Need some help from my fellow Catholic DISers

[zookeeper]

He's going to ask a question & call on someone with his hand up.

Well, that's better than my confirmation. Our teachers put the fear of God into us (or should I say fear of the Bishop) because we were told to make sure we had answers ready because the Bishop just called on confirmation candidates randomly under the assumption that we all should be prepared. It's a fair assumption I suppose, but a lot of pressure for a 13 yr old to deal with infront of so many people. Best of luck to your daughter.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I have never heard of a Catholic Confirmation on a weekend. Do they have them in your area?

The ones in my area are usually on Saturday.
I remember when I was confirmed, we had to pass a test before confirmation. Guess they don't do that any more. Of course my first proposition was during the confirmation test. I'm the good girl that studied sitting next to the popular boy that didn't. "Psst. If you give me the answers we can go out back behind the church later and make out." I didn't know if I should laugh, tell sister or let him cheat. Certainly made for a memorable evening since it was almost 30 years ago.

Congratulations and good luck to your DD.

 

[golfgal]

ya know, these were my thoughts exactly! I asked DD about it and she says she knows they learned the sacraments and the 7 gifts but never heard of the corporal acts of mercy. And, eventhough they did learn it, it's not like they have tests in religious education class and the classes started way back in August so I guess she's probably forgotten as much as she's learned.

In looking this up tonight, I can see that the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are pretty much the point of confirmation so it's very relevant.

I just wished the teachers would have done a little "refresher" class so the kids wouldn't be freaked out. Today's class was rehearsal, the week before they were off for spring break, the week before that they went to confession, so it's basically been a month since her last class. She only goes for 2 hours once a week.

Personally it sounds like you need a better Religious Ed director. Our Confirmation process is a 3 year process starting in 9th grade, they get confirmed at the end of 11th grade. They are tested through out the course of study on different prayers, Commandments, Sacraments, etc. They have to put in 30 community service hours as well. They have an interview with the priest the month before Confirmation and if they don't know these things, they don't get Confirmed. Every year there are one or two kids that have to wait until the next year to get confirmed because they don't study.

Our Confirmation services are always on the weekends, either a Saturday night Mass or sometimes on Sunday.

 

[mickeyfan2]

wow - you mean the Bishop can call on ANY of the kids? That seems like a lot of pressure.

Congrats to your daughter!

All the confirmations I have attended the Bishop asked questions, but only picked a kid who wanted to answer. He never put them on the spot. Don't worry.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Well, that's better than my confirmation. Our teachers put the fear of God into us (or should I say fear of the Bishop) because we were told to make sure we had answers ready because the Bishop just called on confirmation candidates randomly under the assumption that we all should be prepared. It's a fair assumption I suppose, but a lot of pressure for a 13 yr old to deal with infront of so many people. Best of luck to your daughter.

This is how they told us he will do it. He will walk along the pew and randomly talk to people. NOT ask a question and see who puts their hand up.

Personally it sounds like you need a better Religious Ed director. Our Confirmation process is a 3 year process starting in 9th grade, they get confirmed at the end of 11th grade. They are tested through out the course of study on different prayers, Commandments, Sacraments, etc. They have to put in 30 community service hours as well. They have an interview with the priest the month before Confirmation and if they don't know these things, they don't get Confirmed. Every year there are one or two kids that have to wait until the next year to get confirmed because they don't study.

Well, DD's been going to religous education since Pre-K, so I guess you could say it's been an 8 year process. I've never heard of confirmation in the 11th grade. 7th grade is traditional around here. DD had to do 10 hours community service, a 6 page auto-biography(answering specific questions they posed to her), a 2 page report on her Saint and some other assorted preparation, all this year(in the 7th grade). They've never had a test or an interview with the priest. They did have 2 retreats, weekly classes, confession and all the stuff you'd think they should have. I do agree with you though, if this is what she needs to know, they should have made sure she knew it. She's obviously studying now in order to be prepared.

 

[auntpolly]

I taught confirmation class and "taught to the test" so to speak. We drilled the sacraments until they could say them in their sleep! My worst nightmare was the kids not knowing the stuff when the bishop asked and everyone looking at me!!! That said, out bishop was very kind and only asked kids who wanted to answer. In the old days they used to get slapped (not for not knowing, but as a tradition)!!!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

In the old days they used to get slapped (not for not knowing, but as a tradition)!!!!

