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Confirmation ProgramPolicy & Guidelines 2015 - 2016

Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel ChurchCedar Knolls, NJ

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Understanding the Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirms Baptism

Completes the

Sacraments of

Initiation

Bestows Upon Us

the Gift of the Holy

Spirit

Is a Commitme

nt to Embrace

Christianity

Is a Commitme

nt to Accept

and Practice Roman

Catholicism

Is a Commitme

nt to Share the

Gift of Ourselves with our Parish family

Is a Beginning

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Why should I choose Confirmation at NDMC?

Our 2-year program strives to help our youth fully understand and faithfully live out their

Baptismal call to be the heart, the hands and the voice of Jesus.

We strive to help our youth:

Be aware of and responsive to the presence of God in their daily lives;

Be active members of the Catholic Church through our parish faith family;

Commit to a life of Christian service and leadership, using their gifts and talents to be Jesus’ disciples in the world.

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What are the requirements for enrolling?

Student must have continuous and sequential attendance in a Religious Education program in Grades 1-8.

Any student who has not attended religious education continuously, or has not received religious education through Catholic school, will be required to participate in other aspects of youth ministry.

Catholic High School students are expected to participate in the entire Confirmation program.

Full participation in both levels of the Confirmation Preparation Program over the two (2) year period.

Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred only if all requirements are met.

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How will I know if I am ready to receive Confirmation?

Candidate decision must be made freely -- without pressure from parents, peers, or the parish. 

Must have an understanding of the Sacrament as a personal commitment to assume fuller responsibility in the community and parish life.

Must have a basic understanding of Christianity, and a deepened awareness of Jesus, His teachings, and the role of the Church in continuing His mission.

Must be a witness to Christian life in a world often dominated by outside pressures.

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Am I ready?

Must have a sense of unity with the parish community through full participation in the liturgy and the Eucharist, with an awareness of what is taking place.

The desire to participate in Eucharist with the community each week is the criterion by which a candidate can judge his/her readiness to receive Confirmation. 

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What will I be learning in the Confirmation Program?

It’s a Family Affair!In October and February, families in all grade levels

will come together to learn, share, and pray in community, by participating in our FAMILY FAITH sessions.

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Our Confirmation Program

DECISION POINT is a powerful program designed to not only prepare young Catholics for the Sacrament of Confirmation in a dynamic way, but also teach

and inspire them to respond and cooperate with God’s grace in all the circumstances of their daily lives, long after their Confirmation has passed.

The goals of this program are:

• to prepare young Catholics for Confirmation by presenting the genius of Catholicism in a compelling way;

• to demonstrate the relevance of Catholicism in every aspect of their lives;

• to help them develop a personal relationship with Jesus;

• to give young Catholics an appetite for learning more about Catholicism;

• to engage them in a dynamic conversation about our faith;

• to convince them that no matter what happens, they should always give God and the Church a central place in their lives.

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Our Confirmation Program

Important Features:

• The entire Decision Point program is available on-line at no cost. Simply go to http://dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation/ and click on View Program.

• Download the Decision Point App! The entire program is available at no cost right on your mobile device.

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Level 1 Preview

Life is Choices

What’s Holding You Back?

The Jesus Question

Prayer

The Bible

Relationships

Participation in Mass every Sunday

Orientation Session & Entrance Interview

Rite of Entrance/Covenant Ceremony

Participation in Large & Small Group Sessions

Participation in Family Faith Sessions

Service Project with class

Day of Retreat with Penance Service (Parents attend final hour)

Selection of Sponsor & Confirmation Name

DECISION POINT SESSIONS COMPONENTS

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Level 2 Preview

Eucharist

The Holy Spirit

The Church

Made for Mission

Holiness is Possible

Confirmation

Participation in Mass every Sunday

Participation in large & small group sessions

Participation in Family Faith Sessions

10 Service Hours

Day of Retreat with Penance Service

Confirmation Interview / ACRE Assessment

Rite of Enrollment Ceremony & Sponsor Day

Confirmation Rehearsal

Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

DECISION POINT SESSIONS COMPONENTS

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About Service Hours:

Level 1

• Level 1 candidates must participate in one service project with their class.

Level 2

• Level 2 candidates must complete only 10 hours of service with any of our parish ministries.

The goals of the service component of our program are: • to help our candidates grow in awareness of the

many service opportunities our parish offers

• to help our candidates connect in faith and service with

members of our greater parish community.

The confirmed Christian is a person who recognizes the need to follow the call of Jesus, to love one another as He did. To be a person of service is

essential to being a Christian

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About Service Hours:

Candidates are responsible for keeping track of their own service hours. Forms are available in the wall

folder next to the Youth Ministry Office door or can be downloaded from the Confirmation page of our parish

website at www.ndcarmel.com.

Service hours forms must be submitted to the Confirmation Coordinator in order for hours to be on

our records.

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Attendance Policy:

Candidates are expected to attend all Confirmation Sessions: twelve sessions in L1 and twelve sessions in L2.

Allowances are made for two missed regular class sessions per level. These two permitted absences do not apply to retreat days, the L2 Sponsor Day, and Family Faith Sessions.

Any Level 1 candidate who is absent for the L1 Retreat has the following make-up options: participate in L1 Retreat during their L2 year, participate in the Diocesan Confirmation Retreat, or participate in a Confirmation full day retreat (8 hours) at another Catholic parish.

