High School Confirmation
Under Construction
Want to talk
to us??? CLICK HERE
To read the letter from the pastoral region
regarding the confirmation process in our dioceses. CLICK HERE
Confirmation News
Our Next Meeting will be
held on October 24, 2006 at 7PM in the Parish Hall. Please arrive on time…
The Year 1 retreat forms
are now available. All year 1 candidates must attend either Youth Day or the
Year 1 Retreat. Failure to attend either one may result in you not being
advanced to Year 2. Forms are available in the Pastoral Center.
The date of the Retreat is October 28 and the cost is $45. We will depart St. Paschal Baylon ay 8:30 in the morning and return
around 3PM.
Halloween Horror Night at Universal
Studios is October 28, 2006 from 5:30PM to 3, yes 3:00 AM… Transportation is by
bus and permission slip is required. The cost is $30. Forms are available in
the Pastoral Center, but hurry up only 30 spots are
available.
There is NO MEETING on
October 31, 2006. Have a safe Halloween Night!
Santa Barbara Pastoral Region
Confirmation Process Information
To all Confirmation candidates, parents, and sponsors,
This is to inform you on your commitment and acceptance to
St. Paschal Baylon’s process of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation …
V Welcomes us and
deepens our belonging to the faith community
V Deepens our
relationship to God, as Creator, Redeemer and Spirit
V Strengthens us
as disciples
Students and parents alike have questioned many times why
there is a two-year commitment as well as many other requirements in order to
complete confirmation preparation.
The process, based on the guidelines of the Archdiocese of
Los Angeles is modeled on the eight components of Youth Ministry as described
by the United States
Bishops. The Catechetical component provides foundations for prayer and
worship, service opportunities, retreat experiences and community
building. This process encourages full and active participation of all
who are involved, in all aspects, and calls on the community to celebrate
significant moments in the candidates’ faith journey.
The Archdiocesan guidelines provide a basic framework for
the two-year Confirmation Preparation Process for high school-age youth. Each
parish is encouraged to use this framework to implement the Confirmation
Preparation Process by developing a model that responds to the specific need of
their youth.
The curriculum for each parish may differ in the
presentation of the teachings of church by using different materials, lessons
plans or curriculum. It is important for our young people to know the history
and the doctrine of our church, but a greater emphasis will be place upon
conversion, by developing a spirituality that hopefully will bring our youth to
a closer relationship with The Holy Trinity, God the Father, Jesus Christ, and
the Holy Spirit. In this process the church will try to help our youth
understand the graces and gifts that come from the Holy Sacraments, so that
they may use the Sacraments throughout their life’s journey.
We highly encourage parents and sponsors to walk the journey
into confirmation with their candidate so that they may better understand the
Confirmation Preparation Process and help the candidate make the necessary
commitment to the process. It is important for all involved to know what
the commitment is before registering in their parish program.
Candidates must attend all classes, gatherings, retreats,
and service opportunities in order to gain the proper understanding of the
Sacrament. The regular participation in Liturgy, especially by receiving Holy
Eucharist is an essential part of the Confirmation Preparation Process as well
as the candidate’s faith development as a Catholic Christian.
Sponsors should be actively involved in the Confirmation
Preparation Process. In addition to meeting the basic requirements for being a
sponsor, they must be strong in their own Catholic faith and willing to share
that faith with their candidate in order to help their candidate along their
Confirmation journey.
In the past, many candidates and parents have put other
events in front of the Confirmation Preparation Process because most have not
truly understood the life long importance of this Sacrament.
We understand that there will be times when conflicts will arrive to where
decisions need to be made quickly regarding what will take precedence when it
comes to confirmation activities, but please be aware that too many absences will prevent the candidate
from being adequately prepared for Confirmation. Each parish will decide
on how many absences will not qualify a candidate to be confirmed. In some
cases, some parishes might choose to have make-up classes for excusable
absences.
The parishes in the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region are
working together in presenting to you our Confirmation Preparation Processes
and we ask that you, the parents, sponsors and candidates for Confirmation
review the schedule and commitment before
registering to be sure that you can meet all the commitments at this point in
time. There is no rule that states that
the candidate must begin the Confirmation Preparation Process in their freshman
year of high school and complete the process in their sophomore year. If you are unable to give the commitment
needed at this time, please consider postponing registration for a year or two,
our parish gladly accepts candidates for confirmation who are in their
sophomore or junior year of high school.
The church welcomes all who have a desire to be confirmed in
the Sprit of the Lord. We only ask for a true commitment from all who are
involved in the preparation for and receiving of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Office of Youth Ministry
and Confirmation
Santa Barbara
Pastoral Region
