Continuing to Grow in the Catholic FaithHigh School and Beyond
Blessed John XXIII’s
Plan to keep the Confirmed of the Parish coming back for
more…
How Many Come Back after Confirmation?
Studies show that many young adults consider Confirmation to be their “Graduation” from the Catholic Church, instead of their “New Beginning”.
Is this because, in many cases, there is nowhere else to go?
There is nothing for them to go to?
Then, we the Church need to create an environment in which being a teen is
accepted and welcomed.
It is not up to the teen to find their place, but for us to create it for them and
with them.
What is Blessed John XXIIIIDoing to encourage young people to return
after Confirmation?
In order to bring young people back after Confirmation, you have to make the years preceding it memorable and
worthwhile.
How Do We Do That?
We looked at our Junior High Classes: 6th, 7th, and 8th grades
We looked at our High School Classes:
9th, and 10th grades
AND……
We said to ourselves:
What is working well
AND…
What do we need to do to make these formative classes more relevant and meaningful to our students?
First:
Teens need to feel a part of a group. They need to be treated like young
adults and not children. They need to be allowed to make
some decisions and choices. They need to be able to socialize,
share, and interact with one another.
Room Setup
We need to remove the desks,Paint the room a color that is
pleasing to a teen’s eye, add a carpet, some pillows, comfy furniture, and a CD player!
Learning Materials
We need to find learning materials that are “young adult” friendly.
Programs that are less wordy and more hands on.
Prayer and Sharing
We need to devote some time in each class for meaningful prayer and time to share feelings,
good and bad with one another.
Music
Young people relate through music, so we need to provide Catholic, Christian music that
they can relate to.
Socialization
We need to provide opportunities for young people to come
together in a safe place,
get to know
one another, and
have fun!!!!
Service
Service should be a part of every Catholic Christian’s life.
We need to provide
our young adults
opportunities to
serve others on a
regular basis.
Hopefully, then….
We can attract our Confirmandi to return: To attend Mass on a regular basis, To learn more about their faith, To begin more intensive study of the
Bible, To continue the practice of their faith
when they go away to college, and
…To become a truly involved, faithful, Catholic Christian adult …
•Who will make God number one in their lives
•Serve their church as priests, religious, and lay ministers
•Bring up their children in the faith,
•And help to lead others to the Lord.
Alleluia!!
Amen.