our friends at Dynamic Catholic®. Each participant is provided a handbook and roughly nine thematic sessions, annually, through "Flocknote" email and text-blast communications on various Sundays throughout the academic year. Each of the sessions contains links to five short videos from Dynamic Catholic's founder and NY Times best-selling author, Matthew Kelly (72 total short videos will be watched over the course of the two-year preparatory period). Addtionally, our Youth Minister provides an introductory video at the start of each session. Participants can watch the videos in their own time and space (within a given 7 or 14-day window) and, in the absence of in-person classes, are encouraged to discuss the topics which are raised in the videos at home with their families prior to responding to short discussion questions online.
2) Level I participants (Grade 9) take part in 2 virtual retreat experiences (Fr. Dan O'Connell & New Spirit, Inc.) as well as a special Sunday Mass tailored to them. Level II participants (Grade 10) take part in 2 virtual retreats (Array of Hope & Secrets to a Happy Life) as well as the same virtual, Sunday, 5pm Mass as Level I.
3) Christian Service centered around the seven Corporal Works of Mercy is encouraged during the Lenten season this year and is to be performed individually within the family unit or in safe, localized ways determined by the candidate. Each candidate is challenged to author a "Christian Service Plan" which indicates how they intend to help those immediately around them since group visitations at our numerous 'usual' destinations are not available during the pandemic.
4) All candidates are reminded to participate weekly in Sunday Mass (in-person or virtually) and are encouraged to engage in Youth Ministry sponsored events throughout the course of the year (e.g.: Sunday, 7pm live-streams, lectoring at Mass, santizing the churches after Masses/events, Turkey Truck collections for the residents of East Boston, Christmas Tree pickups as a service for residents of Concord, St. Vincent de Paul assistance, etc.).
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