Confirmation Program Overview
The Confirmation Program at St. Mary’s Church is a two year Program—Confirmation 1 + Confirmation 2. The structure of the program will emphasize remote learning so that students can complete the assignments at their own pace. It also allows for more parent involvement. This opportunity stresses that Confirmation Preparation is much more about “faith formation”.
Confirmation Preparation Program Requirements
Each year the students will complete six chapters of the Decision Point (published by Dynamic Catholic) textbook. This will be broken into three chapters each half (semester) of the year. Students complete the reading watch the appropriate videos. All questions are to be completed on the worksheets they will receive with their book.
- Confirmation 1 (Grade 9)—Chapters 1-3 (September-December)
- Confirmation 1 (Grade 9)—Chapters 4-6 (January-April)
- Confirmation 2 (Grade 10)—Chapters 7-9 (September-December)
- Confirmation 2 (Grade 10)—Chapters 10-12 (January-April)
In December and April we will send out dates that the students are able to come in and turn in their completed work in person.
Two group meetings will be held for Confirmation 1 + Confirmation 2—one during each semester. Guest speakers will present these classes and more information will be provided as they are scheduled.
Private School Students are not required to do the bookwork. They are however, required to do the Community Service. They are more than welcome to come to the in-person classes.
Community Service
Each semester we are asking the students to do three “nice things” for someone other than themselves and their families. This is a simpler version of Community Service—no points, no hours, just good deeds!! Please think “outside of the box” when deciding what to do. Please use the “Community Service Submission Form” to submit their Community Service.
Decision Point Program
Decision Point is a Confirmation preparation program primarily designed for Catholics between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Dynamic Catholic developed the program to ignite conversations about the genius of Catholicism between candidates and their parents, sponsors, catechists, teachers, peers, and priests. The materials in the program are something that every Catholic should experience, not just teens preparing for Confirmation.
Most young Catholics these days are disengaged from their faith. Engaging them is, therefore, the first step. Until they are engaged, it doesn’t matter how much information you download on them; they simply will not absorb it and make it their own. While faithfully presenting the Church’s teachings is essential, it is also critically important that we deliver them in ways that are engaging, accessible, and relevant.
We hope that this program will prepare young Catholics for the Sacrament of Confirmation in a dynamic way. To achieve this goal, we plan to inspire them to respond and cooperate with God’s grace in all the circumstances of their daily lives, long after their Confirmation has passed.
Decision Point is a fantastic program. At the heart of it are seventy-two short videos, which average six minutes each and feature a passionate and engaging Matthew Kelly. There are three ways that Confirmation Candidates, Parents, and Sponsors can experience the Decision Point aspects of the program:
- Book: the 330-page, perfect-bound, paperback-workbook that St. Mary’s will provide to each Confirmation Candidate and his or her family,
- Online: Electronic copies of the workbook, all the short videos, and a lot more supplemental parts of the Decision Point program are available online at DynamicCatholic.com/Confirmation
- App: The seventy-two short films and some bonus content are also available on an app for smartphones and tablets. Just search for “DECISION POINT” on either the App Store or Google Play.