STUFF TO KNOW
This is the head-knowledge we should have for tonight's topic. These questions are based on Diocese of Rockford Confirmation guidelines, and you'll probably recognize them from the Confirmation Quizzes we do during some of our Confirmation sessions.
- Explain what a sacrament is.
- Explain what “grace” is.
- Explain what Baptism is, and what it does for us.
- What is the one thing that separates us from God and what can we do about it?
- What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
STUFF TO watch
Here's a video that takes a different angle on tonight's topic. Feel free to check it out, if you're interested.
STUFF TO TALK ABOUT
Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads, but we should also let this knowledge sink into our hearts. After the Confirmation session is over, we encourage confirmandi and their parents and/or sponsor to discuss the following questions. These questions will help you reflect on and apply what you learned tonight to your life.
- What stuck out to you most from the Confirmation session? Why?
- Why did Christ give us the sacrament of Reconciliation?
- But we have Baptism, which reconciles us with God; why then do we need a special sacrament of Reconciliation?
- What prepares a person for repentance?
- Can I make a confession even if I have not committed any serious sin?
- Why is it so important that we go to confession regularly?
STUFF TO DO
Our faith shouldn't just stay in our heads and hearts, but it should also significantly affect the way we live our lives. Here are some suggestions for how you could live out tonight's topic. We encourage you to pick at least one suggestion and commit to implementing it in your life. We also encourage parents and/or sponsors to make a commitment with their confirmandi.
- Go to Confession. We have confessions on Mondays and Saturdays or by appointment. Our website also has a link to find confession times near us. You can find these on our home page.
- Go to Adoration! St. Thomas has a 24/7 adoration chapel. Have you ever been inside? Find a time with your sponsor or parent and go to adoration together. If you don't know what to do in adoration there are books you can borrow in the entrance to the chapel.
- Pray with Carpe Verbum. Even though we have an adoration chapel, it might not be possible to go every day or weekly. But, we still need to listen to the Lord. We should be praying with the Scriptures every day. We know that can be a challenge, and so we encourage you to try out this free, daily, step-by-step prayer resource called Carpe Verbum ("seize the word"). Carpe Verbum texts a new prayer and lock screen graphic to your phone every morning. See details below...
