"Let us spare no effort in the formation of our young people"
"To help our young people to discover the courage and joy of faith, the joy of being loved personally by God, is very difficult. But when young people understand it, when young people experience it through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, this ‘being personally loved by God’ accompanies them for the rest of their lives.”
(Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St Sebastian in Rio de Janeiro on July 27, 2013)
The Archdiocese of Atlanta has established that the Sacrament of Confirmation is to be conferred in the 10th grade with two consecutive years of Religious Education prior to Confirmation.
Our Confirmation Prep program is a two-year program, usually for the 9th and 10th grades. The Confirmation Mass is in the Spring of the second year.
Teens need to be in high school. This applies to all teens, whether attending our weekly program or if attending Catholic high schools. Those attending Catholic high schools do not need to attend our weekly program but will need to register for both years, complete other requirements, and attend the yearly retreat.
Our Confirmation Prep classes are offered on Wednesday @ 6:30 pm or Sunday @ 3:45 pm. Classes are 90 minutes.
We are using the Chosen program from Ascension Press over a period of two years as the primary curriculum to prepare our teens for Confirmation. The Chosen program is based on small groups that remain together for two years. Year 1 teens are divided into male or female small groups in which they remain for the two-year program.
Why small groups? Small groups provide an environment in which the teens and their Catechist can get to know each other thereby forming trusting relationships so that each teen may feel comfortable to talk openly within their group.
In addition to the CHOSEN curriculum, the following studies are used:
Year 1 teens will also use the True Beauty/True Strength Chastity series from Y-Disciple.
(see below for more info)
Year 2 teens will also use Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed from Ascension Press.
(see below for more info)
Teens will also participate each year in a retreat: Year 1 teens will attend a one-day retreat;
Year 2 teens will attend a half-day retreat.
Teens will participate in Service Opportunities each year. For more information on this Click Here.
Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation is a twenty-four-lesson program that provides everything needed to prepare students both intellectually and spiritually to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and to become lifelong disciples of Christ. All too often we see teens drift away from the Church after Confirmation. Chosen seeks to reverse this trend by winning over the hearts of teens at a critical time in their lives and keeping them firmly planted within the faith community of the Church.
Click on the image below for an exciting look at CHOSEN!
Review a Full Sample Lesson of Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation: CLICK HERE
The studies True Beauty and True Strength are part of the Confirmation Prep Year 1 curriculum. This 4 week study begins in the second semester.
The True Beauty and True Strength series focus is on what it takes to be a real man or woman of God, as it discusses the themes of chastity, love, fellowship, and relationships in the everyday lives of young men and women.
The True Beauty 4-DVD series explores femininity and the virtue of chastity for young women. This series will help young women become steadfast in the virtue of chastity in the midst of an unchaste culture.
The True Strength 4-DVD series studies masculinity and the virtue of chastity for young men. Based in Biblical teaching and principles, this series will help young men discover that their masculinity is God's invitation to be a man of greatness.
The Confirmation Prep Year 2 curriculum includes the 5 week study: Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed:
Altaration addresses head-on one of the biggest problems we all face: how do we get Catholic teens to appreciate the awesome beauty and mystery of the Mass…and to actually look forward to attending and participating?
Through a unique learning experience, including powerful cinematography and workbook resources, teens will come to see the Mass and the priesthood in a dramatically new way.Altaration is designed to stir thought, create conversation, dispel myths, and inspire young souls to a deep and lasting love for the Mass. The goal of Altaration is not to fill teens’ heads with information but to pierce their hearts with transformation.