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.