Dear Parent(S)/Guardian(S)

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s), Plans are underway for the Confirmation Retreat, April 22-24, 2016. We are confident that it will be a wonderful and meaningful weekend for your child. During the retreat, the candidates will be given the opportunity to stop and think about their relationship with God and how this relationship affects and inspires other relationships in their lives. They will participate in quiet time, group activities and the celebration of the Liturgy. As part of the Confirmation Retreat Weekend, we will focus on what it means to be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church and the love and support we receive from our family, friends and church community. We need your help in a very special way. Throughout the retreat weekend, we would like to present each candidate with a few special surprises that will help them make connections between their Baptism, First Eucharist and soon to be received, Confirmation. Below, you will find the items we are requesting from you. Requested/Needed Items:  Decorated "Sacrament Memory Box" (boxes to be handed out at the Parent Meeting)  Photographs or Photo Collage  Letters of support from parents (1-2)  Additional letters of support (2-3) ***The deadline for submitting the requested items is Monday, April 11th*** Decorated "Sacrament Memory Box": The sacraments are an important part of our Catholic life. As a symbol of this, we will be presenting each Confirmation Candidate with a "Sacrament Memory Box" decorated by their parent(s)/family. These boxes, filled with signs, symbols and memories will be presented to your son/daughter during the retreat weekend. It is our hope that these boxes will serve as a reminder of their retreat experience and be tool for guiding reflective prayer time in the future. There is no right or wrong way to decorate your son/daughter’s box. You can be as creative or simple as you choose. Feel free to use markers, crayons, paints, or stickers, etc... This is not intended to be a stressful activity or a contest for the best decorated box. Please ensure your son/daughters name is clearly labeled on the outside of the box. Photographs or Photo Collage :  Photo of your son/daughter on their Baptism: If you are unable to locate a photo of their baptism, then a photo at approximately the age they were when they were baptized. Ideally, the photo would include family members and/or godparents, (but not necessary). Please write your son/daughter's name on the back of each photograph.  Photo of your son/daughter on their First Communion: If you are unable to locate a photo of their First Communion, then a photo at approximately the age they were when they received their First Communion. Ideally, the photo would include family members and/or godparents (but not necessary). Please write your son/daughter's name on the back of each photograph. -CONTINUED- OR...  Photo Collage of your son/daughter: If you would prefer to create a small photo collage of pictures from your child’s Baptism and First Communion, you are welcomed to do so. In the past, some parents have found this option easier than trying to locate actual photographs, since most of us have pictures stored digitally. If you choose to create a photo collage, please be aware that the collage will need to fit into the memory box and may need to be folded. Please be sure your son/daughter's name is somewhere in the collage. Parent Support Letters: One of the most meaningful parts of the retreat weekend is when we present the confirmation candidates with surprise letters of support and affirmation from home. In order for this to happen, we are asking that one or both parents write a letter of encouragement to their son/daughter. These support letters will be presented to your child during a very special part of the weekend retreat and will truly be a wonderful gift from you!

If you have never written such a letter, or need a little help to get it started, here are some ideas/suggestions:  How proud you are of your son/daughter for the way he/she is preparing for Confirmation -their effort, Christian awareness, prayer, concern for others, etc.;  The special place he/she holds within your family; how he/she has brought love and joy to the family and others;  Words of encouragement to help them through the rough spots that come up in life;  The hope that he/she will always strive to grow in his/her relationship with God and live a moral, responsible life as a fully initiated Catholic Christian.  Affirmations of your son/daughter's gifts, talents, and accomplishments.  Reflections or memories about your relationship with your child.  Prayers for the future, encouragement for the continued faith journey and reminders of how much they are loved—by God, their family, and their faith community. Additional (2-3) letters of support/affirmation : In addition to the "Parent Support Letters", please ask 2-3 other people who are close to your son/daughter. These letters could be written by Godparents, Confirmation Sponsor, grandparents, other relatives or older siblings. ***Important: Each letter should be sealed in its own envelope and clearly labeled with first and last name of Confirmation Candidate.

It is our desire that these requested items will touch your son/daughter in a very special way. We will do our part to make the retreat weekend memorable, but we cannot decorate the boxes, write the letters or find the photos for you. As you can imagine, there are many details to attend to in preparing for our retreat weekend, so we ask that you please not wait until the last minute. Thank you for taking the time to help make your child's retreat experience a memorable one. We appreciate your support. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, 624-5827, ext. 212 or [email protected]. Blessings, Jen Gordon EDGE/Confirmation Coordinator