Any Level 2 candidate who is absent for the L2 Retreat has the following make-up options: participate in our Antioch retreat; participate in the Diocesan Confirmation Retreat, or participate in a full day Confirmation retreat (8 hours) at another Catholic parish.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to register for Antioch or to locate and contact another parish to fulfill this requirement. It also is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain a letter from the parish’s Confirmation Coordinator verifying his/her participation in the retreat and to submit this letter to the Religious Education Office.

If a candidate is going to be absent, it is the candidate/parent’s responsibility to contact the Confirmation Coordinator by phone or email.

LATE POLICY - Out of kindness and consideration for our Catechists and Guest Speakers, being tardy to our Confirmation sessions or events is not acceptable. We are prepared to begin class on time and we ask our candidates to do the same.

IMPORTANT!Any candidates who exceed 2 absences will automatically withdraw themselves

from the Confirmation Program.

Anyone who is more than 5 minutes late for any Confirmation sessions or events

will receive a ½ absence for that session/event.

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Inclement Weather Policy:

In the event of classes being cancelled due to inclement weather,

extra classes will be added to the calendar.

These dates will be scheduled in advance and recorded on the Confirmation class calendar.

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Behavior Policy:

Any behavior or conduct problems will be addressed directly with the Confirmation

Coordinator.

We are very proud of the behavior of the young people who have gone through the program in the past! However, we wish to remind candidates that proper behavior and conduct is expected at all NDMC

programs and functions.

Chance 1 • Catechist will

speak to the candidate

Chance 2• Confirmation

Coordinator will speak to the candidate

Chance 3• Pastor is notified

to assess candidate’s readiness to participate in our program

Three Chances!

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Candidate Code of Conduct:

Project an image of Christian consideration, sensitivity and respect, being mindful of language, dress and behavior

Refrain from inappropriate touching and verbal harassment

Respect other persons and/or property

Refrain from actions that could result in injury and/or damage to property

Attend all scheduled activities, arriving promptly, and staying for the entire event

Maintain the positive spirit of the event

Report problems of any kind to a trusted adult

Purchase, possess, consume, or distribute alcohol

Purchase, possess, consume, or distribute illegal drugs

Purchase, possess, consume, or distribute prescription drugs not prescribed to him/her

Engage in any form of sexual activity or peer sexual harassment

CANDIDATE IS EXPECTED TO:

CANDIDATE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO:

Will I be on this journey alone?Role of Support Persons:

PARENTAL SUPPORTParents are expected to support the decision of their son/daughter and to take an

active role in the their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.Participating in Mass on

Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation with the

candidate and the parish

community.

Attending all Family Faith Formation Sessions,

workshops, and

meetings that are

specifically for parents. 

Participating in all

liturgical celebrations included in

the program.

 Providing a home

environment conducive to

the faith development

of the candidate.

Recognizing the

importance of

attendance at all

sessions related to

the preparation program.

Encouraging, supporting,

and affirming the

candidate’s decision to be involved

in the Confirmation

process.

Praying with and for the candidate throughout

their journey toward

Confirmation.

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SPONSORSEach candidate for Confirmation must have a sponsor.

The role of the sponsor is to support and encourage the

candidate to accept and carry out an adult commitment to

Christ.

The sponsor must be a Confirmed, practicing Catholic who is a registered member of a Catholic parish community. 

 

Sponsors are chosen at the end of Level I.

Role of Support Persons:

CATECHISTSThe Confirmation

Coordinator organizes the program, which is staffed by

trained catechists. Catechists are provided with

educational support and training that ensures a quality program for our

youth.

To ensure safety and compliance, all adults in our Confirmation program are

fingerprinted and background checked. All are

required to attend the diocesan training workshop, “Protecting God’s Children.”

 

All program catechists and support staff are supervised

and report directly to the Confirmation Coordinator.

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PARISH COMMUNITY Everyone in the Parish has responsibility for preparing the baptized for

Confirmation!Before and after the celebration of Confirmation,

effective relationships between candidates and

parish family are encouraged and supported.

The parish strives to incorporate the candidate into

its worship, communal life, and ministries.

The parish family gives witness to the faith in how they live and worship, and

by supporting the candidates through prayer, concern, active involvement

in catechetical formation, and encouragement.

The best preparation young people can receive for

Confirmation is the day-to-day living witness of the

faith by the adult community. 

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The Law: Please be informed

Dismissal from Public School - Zorach V. Clauson 343U.S.306 (1956)

This U.S. Supreme Court case ruled that it is not unconstitutional for a public school student to attend religious instruction at a

parochial school or church event even if this should disrupt the public school schedule.

By “public school schedule” it has been interpreted to include sporting events, band competitions, school plays, and any other

public school sponsored event.

Any type of “punishment” for missing or leaving an event early IS NOT permitted and is in violation of the law. Therefore, school personnel cannot:

•Threaten the student in any way (example: removal from the team)•Mock or make fun of child’s religious convictions•Point out the reason why a student is not present or leaving early to other students or staff.•Place a penalty such as “extra laps,” “benching,” or any other type of action, which is placed upon the student because of his/her absence or early dismissal.

If your family ever has a problem with an administrator, teacher, advisor, or coach, please do not hesitate to call the Confirmation Coordinator at (973)538-1358 x102 or confirmation@ndcarmel.com.