Posted on 07/23/2007 12:26:09 PM PDT by NYer
This year, I will be working with 4 young adults and preparing 2 of them for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The last time I did this, that parish was using the Benziger Press books, which were way too new age. With all of your experience, I would be most appreciative to hear which texts you have used, how your students related, and you frank and honest opinions on what works best.
Thank you for your usual assistance.
How about using the Catechism you are posting in separate lessons? It seems quite good to me.
Didache Series from the Midwest Theological Forum. Very good books.
Do you know the approximate ages of the kids?
Yes - 12 to 15.
Thanks, Jaded for the info on Midwest Theological Forum. Excellent books but overkill for these kids. The two who will be making Confirmation are enrolled in Catholic school where they already receive religious education. Our Religious Education is intended to supplement it with the Maronite history, liturgy, saints etc. The Sacrament of Confirmation is usually administered at the same time as Baptism. For whatever reason, these 2 were not chrismated at Baptism.
This is a wonderful opportunity to also enliven the faith of the other two young adults who obviously recall nothing from their Chrismation. Next Spring, Father will arrange to have the Bishop come up from Brooklyn to confirm these two in their Catholic faith. I want it to be a positie learning experience, one in which I can draw out their faith. (The boy is a good candidate for the priesthood :-). I plan to begin by asking each of them to draw a piece of paper on which will be written the name of a saint who died for the faith as a teen. They will be asked to research this saint; we will then ask these saints to accompany us on the faith journey.
I taught Confirmation many, many moons ago. If I were to do it today I would have a heavy emphasis on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is probably the least recognized, thought of, prayed to and taught in the Church. And your lessons will come easier as He will be with you in planning and teaching in every class.
Good luck.
I know there is a teen catechism that is an introduction to the actual Catechism. There’s a teacher’s guide, too. I’ve not used it myself because my kids are too little. I think some families in our homeschool group used it. Father McBride, maybe? You might want to do a little more research. Sorry I can’t be more helpful! That’s all I remember!
I hav not taught that age level, but the textbooks my parish uses are called Faith and Life and they are wonderful. Very detailed, orthodox and easy to use.
We use the Faith and Life series in our homeschool but I didn’t know if they went that far up in age. I agree they are very orthodox. Wonderful books! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! LOL!
That’s the one! I don’t know if it’s any good but it might be worth checking out. Thank you for that link!
Excellent advice! At Confirmation, we receive the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit and we will definitely focus our attention on those gifts.
The one young man, Salim, is 15. He is about 6' tall and has been an altar server for many years. His uncle is a Chorbishop and his father almost entered the seminary, so there are already strong male role models in his life. Last week we began the novena to St. Ann. Our pastor has been called away to a clergy retreat with the bishop so we planned on dropping the Eucharistic Adoration portion of the nightly novena. Well, one of our visitors to the novena this year is a retired RC priest (60 years in the priesthood!), and he agreed to assist us with Adoration. When Salim arrived this evening, I asked if he would assist this priest. He immediately nodded his agreement and went to the Sacristy to don his surplice and cassock. What an honor to work with him!
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