Pari sh Confirmation Programme

Every year about 70 young people from Year 8 and above join the parish Confirmation preparation programme which runs from Lent to Pentecostand is led by a team of 20 or more catechists. We are delighted to have recruited several young leaders from Years 11-13 who went through the programme themselves only recently: their input and enthusiasm has been invaluable. 

As well as broadening their faith we aim to help our young people grow in confidence so that they will be better equipped to share in Christ’s mission to bring love, justice and peace into the world.  But the Confirmation Programme is not an end in itself: it is one of the many steps on the road we all travel as Christians. 

Is Confirmation for me?
If you think that the Church is stuffy, or has little value in today’s world, or is just something for older people, then think again!

Our programme is lively and challenging, presented in lots of different styles: powerpoint; DVD; rock music; drama; role play; speakers; interactive prayer methods; and group discussion.

Drawing on a wide range of up-to-date resources, we have put together a programme to help you discover more about your faith.  We want you to be able to relate Church to your daily lives and see how your faith, and the way you approach it, is an essential part of your development as a young adult.  Being confirmed helps guide and shape relationships; decision-making; life-style choices and values. 

We hope that being confirmed will really change your life and help you see how your Christian faith has a positive impact on the way you think and act, enriching the way you relate to one another, to your families and to God.

Our young people are a very important part of the community of St Vincent’s and we value your contribution to parish life.

Our Fun Day
Each year we start off the Confirmation programme with a Fun Day.  Hectic, lively, wacky, exhausting (certainly for the leaders!) but great FUN as the name suggests, it’s a great way of getting to know the other people on the programme and mixing together in the small groups where most of our stuff takes place. It’s a good way of meeting up with old friends from primary school days and making new friendships too. 

Our Retreat
During the programme as well as our weekly meetings we also have our own Retreat. This is an enjoyable and interactive spiritual experience that explores the different aspects of the Holy Spirit which are received at Confirmation.

Using eight mini-sessions or ‘zones’, some quiet and reflective; some interactive; some lively; some just plain silly (but with a meaningful message!) and employing many different techniques of presentation, our small groups engage in a series of short worship and reflection experiences that open up new ways of getting to know God.

Talent spotting
We’re really keen to get a good music band together for all our services and always need singers or musicians.   We also need actors and readers as well as greeters to welcome people to our services.  Candidates with artistic flair help design and make our Confirmation banner which is displayed in church.

Youth Mass
This is open to anyone, not just Confirmation candidates – the more the better!   It’s hoped to build on the success of the Mass for Youth Sunday on the Feast of Christ the King in November 2006 and continue these Masses on a regular monthly basis throughout 2007 and beyond. Many of the 2006  Confirmation group took part in the Youth Sunday Mass and enjoyed socialising afterwards over pizzas and pop in Westleigh.  We hope to make the social side a regular feature too! The Youth Mass will be celebrated on the 4th Sunday of every month. Please contact Anne (details at the end of this article) if you want to get involved, especially if you are musical, or just turn up.

Post-Confirmation
As well as the Bishop’s Challenge activities, which are a way of living our faith through practical action for the benefit of the parish community and the wider world, there are currently two Youth Clubs on alternate Friday evenings from 7.30-9pm run by Paul Farrell for years 7-9 and Georgina Marlow for years 10-11. These meet in Westleigh and offer a relaxed atmosphere where people can chat, play pool or table football, play CDs or just hang out with friends.  There’s more info about this in the groups section of the website.

Your comments - some feedback from previous candidates

Confirmation is… "getting closer to God", "making new friends", "meeting old friends", "having fun", "understanding the Holy Spirit more", "completing the Sacrament of Baptism", "confirming your baptismal vows", "making your own decisions concerning Church"

Some benefits… "it’s good to get to know other Catholics, especially if you go to a non-Catholic school", "it’s good to know there’s always the Sacrament of Reconciliation"

The Sessions… "got to know each other better, interesting, good fun, we laughed a lot", "friendly and welcoming", "bonded well", "made new friends", "we enjoyed discussing the topics", "not too heavy", "interesting, goes quickly, too short some complex ideas", "having missed The Bill, Football, Corrie and Enders and still liked the sessions is a minor miracle!"

The Fun Day… "great – we got to know each other", "the best event was ‘Over the Rope' because we learnt to trust each other good, challenging activities", "the best because we won!", "very good – love the activities", "pretty cool"

The Retreat… "well-organised and very constructive", "good – the med rooms were helpful", "loved the dove room hand of God, Fruits of the Spirit most popular with our group", "best rooms were Fire and Finger Painting", "blind-fold room very good", "my favourite themed room was the Water room because it was all about forgiving", "I learnt a lot"

The Reconciliation Service... "really enjoyed this – a good reminder of the things we need to work on", "very constructive', "could we do this in school?" "good to be forgiven", "good atmosphere", "priests good – friendly and approachable", "felt cleansed"

The Confirmation Mass… "a great experiencevery spiritual", "liked ha ving our own music band" ;, "our banners looked fantastic", "good to celebrate together afterwards"

Comments… "each week a group does something", "it’s good you can’t pick your group", "would prefer longer sessions", "really liked it – would change nothing", "plan to keep in touch with others from the group", "looking forward to the Youth Drop-In and keeping friendships going".

Confirmation 2007
We invite all young people who are currently in Year 8 to join the 2007 parish Confirmation preparation programme which runs from Lent to Pentecost. (If you are in year 9 or above and haven’t yet been confirmed don’t worry – one of our groups will be for older candidates). Meetings will be held in St. Vincent’s Infants School on Thursday Evenings from 7.30 – 9 pm commencing with a Fun Day on 10th March  2007 at BTH College.

If you would like to join the programme please fill in one of the application forms in the porch and return it to the box provided or contact one of us (see below).

This year’s programme promises to be the liveliest yet with all sorts of new activities including a talent contest!  Come and find out more about your faith and how to live it!

Contacts
Ged Ford - 928 6949
email: stvincentsconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk