Works Points Activities
Request Works Points
Use the Works Points Upload Form to request points for performing Spiritual Works of Mercy.
The final due date is the last date for submission of the sixth conference of the season. For the 2020-2021 year, those dates are December 13, 2020, and May 2, 2021. Candidates are encouraged to submit their requests for Works Points and the associated documents as soon as they achieve six (6) points in a season. They may continue to work on earning any additional points that are needed, as long as they don’t exceed any limits on the number of times per season that a candidate can earn points for a particular work of mercy. For example, a candidate cannot go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation 24 times in the Fall of Confirmation 1 and expect he or she has accomplished all the Works Points needed for the program.
Works Points Activities
Each activity shown below will list:
- The number and TITLE
- A DESCRIPTION of the activity and ideas for accomplishing it
- Which Spiritual WORK OF MERCY this activity falls under
- How many POINTS the activity is worth
- What the DELIVERABLEs are and,
- The LIMIT on the number of times per season the candidate can receive credit for performing this particular activity
Click the plus (+) sign for each activity below to read about that activity’s details.
DESCRIPTION: This is not one that you can initiate, but if someone comes to you for advice, or just wants to talk about a problem they are having, you can turn this moment into a spiritual work of mercy. Be sure that the problem the person is having is real. “My teacher is a jerk” is not a problem; it’s an opinion. “My teacher miscalculated my grade” is a problem. Be a good listener. Your involvement should be 95% listening and 5% talking. Before giving advice on how this person might solve the problem, first listen, listen, and then listen some more, until you have heard everything. Second, say a silent prayer to Jesus and ask Him to put the right words in your mouth before you open it.
- WORK OF MERCY: Counsel the Doubtful
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Interfering in someone’s life is not something someone usually welcomes. Doing so can cause friction in your relationship with that person. However, when the person is thinking about harming themselves or others or is considering engaging in behavior that is either life-threatening or unlawful, it is absolutely proper (and necessary) to intervene. The first thing to do is to tell a trusted adult, or in the absence of such an adult, call 911. The spiritual work of mercy takes place AFTER you sound the alarm. It is when you talk to your friend about how he or she is feeling and provide presence and comfort that will help them grow past the negative feelings they are experiencing.
- WORK OF MERCY: Counsel the Doubtful
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: The modern culture has developed a poor habit of condoning negative thoughts and speech. The news media is saturated with negative language, especially concerning politics. Television and social media often rely on negativity to get specific reactions from their audience. The resulting increases in viewership allow higher advertising rates. Unfortunately, these tactics have rolled over into our private conversations. To break these habits, we must introduce positivity into conversations whenever negativity seems to be gaining traction. The next time you are involved in a conversation that has become dominated by anger and mud-slinging, try to neutralize the negativity by introducing positive speech. You can try changing the subject to something pleasant, standing up for someone or something that is being trashed, or carefully point out that negative language in the form of prejudicial statements (racism, sexism, homophobia, religious prejudice, etc.) is unacceptable. Stay positive and see what happens. A successful spiritual work of mercy will be if the negativity of the conversation dissipates, and the dialog grows increasingly positive.
- WORK OF MERCY: Counsel the Doubtful
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: A primary focus within the First Communion program at most parishes is to teach the students at least the two essential prayers of our faith, the “Our Father,” and the “Hail, Mary.” If you have a younger sibling that is trying to learn these prayers, volunteer to help them learn them.
- WORK OF MERCY: Instruct the Ignorant
- POINTS: 1
- DELIVERABLE: Receive parent approval for lessons and then record the name of the sibling, dates/times, and duration of lessons.
- LIMIT: 1/sibling, no more than 1/year
DESCRIPTION: God gives us all unique talents and gives them to us in different degrees (see Matthew 25:14–30). If you have the unique talents of 1) playing a musical instrument, 2) being considered an artist and have taken art classes in 9th grade or later, 3) playing a cut sport for more than five years, or at JV level, or 4) have never gotten below a B in a particular subject that you enjoy studying, then consider sharing your talents with someone in your household.
- WORK OF MERCY: Instruct the Ignorant
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Record the name of the family member, dates/times, and duration of at least five lessons, parent approval for lessons
- LIMIT: 1/family member/season
DESCRIPTION: If you are good at a particular academic subject and someone in your school or a nearby school needs help in that subject, tutor them via Zoom. Many of you probably do this with your friends, which is terrific, so to make this an actual spiritual work of mercy and do this for someone you have never met before. Maybe it’s the sibling of a friend, the child of a friend of your parents, or someone the school has recommended for tutoring.