The religious education director told us about this last night and said he may demonstrate on a child. I wasn't quite sure what he was talking about.

 

[auntpolly]

The religious education director told us about this last night and said he may demonstrate on a child. I wasn't quite sure what he was talking about.

It was kind of a "wake up to the world" thing, LOL. I don't know, I don't remember. It was a rite of passage and I haven't ever seen it done not having grown up Catholic.

 

[darrose]

I wish our area would have the confirmation in 8th grade. Ours is 11th and with PSAT, SATs, schools community service hours required, possible part time jobs, school, looking at potential colleges, etc. it seems like a much more stressful time for them than 8th grade.

 

[MAKmom]

The ones in my area are usually on Saturday.
I remember when I was confirmed, we had to pass a test before confirmation. Guess they don't do that any more. Of course my first proposition was during the confirmation test. I'm the good girl that studied sitting next to the popular boy that didn't. "Psst. If you give me the answers we can go out back behind the church later and make out." I didn't know if I should laugh, tell sister or let him cheat. Certainly made for a memorable evening since it was almost 30 years ago.

Congratulations and good luck to your DD.

I'm in Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I guess we are so big they could'nt do weekends.

 

[MAKmom]

Personally it sounds like you need a better Religious Ed director. Our Confirmation process is a 3 year process starting in 9th grade, they get confirmed at the end of 11th grade. They are tested through out the course of study on different prayers, Commandments, Sacraments, etc. They have to put in 30 community service hours as well. They have an interview with the priest the month before Confirmation and if they don't know these things, they don't get Confirmed. Every year there are one or two kids that have to wait until the next year to get confirmed because they don't study.

Our Confirmation services are always on the weekends, either a Saturday night Mass or sometimes on Sunday.

Yikes we are confirmed in 6th grade

 

[auntpolly]

Alot of churches have changed it to 11th grade to keep the kids going to PSR (you know, many of them stop going after confirmation).

 

[MAKmom]

I taught confirmation class and "taught to the test" so to speak. We drilled the sacraments until they could say them in their sleep! My worst nightmare was the kids not knowing the stuff when the bishop asked and everyone looking at me!!! That said, out bishop was very kind and only asked kids who wanted to answer. In the old days they used to get slapped (not for not knowing, but as a tradition)!!!!

I remember the slap...did'nt everyone get the slap/tap on the face?

 

[auntpolly]

I remember the slap...did'nt everyone get the slap/tap on the face?

Yes, I think so. That's what DH tells me, I just can't remember the actual reason. I think it was something to do with "welcome to adulthood", and they weren't actually hurt or anything. It was symbolic.

 

[helenabear]

I remember the slap...did'nt everyone get the slap/tap on the face?

Not when I was confirmed. So that means at least in my area they haven't done it over 15 years.

This thread made me realize I need a refresher on Catholic doctrine

 

[auntpolly]

Not when I was confirmed. So that means at least in my area they haven't done it over 15 years.

This thread made me realize I need a refresher on Catholic doctrine

I'm thinking it was one of those vatican II changes.

 

[golfgal]

I wish our area would have the confirmation in 8th grade. Ours is 11th and with PSAT, SATs, schools community service hours required, possible part time jobs, school, looking at potential colleges, etc. it seems like a much more stressful time for them than 8th grade.

Technically Confirmation is supposed to come BEFORE Eucharist but that isn't going to happen any time soon because not a lot of high school girls will wear those cute white dresses and veils like the second graders do!

 

[BethR]

In the Eastern Catholic Churches, we do receive Baptism, Chrismation (confirmation), and Eucharist at the same time.

At the neighboring RC diocese (Greensburg, PA) where my brother's family belong, they do confirmation at the same time as their first communion.

 

[pumba]

we do first communion and confirmation at the end of the second grade....I think it is a good idea to do it young again...our grandkids went to a Catholic School and did it with the Bishop coming. It is hard to get the Bishop to officiate because there are so many churches and Catholic schools doing it all at the same time..
We also have gotten rid of the girls wearing gowns and veils..back even when our daughter and son made theirs...everyone is equal with the rented covering....

 

[Dreamer04]

Guys, I printed out that list. I called it "What every Roman Catholic should know" and mailing it to my family. Nice reminder. Thanks for this!