Confirmation Parent Page

Hello Parents! 

Thank you for your commitment to our preparation as this busy fall has kicked off!

In my years of working with teens, I've spent a lot of time listening to them.  Listening mostly to them wondering and wandering.  Wondering about the faith - is it truly for them?  Wondering how the teachings of our faith fit into their lives.  Wondering how they are called to live that faith in a world that is moving at lightning speed.   And wandering - do they really need the Mass - isn't it mostly for old people.  Wandering - thinking they have their whole lives to "go back to church".  Wandering - not seeing authentic Christianity lived out with joy.  

Why do we do the things we do?  Why is the Mass so critically important to our lives?  Why is our faith meant to be lived every single day?   Take 10 minutes to listen to this homily from Fr. Joseph Krupp- and discuss the following questions with your teen: 

How do we know that God has our hearts, and that we’re not just going through the motions?

 What issues in our world today do you think God really cares about? What are you doing about them?

Why does our faith feel routine? Do we sometimes feel "sick of it all" or like it doesn't really matter if we are at Mass or not?  

I will leave you with my favorite part of this homily:  There is a power in seeing that we forget.  Everything we look at and absorb changes us.  

Know that I am praying for you and for your teen - and am here to help in any way I can! 

Blessings! 

Jen

Our first small group session went wonderfully! It’s always such a gift to see our teens engaging in faith-filled conversation and reflection together. We are especially grateful for our amazing small group leaders who dedicate their time and energy to walking with our students on this journey: Roger Wilhelm, Francisco Carrillo, Glen Trippe, Tim Sanders, Stephanie Forgacs, Loren Schild, Kaitlyn Bryant, and Audrey Sanders. Thank you for sharing your faith and your hearts with our teens!

During our Sunday session, we continued a conversation that began at our retreat: “Why would I want a relationship with God?” The students had some great insights and honest questions as they explored what it means to know God personally.
A great way to keep the discussion going at home is to share with your teen about your own relationship with God — how it began, how it’s grown (or struggled!), and what helps you stay connected.
You might ask your teen:

• When do you feel closest to God?

• What makes it hard to trust or talk to God sometimes?
  These kinds of conversations help your teen see faith as something real and lived — not just talked about in church.

Saint Name & Project

A reminder that Confirmation Saint Names were due October 15th — thank you to those who have submitted them! If your teen hasn’t turned theirs in yet, please have them do so by the end of this week.
Students should also be working on their Saint Project. Both the Saint Name Form and the Saint Project information are available here:
firelandscatholic.org/conf-forms-and-resources

Service Opportunities

Teens can sign up for service projects at this link:
Service Opportunity Sign-Up
These experiences help our young people live out their faith in a tangible way — by serving others as Jesus did.

Looking Ahead

Our next session will be Sunday, November 5th, featuring our Saint Presentations! Families are warmly invited to attend. Other children are welcome to join in the fun by dressing up as their favorite saint for our All Saints Party and Costume Contest!

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We’re praying for you and your teen as you continue to grow together in faith — may this be a season of deepening your relationship with God and one another.