Sacrament Preparation
Confirmation Materials
Walking with Families
Last year The Sacraments Implementation Group [SIG] has prepared a parish resource for Confirmation preparation.
It is called Walking with Families and consists of 3 zoom sessions, each lasting thirty minutes.
The sessions are based on three short videos with the following themes:
Strength for the Journey
Gifted by the Spirit
Called by Name
The videos are intended to stimulate faith conversation at home between parents/guardians and daughters/sons for Confirmation.
These sessions aim to complement the work of teachers in schools.
https://dublindiocese.ie/walking-with-families-confirmation-parish-training-dates/
Confirmation – Family Time
Home Activities
Make the time ahead special – special family time looking forward to Confirmation. This will make the ceremony itself more special!
Here are some ideas for parents/guardians and daughters/sons to do together.
1. After video ‘Strength for the Journey’
RE-WATCH
Watch the video again
When you’ve time together, watch it on your phone.
Share your thoughts and reactions… and say a prayer together.
THIS MILESTONE
Chat about what’s happening now in your life as a young person.
Confirmation is another milestone, at a time of really big change in life
From ‘child’ to teenager, a new world ahead.
Chat about how you are feeling
Son’s/daughter’s feelings… parent/guardian feelings – a mix of feelings – excitement – the unknown…
A Simple Prayer
May God’s Spirit strengthen me and give me confidence for the path ahead.
2. After video ‘Gifted by the Spirit’
RE-WATCH
Watch the video again
When you’ve time together, watch it on your phone.
Share your thoughts and reactions… and say a prayer together
GIFTS
Chat about the gifts of the Spirit that we learn about in school. Recall the list. Which gift would you like most? How would you use this gift? (parents share too about this)
3. After video ‘Called by Name’
RE-WATCH
Watch the video again
When you’ve time together, watch it on your phone.
Share your thoughts and reactions… and say a prayer together
INSPIRATION
Chat about people who ‘inspire’ you, people you admire most, whether people who are near or people you’ve never met. (Parents share too about this)
Chat about the Confirmation name you might choose.
Could it be a person who inspires you in some way?
More suggestions for Home Activities
PRAYER MOMENTS
Add in moments of prayer in the weeks and months ahead.
On your own, be quiet, still and know that God is there, God’s Spirit is within you
Drop into the church – a special place to be still and know that God is there, to feel God’s presence – visit alone/together – light a candle and say a prayer to the Holy Spirit. The easiest prayer is ‘Come Holy Spirit.’
Now and then, say a prayer together at home – maybe a ‘thank you’ prayer
A prayer/blessing
Quiet – think of your parent/guardian – think of your daughter/son – in your heart thank God for them.
Say a prayer for them – ask God to bless them – ask God to protect them
Pray that God’s Spirit will make each of us strong – and help each of us to be a wonderful person and to follow Jesus’ teaching in how we live
CHANGES
Chat about the changes in the young person’s life since birth: moments and milestones.
Birth itself and Baptism day
Learning to (crawl and) walk… Learning to talk
First school day
First Communion
How you’ve changed since then – the person you are becoming
A prayer – that you become the person you want to be – e.g. that you follow Jesus’ teaching, ‘always treat others the way you would like others to treat you’
A LETTER
Write a card to your child who is preparing for confirmation about the gifts you see in them or have a chat about it
NAMES
Chat about each of your names, the name that you are called (parents share too);
Why was that name chosen?
What’s happened your name since? (e.g. changed, shortened, nicknames.)
Do you like your name? Some do, some don’t
Quiet
Think of people close to you – who matter most to you – hear them saying your name – hear how it sounds from each of them
Think of God – Jesus calls people by name – hear him saying your name – in his voice, you hear his care for you, he calls you by name
POSTER
Invite your child to draw a poster with their name on it, decorated and can then be used at the Confirmation Liturgy or displayed in Church.