Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 1

Dear Sponsor and Candidate, We ask you to take some time discussing the following material. Through these six sessions, we hope you will have an opportunity to share your beliefs and draw closer to each other and to Christ. It would be best to meet in person, but if this is impossible, you may communicate by phone or e-mail. These Sharing Sheets are to be completed and turned in by April 29, 2013. As a witness to the Candidate's desire and readiness to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, Sponsors are asked to complete the recommendation form, which is the last page of this packet, and return it to the Confirmation office by April 29, 2013.

May God bless you!

Mrs. Penny Giunta Director of Confirmation

Year I Rev. 8/09 Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 1 Born Anew in Baptism

Background Information Read Romans 6:3-4 Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian life, a life of freedom and grace lived out in the community of faith. When we are born, we inherit the fallen nature of our first parents. We call this original sin, which is the rejection of God that resulted in the loss of sanctifying grace. Human nature was, from that moment on, weakened and inclined to sin. But, through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are restored to a life of grace.

In this first session, Candidates and Sponsors are encouraged to reflect on their new baptismal identity and what it means in their lives, so to deepen their understanding of themselves as members of the body of Christ and as sharers in his life. Confirmation completes the grace of Baptism uniting us even more firmly to Christ. Indeed, these two sacraments seal us with an indelible character, marking us as belonging to Christ forever.

Discussion Questions What does it mean to know that in Baptism I have been indelibly “marked with the sign of faith”?

A symbol is something visible that expresses a truth about an invisible thing. What truths about Baptism do the following symbols help us to understand? Water:

Candle:

White Garment:

Prayer Reflection Try to think of a bright new day, a sunrise filled with beauty and light. It is a physical image of a spiritual reality. God’s life in us makes all things new. Pray together the words of the ancient liturgy:

We believe in you, Lord Jesus Christ. Fill our hearts with your radiance, And make us children of the light! Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 2 Sealed with the Gift of the Spirit

Background Information Read John 20:21-22 In this session focus together on the Holy Spirit, the third person of the blessed Trinity, who comes to us in Confirmation as Lord and Giver of life. Confirmation strengthens and continues the work of the Spirit in our lives that began at our Baptism. The Spirit “seals” us, marks us as God’s own. This means that in the sacrament of Confirmation we are changed, transformed, able to become more of what Christ calls us to be – his disciples, his witnesses, his presence in the world – because we are entering into a much closer relationship with the Trinity.

Discussion Questions Am I loyal to my Catholic faith? What challenges to my faith do I meet in my daily life? How do I handle them?

My Catholic faith is often counter-cultural (very different from the values presented in today’s world). What are some beliefs of today’s culture that are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church? If I had to write a short statement of what I stand for, I’d say . . .

Prayer Reflection The Holy Spirit comes in light and strength to renew us, to renew the world. Pray together:

Lord, send us your Spirit To renew the face of the earth. Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 3 In the Strength of His Love

Background Information Read Luke 9:23-24 Being Jesus’ disciple is not an easy thing. We cannot do it on our own. It is the Holy Spirit who strengthens and supports us and fills us with life, energy and courage. In the rite of Confirmation, there are powerful words and gestures that signify this fact. For instance, the symbolic gesture of laying of hands (when the bishop and priests raise their hands and pray over you) is an ancient sign of blessing that conveys both grace and responsibility. The grace is found in the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the responsibility requires the confirmed Catholic to nurture, develop, and exercise these gifts in service and love.

Discussion Questions How can I, as a confirmed Catholic, “develop and exercise” the gifts of the Holy Spirit in my life? The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom (to see and follow God’s plan in our lives) Understanding (that we may love others as Jesus asks) Right Judgment (in the choices we make) Courage (to be witnesses for Christ regardless of the price) Knowledge (to exercise our mind and will so we will learn about the issues of the times and make good Christian decisions about them) Reverence (that we may treat God, and everyone and everything God has made, with love and respect) Wonder & Awe (that we may marvel at the wonders of God’s creation and give him glory)

What crosses do I have in my life? How do I respond to them?