- WORK OF MERCY: Instruct the Ignorant
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Record name of person, days, times, and duration of at least three lessons, parent approval for lessons
- LIMIT: 2 different students/season
DESCRIPTION: Read a non-fiction book that centers around the Christian faith. It could be the biography of a saint, a book about Christian spirituality, or a book that educates you about Catholicism. When you finish it, give it to a friend to read.
- WORK OF MERCY: Instruct the Ignorant
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: 300-word book report that explains what the book was about and what you learned from it.
- LIMIT: 2/season
DESCRIPTION: St. Mary’s offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) during COVID by appointment only. It is available at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston on Saturdays, 4–6 pm; bring your own lawn chair. It is available at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro, weekends from 1–4 pm. Check websites for up to date information and times at other local parishes. Masks are ALWAYS required everywhere.
- WORK OF MERCY: Admonish the Sinner
- POINTS: 3
- DELIVERABLE: Record date & time of the sacrament, and parent acknowledgment
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Remind someone who is hurting because of their sin to receive grace and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and help them to go through with it.
- WORK OF MERCY: Admonish the Sinner
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim (parts 1 & 3 only), document date & time that the person received the sacrament (NO names)
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: If you know someone is going to do something risky or wrong, warn them not to do it. If they have already done it, explain to them nicely that is was not a good thing to do, so they should choose not to do it again.
- WORK OF MERCY: Admonish the Sinner
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: People are flawed. People make mistakes. When you make a terrible choice, and it hurts someone you love or with whom you have a strong bond of friendship, you may strongly hope that they will forgive you and strive to make things right between you. When someone hurts YOU, can you extend forgiveness to them? (Matthew 18:21–35) Verbally forgive someone who hurt you. Let go of grudges; go out of your way to be positive with someone with whom you are having a difficult time. They, too, are made in the image and likeness of God. Pray for those who have wronged you and pray for the courage to forgive them.
- WORK OF MERCY: Forgive Offenses
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: People are flawed. People make mistakes. When you make a terrible choice, and it hurts someone you love or with whom you have a strong bond of friendship, take responsibility for your actions and your relationships, and ask for forgiveness. Don’t wait for the other person to come to you. You’ll both feel better when the relationship is repaired.
- WORK OF MERCY: Forgive Offenses
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
This is a DESCRIPTION: Make a card for someone who is ill or has lost a loved one. Those who are often sick do not feel like a lot of company, but a heartfelt message in a homemade card will put a smile on anyone’s face! The same is true for those who have lost a close loved one. Be sure to express sympathy for their loss.
- WORK OF MERCY: Comfort the Sorrowful
- POINTS: 1
- DELIVERABLE: Copy/photo of the front of the card, date mailed
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Often, those who are physically ill or recovering from surgery do not feel like a lot of company, but a telephone call (voice only—no texting) or Zoom call can make someone’s day! The same is true for those who have lost a close loved one. Make sure you keep the conversation focused on the other person. Take the time to listen. If they want to know what is going on with you, answer them briefly, but return the conversation to how he or she is feeling about what is happening in their life. Offer kind words of support.
- WORK OF MERCY: Comfort the Sorrowful
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Offer words of encouragement to those who seem discouraged or depressed. Telling someone who is discouraged or depressed to “get over it” does not work. Often, that person just wants someone who will listen to them. You do not have to fix the problem. Just be present, listen, and be supportive. Try to offer encouraging words that compliment the person’s strength, character, or beliefs. Sometimes this is more important to hear than having someone suggest a possible solution.
- WORK OF MERCY: Comfort the Sorrowful
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Jesus said, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other as well…” (Luke 6:27–36). There are many opportunities each week to choose not to retaliate when someone forces their will on us unfairly, treats us poorly for no reason, or acts like a bully. While there is no excuse for their behavior, we are always in control of our own. If you were able to remain calm when someone wronged you and you did not allow the situation to escalate, you can bear a wrong patiently, which is the point of what Jesus was saying to us in Luke, chapter 6.
- WORK OF MERCY: Bear Wrongs Patiently
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Verbatim (feel free to include what you felt like saying, but did not!)
