Confirmation Workshop For Parents & Confirmandi December 2016 St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Aims: To understand the Sacrament of Confirmation and the journey of preparation to receive the Sacrament St Bedes Catholic Middle School (Academy) St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Opening Prayer: We gather today as a community of faith in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We welcome especially the young people who are preparing for Confirmation and those members of their families who will support them on that journey. As members of this faith community, we too, will support and pray for them as they prepare to celebrate this sacrament. We ask God’s blessing on all who are gathered here and pray that our time of preparation for Confirmation may be filled with grace. Amen St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

The Importance of Confirmation Confirmation is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church. It is the third of the three Sacraments of Initiation into the Church which are necessary for people to become full members of the Church. The other two Sacraments of initiation are the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Confirmation completes what Baptism begins. Full members of the Church Baptism Eucharist Confirmation St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

This year…. In the past, the Sacrament has always been available to those pupils in Year 8 who have expressed their desire to become full adult members of the Church. This Academic Year, we have decided to make this opportunity available to Year 7 and 8 pupils as this will bring us a little more in line with the rest of the Diocese who Confirm in Year 6. Next year, we shall make this available to Year 7 only and include those who haven’t yet received the Sacrament and wish to when in Year 8 next Year during the 2017-2018 Academic Year. St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

What is the Sacrament of Confirmation? 1285    Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” ..Catechism of the Catholic Church St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Through Confirmation the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are received: wisdom and understanding, counsel and fortitude, knowledge and piety and fear of the Lord. These gifts can help a person to live as a follower of Christ. Through receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is hoped that the Candidate will through their thoughts, words and actions bear the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Longanimity, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continency, Chastity.    It is a means by which the Candidate publically professes their faith and shows their commitment to becoming a full member of the Church. St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION MODEL – FIRST EDUCATORS IN FAITH In the beginning…….. IDEAL SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION MODEL The three legged stool of the three Key elements needed for a successful Confirmation Sacramental Programme. These are; Family Parish Catholic School – FIRST EDUCATORS IN FAITH FAMILY/HOME CATHOLIC SCHOOL SUPPORTING FAMILY & PARISH PARISH COMMUNITY LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH/ ACTIVE AND WORSHIPPING St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

From the Catechism: 2685. The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the ‘domestic church’ where God’s children learn to pray ‘as the Church’, and to persevere in prayer. For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the church’s living memory as awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit.” Taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

First steps on the journey….. For a few moments please talk on your tables and discuss together as a family what your first steps will be. Please feel free to write any thoughts on the sugar paper provided. As a young person, what can I do to show my commitment? What promises will I make on my Enrolment? What gifts of the Holy Spirit would I most like to receive? Why? What fruits of the Holy Spirit would I most like to receive? Why? What name have I chosen? Why? Please write down how your Family/Parish/School can help you further. As a parent/family how will I help my child? As a Sponsor how will I support the candidate? St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Who helps us on our journey? The Holy Spirit! Remember to pray regularly as part of your ongoing preparation and invite the Lord into your journey He will guide and strengthen you as you take this important step in faith Your Parents/Carers/Family members Your Sponsors - Parish Communities – OLMC Redditch - Fr Tony & Fr Craig St Peters Bromsgrove– Mgr. Graham & Miss Downes School – Mr Roberts & Mr Payton Miss Howard-Biggs & RE Teachers Lay Chaplain – Miss Downes Archdiocese of Birmingham – Archbishop Bernard You! As a Confirmand you are responsible for the completion of your workbook and fulfilling the promises that you have made on your Enrolment and the daily practise of your faith and regular attendance at Mass. St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

The Journey….What happens now? You decide with your family! Invitation Letter with Sacramental Programme dates (available this evening) Enrolment Form to be completed – return to school by 16th December 2016 Confirmation Enrolment Ceremony – Certificate of Commitment - Special Masses in February 2017 4th February (Sat) & 5th February 2017 (Sun) Each Candidate is also asked to write a letter of application to the parish priest briefly saying why he or she now feels ready to prepare for Confirmation and how they intend to live out their faith commitment. This is to be handed in with your Enrolment Form. Attend Sacramental Programme preparation sessions after school x 5 sessions (Father & LR – Expectations) My Confirmation Sponsor – A practising Catholic over age 16 and who has been Confirmed themselves – but NOT an immediate family member; i.e mum, dad, brother, sister. However, auntie and uncle, grandparents, cousins are fine. Why a Special Name - Catherine, Anthony, etcetera Retreat at St Mary's Oscott in March 2017 Ongoing – daily prayer, attendance at weekly Mass, providing service to others, going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation Conferring of the Sacrament by Archbishop Bernard in June 2017 13th June 2017 at OLMC and 14th June 2017 at St Peter’s Bromsgrove St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Sacramental Preparation Sessions: These will be held in St Bede’s School on Monday evenings for both Parishes from 6-7pm for pupils who belong to the Parish of Mount Carmel and in St Peter’s Community Centre Bromsgrove for those pupils from St Peter’s from 6.15-7.15pm. You will each receive a copy of Confirmed in the Faith and this is at a cost of a suggested donation of £5 per book to be paid at the start of the Preparation Sessions. Each of the five sessions need to be attended and all chapters of the workbook are to be completed in between sessions. St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Receiving the Sacrament: The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on you in your own Parish church and His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley will be the Principal Celebrant and will lay hands on you for you to receive the Holy Spirit. Our Lady of Mount Carmel St Peter’s Bromsgrove St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

A reminder why….. Again, here’s the Catechism: 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. You are ready with greater spiritual maturity and intelligence to embrace the challenges of life that you will face with humility and dignity in the likeness of Christ. The Sacrament of Confirmation is rooted in the event of Pentecost: the day upon which the disciples were sent the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus before He died (John 14:15, 14:26, 15:26) and before He ascended into Heaven (Luke 24:49, Acts 1: 4-5, 1:8). It was through the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost that the disciples were able to leave the Upper Room and go out into the streets of Jerusalem to proclaim the Good News (Acts 2:1-42). St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)

Thank you for coming this evening. Any Questions…… Thank you for coming this evening. Final Blessing St Bedes Catholic Middle School (Academy) St Bede’s Catholic Middle School (Academy)