Prayer Reflection We measure our physical growth with a yardstick or a measuring tape. But what about spiritual growth and development? Against what standard do we measure that? For Christians the standard is Jesus Christ. How do we measure up to him? Pray together:

Lord, send us your Holy Spirit that we may grow in the strength of your love to the full stature of Christ. Amen. Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 4 The Oil of Salvation

Background Information Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 From ancient times, when people were anointed, it signified that God would be with them in a special way. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Candidates are anointed with perfumed oil called chrism. The Church tells us that being anointed with this holy oil in Confirmation, we share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, so that our lives may give off the 'aroma of Christ'.

The anointing with oil highlights the name Christian, which comes from the word meaning "anointed". The anointing with oil in Confirmation confers on the person a "mark" - the "enrollment in Christ's service forever."

Discussion Questions Oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it relaxes and cleanses, soothes and heals. Anointing with the oil of Chrism in the sacrament of Confirmation is a sign of consecration, blessing, and healing. List 5 responses to the question: When you hear the word "oil", what images, experiences, aromas, tastes, or physical properties come to mind?

To be consecrated means to be set apart for a sacred work. What sacred work will I be consecrated for in Confirmation? What blessings do I want the Holy Spirit to bestow on me so I can do God’s sacred work? What in me especially needs healing, to make me more able to follow Jesus?

With faith and an open heart, I can be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Christ was compassionate, merciful, forgiving, faithful, respectful and just. Which of these traits do I find present in my life? Which do I need to develop?

Prayer Reflection Think about the holy oil through which you will be blessed, healed and consecrated for Christ's service. Then slowly pray:

God of salvation, you sent your anointed One into the world to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. Help us to continue the work of your anointed One, and be faithful witnesses to him in this world. Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 5 In the Unity of Faith

Background Information Read 1 Cor. 10:16-17 In this session, take some time to reflect on the Eucharist, the Sacrament of sacraments, and its connection with Confirmation. Eucharist is the completion of our initiation into the Church, the body of Christ. The Church teaches that "those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist" (Catechism 1322)

The Eucharist, because it is Christ himself, is "the source and summit of the Christian life." (Catechism 124) It roots us more deeply in our union with Christ and with his Church, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, and strengthens us to be true witnesses to Christ in the world.

Discussion Questions Why does the Church urge us to receive Holy Communion frequently?

The tabernacle is the golden vessel behind the altar where the remaining consecrated hosts are reserved for future distribution. When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become like living tabernacles. Christ resides within us. What are some ways, through our behavior, dress, speech, etc. that we can become a shining vessel for Our Lord?

Prayer Reflection Our journey of faith is always toward the light of God's love. Pray:

You feed your people and strengthen them in holiness, so that the family of mankind may come to walk in the light of one faith in the communion of love. Candidate-Sponsor Sharing Session 6 More like Christ

Background Information Read John 15:14-17 Jesus calls us his friends and as his friends, He puts the Gospel into our hands and tells us to share it, spread it, proclaim it, and live it. Pope John Paul II told the youth of the world: "Because Jesus is the light, we, too, become light when we proclaim Him. . . You are called to make the light of Christ shine brightly in the world."

Discussion Question Light helps us to see the form and substance of things. The spiritual light of Christ helps us to see truth. Contemporary culture often portrays truth as something relative – dependent upon the perception of each individual. You may have heard relative statements such as: “I don’t personally believe in abortion, but that decision should be up to the individual” or “As long as I’m not hurting anyone by my behavior, I have a right to do, say or think whatever I please”. God, however, was very firm about absolute right and wrong – He summarized it in ten statements we call the Commandments. Christ expanded the “Thou shalt not” statements of the Commandments and gave us the Beatitudes, which help us to see beyond what we simply should NOT DO and extend ourselves to DO what is blessed.

As Christ’s friends, we have a responsibility to be loyal to him. (Isn’t loyalty something you value in your friendships with peers? How much more important is loyalty to our God, who created us and sustains us every day of our life!)

What is one belief upheld in the world today that is contrary to the Commandments or Beatitudes, and yet is accepted as truth?

How can you stand by Christ and combat this particular false belief upheld by society?

Prayer Reflection Through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), we are united to Jesus, joined to him so that his very life flows through us. Use these words as a prayer this week.

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Dear Members of St. Mary Immaculate Parish,

I am the Sponsor for ______(student’s name)

After our times of discussion, I can attest to this Candidate's sincerity and effort in striving to develop the qualities expected of members of the Catholic faith community. I therefore recommend this Candidate to be confirmed as a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church.

Respectfully,

______

(Sponsor's Signature) (Date)