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Welcome
to Confirmation at St. Bede!
Confirmation is a time to build a community of faithful among
candidates as well as incorporate candidates into the greater
parish community.
St.
Bede the Venerable follows a two-year preparation process
for reception of the Sacrament. At the beginning of
the two years, candidates choose a sponsor
that meets the guidelines
from the archdiocese of Los Angeles and invite this person
to walk this journey of faith with them. Candidates
and sponsors should
ideally talk or meet about once a month. These could
be social in nature, and provide both an opportunity to get
to know each other and to share faith issues or discussions.
Within the context of the Confirmation process, several opportunities
are provided for sponsors to participate
in Liturgies, Rites at Mass, large group gatherings, dinner
and community building opportunities. Candidates alone
meet approximately twice a month on Sunday afternoons (Yr
I and some Yr II) or evenings (Yr II) in small groups at church
(Yr I) or private homes (YR II) with one or two facilitators
and discuss faith issue as they relate to the life of a teen..
These small group gatherings always begin or end with the
5:30pm liturgy at St. Bede. Click on the link below to
download a calendar. A few times during the year, all
small groups come together to participate in a rite with Sponsors
at Mass, and sometimes share in an evening following for community
building.
Confirmation
Calendar 2004 - 4005
Involvement Opportunities
Throughout the two years, candidates
are invited to become involved within the community of faithful
though service that benefits the parish, wider church community
or non profit organization of the candidates' choosing.
It is the intent and hope that this involvement will be the
beginning of a discipleship for the candidate that all Christians
are called to. This is a life long discipleship so the
focus during these two years is to become involved and reflect
on the benefits and fulfillment of that involvement.
The best involvement opportunities are those that provide
one to one contact with those you are helping, e.g. nursing
homes, shelters, soup kitchens, homes for youth.
Candidates
generally find and become involved in their communities in
some capacity that they enjoy and feel comfortable.
In addition, the Confirmation
Director publishes opportunites for any parishioners in
the Parish Bulletin. You can check the weekly bulletin
for specifics including contac names and phone numbers or
emails for the help needed. There are also opportunities
with the Religious Education program working with younger
children. Call the Confirmation
office to
find out about these opportunities.
Over the course of two years, candidates on their own, find
and complete 12 hours of service. This is done by the year
so 6 hours is completed each year. Small groupsmay choose
to do a group project and these hours can be counted toward
the total.
There
is an "Involvement Form" under the link to forms, which can
be filled out upon completion and turned into the Confirmation
Office .
The form is structured so that you can complete one for each
year of Confirmation. It is not necessary to have it signed
by anyone. Your word as well as the quality of service
you provide is between you and God. Involvement forms,
once completed are turned into the Confirmation office.
It is part of your responsibility and commitment to your God
to see that you complete the service and fill out the form. |