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: You may have heard the phrase, “criticize ideas, not people.” Sometimes, however, we get carried away. Instead of disagreeing with someone’s idea, we find ourselves criticizing the person, which, if you think about it, is like blindly attacking ALL of their ideas. This type of statement is generally emotionally charged. One way of correcting this behavior is to try and develop the habit of NEVER criticizing another person in your mind or out loud. Set a goal of not saying a critical thing about any other person for ten days straight. If you mess up, start the count over. This one is a lot more difficult than it looks! If you succeed, you are well on your way to being able to bear all wrongs patiently—a very Christ-like way to be, indeed.
- WORK OF MERCY: Bear Wrongs Patiently
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: a 300-word reflection on how difficult this was for you, how often you had to start over, and what effect the exercise has had on you
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: Attending a funeral is not only a way of showing respect for the person who has died, but it is a chance to pray for the soul of the deceased. Today’s culture either denies the idea of eternal life or mistakenly believes it is automatic when someone dies. There are countless quotes in the New Testament about eternal life, but the best known is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” When you attend a funeral, pray that Jesus will recognize your loved one as a follower and grant him or her eternal life. There is no job more important than helping those we love get to Heaven.
- WORK OF MERCY: Pray for the Living and the Dead
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Name of the deceased, date, time, and place of the funeral
- LIMIT: 1/season
DESCRIPTION: In our Catholic faith, we are often asked to pray for certain people who are sick, deceased, having surgery, have a big test coming up, etc. So you don’t forget to pray for these people, use your mobile phone to create one or more lists of people for whom you wish to pray. Include: 1) those you know who have died, 2) those you know who are sick, 3) friends and family who have specific needs, as well as those you care about sincerely, 4) people with whom you have a fractured relationship, and 5) special causes and groups of people you support like our priests, and charities you support. You can add any other category that makes sense to you. Make a plan to look at this list every day and pray for those whose names appear there. The next time you are idle and tempted to play a game on your phone, pull out your prayer list instead and pray for the needs of a few people.
- WORK OF MERCY: Pray for the Living and the Dead
- POINTS: 2
- DELIVERABLE: Describe in writing how your prayer list is structured and how you use it.
- LIMIT: 1/program, not before the Spring season of Confirmation 1
DESCRIPTION: A Holy Hour is the Catholic devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic Adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist). During Adoration, a consecrated host is removed from the tabernacle and exposed for all present to see. In the simplest form of Eucharistic Adoration, the Eucharist remains in the tabernacle, and participants simply pray silently in front of the tabernacle. For some helpful hints on how to get the most out of Eucharistic Adoration, go to https://lifeteen.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-adoration/. As a spiritual work of mercy, you can do these two ways: 1) attend a scheduled Holy Hour (check the bulletin at St. Mary’s for when these might be part of our schedule), or do an Internet search for local “Holy Hours,” or 2) attend Eucharistic Adoration on your own. You can do this at St. Mary’s in the downstairs chapel at a convenient time, or one of the shrines, or at a parish that offers “perpetual” Eucharistic Adoration, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed 24/7.
For more information on Eucharistic Adoration, go to:
- https://catholic-link.org/10-surprising-things-that-happen-when-you-go-to-adoration-more-often/
- https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/a-beginners-guide-to-eucharistic-adoration
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txuaN5FXgW8
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/prayers/adoration-to-the-holy-sacrament/24-reasons-for-spending-a-holy-hour-before-the-blessed-sacrament
- https://www.coraevans.com/blog/article/5-reasons-you-should-go-to-adoration-if-you-dont-already
- WORK OF MERCY: Pray for the Living and the Dead
- POINTS: 3
- DELIVERABLE: Write a 300-word description of your 60-minute experience.
- LIMIT: 1/season
Verbatims
In many cases, a Spiritual Work of Mercy will be to have a conversation with someone in need. In this case, the deliverable will include what is called a “verbatim.”
A “verbatim” is an account of an actual conversation that you had in which another person expressed some need or concern, and you responded. The topic of the discussion should be in line with the Spiritual Work of Mercy you are performing.
There are three components to a verbatim:
- Write a brief description of the person and the setting. This description should be one sentence. Do NOT use the other person’s name.
- Write down the actual words of the conversation as best you remember them. If you used complete sentences, then use them here. If not, then don’t. Do your best to remember, and don’t worry if you can’t remember everything. Focus on the relevant parts only; don’t waste time writing up irrelevant information. Each time you or the other person speaks, preface the words like this:
- Person:
- Me:
- Person:
- Me:
- Your overall feelings and thoughts about the conversation. (What went well? What didn’t go well? Why do you feel this is a Spiritual Work of Mercy?) This section should be at least three sentences.
The entire write up should be at least 300 words.