
LEADER’S GUIDE Chris Stefanick & Ron Bolster West Chester, Pennsylvania Chosen is a resource of Ascension Press. Copyright © 2014 Ascension Press. All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts used in articles and critical reviews, no part of this work may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form whatsoever, printed or electronic, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America. Copyright © 1994, 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.–Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. Scripture passages marked “RSV-CE” have been taken from the Revised Standard Version–Catholic Edition. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture passages marked “NAB” are from the New American Bible. Copyright © 1987, by World Bible Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Passages marked “NIV” are from the New International Version. Copyright © 1984, by the International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Ascension Press Post Office Box 1990 West Chester, PA 19380 1-800-376-0520 AscensionPress.com Cover Design: Devin Schadt Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-935940-54-8 Contents Welcome Letter from Chris Stefanick ............................................................... i About the Authors and Presenters ................................................................ ii Chosen Program Overview........................................................................ iv The Chosen Catechetical Approach . .iv “Who’s Who?” in Confirmation: Explaining the Roles . v Chosen Program Components . vii Getting Started ................................................................................. viii Step 1: Plan Your Schedule . viii Step 2: Recruit Your Team . ix Step 3: Engage the Parish Community . x Step 4: Create Your “Program Checklist”.................................................... xi Scheduling Models ............................................................................. xii One-Year Plan . xii Two-Year Plan . xiii Online Resources ............................................................................... xv Session Outline . xvi Send Us Your Ideas and “Success Stories” ......................................................... xix For More Information ........................................................................... xix How to Use this Leader’s Guide ................................................................... xx Chosen Student Workbook Lesson 1: “Why am I here?” (An Introduction to Chosen) . 1 Lesson 2: “What makes me happy?” (Discovering God as the Source) . 5 Lesson 3: “What’s your story, God?” (A Look at Salvation History) . 15 Lesson 4: “How do I know God is real?” (Understanding Divine Revelation) . 25 Lesson 5: “Who is Jesus?” (The Person and Mission of Christ) . 35 Lesson 6: “Why be Catholic?” (Discovering the Church Jesus Founded) . 45 Lesson 7: “Where am I going?” (A Look at the Four Last Things) . 55 Lesson 8: “How do I get there?” (The Power and Purpose of the Sacraments) . 65 Lesson 9: “When did my journey begin?” (Baptism, Your Initiation into God’s Family) . 75 Lesson 10: “Why tell my sins to a priest?” (The Healing Power of Confession) . 85 Lesson 11: “How does God help when it hurts?” (Anointing of the Sick and Redemptive Suffering) . 95 Lesson 12: “Who is the Holy Spirit?” (Meeting the Third Person of the Trinity) . 105 Lesson 13: “What does the Holy Spirit do for me?” (Gifts for the Journey) . .115 Lesson 14: “Why have I been Chosen?” (Sealed and Sent in Confirmation) . 125 Lesson 15: “Why do I have to go to Mass?” (Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist) . 135 Lesson 16: “What does it mean to say, ‘I do’?” (Marriage, a Sign of God’s Love) . 145 Lesson 17: “Who’s calling?” (Holy Orders and Vocational Discernment) . 155 Lesson 18: “Are you talking to me?” (Getting to Know God Through Prayer) . .165 Lesson 19: “Who is Mary?” (Meeting the Mother of God – and Your Heavenly Family) . 175 Lesson 20: “What would Jesus do?” (The Beatitudes as a Path to True Happiness) . 185 Lesson 21: “Do I have what it takes?” (Building Virtue – Your Spiritual Workout) . 195 Lesson 22: “Why wait?” (God’s Plan for Love and Sex) . 205 Lesson 23: “How do I build the kingdom?” (Saying “Yes” to the Mission of Christ and His Church) . 215 Lesson 24: “Where do I go from here?” (The Journey Continues) . 225 Glossary . 234 Catholic Prayers . 248 Student Workbook Endnotes . .252 Leader’s Guide Endnotes . .259 Acknowledgments . 260 Leader’s Guide i Welcome to Chosen Thank you for responding to the call to prepare Catholic teens to take the next important step on their faith journey—Confirmation. I’ve spoken to people involved in youth ministry who are eager to reach this fast-paced, tech-savvy generation with the love of Christ—yet are wondering how, exactly, to communicate the teachings of the Church in a way that “speaks” to those caught up in an increasingly secular world. If you feel like this, do not be afraid. While the “news of the day” gets old within twenty-four hours, and the latest tech gadget becomes obsolete in six months, the mercy of God is “new each morning” (Lamentations 3:23). That is truly “Good News.” Whether or not they know it, teens today have hearts and minds made to dive in to the Good News of the gospel. In the words of John Paul II, “Jesus Christ is the answer to the question posed by every human life, and the love of Christ compels us to share that great Good News with everyone.”1 Just as the God of the universe transformed human history two thousand years ago, he is fully “present” and seeks to transform the hearts of young people, here and now. This life-changing “divine encounter” isn’t a flashy event or a new philosophy; it is a person: Jesus Christ. Instead of encountering God on the crowded streets of Jerusalem, your candidates will encounter him in the sacraments, in the teachings of the Church, in their parish community, in experiences of service, and, in a special way, in you. It’s our prayer that the thousands of hours of work that went into Chosen will help you to facilitate an encounter with God himself. Like you, we do this work, not because of what we have to give young people, but because of what they have to give to the Church and the world when they open their hearts to God. In the words of the great pope who was such an important part of my own conversion: “I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young, the young are our hope.”2 Indeed, the young people we serve are not the Church of tomorrow any more than you are the Church of yesterday. The youth are the Church of today! And as you prepare them for the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are helping empower them to be the saints and kingdom builders they are called to be (as you become a saint and kingdom builder yourself). We are honored to be on this journey with you. Know that we are praying for you as you do the most important work in human history: echoing the Good News that God has revealed to every generation. Your friend in Christ, ii About the Authors and Presenters Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation,features some of the most passionate and inspiring Catholic youth- ministry experts and speakers from across the country. Co-Authors Chris Stefanick is a co-author and presenter for Chosen. He speaks to more than 50,000 teens, young adults, and parents every year. Chris has served at a parish in the East Los Angeles area and as director of youth and young- adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Denver. He is the founder and president of Real Life Catholic, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reengaging a generation. Chris is a syndicated columnist, has authored or co-authored several books, and is a regular on Catholic TV and radio. Chris and his wife, Natalie, live with their children in Denver, Colorado. Learn more about Chris at RealLifeCatholic.com. Ron Bolster is director of the Office of Catechetics at Franciscan University. He was formerly the director of the Office of Catechetics for the Diocese of Peoria. He holds a master of arts degree in theology with catechetical certification from Franciscan University and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University. Ron has also served as a consultant for RCIA to the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. He and his wife, Andrea, reside with their children in Steubenville, Ohio. Presenters Jackie Francois Angel is a Catholic recording artist and speaker who travels both nationally and internationally, leading retreats and conferences for youth and young adults. Her debut album, Your Kingdom Is Glorious, was released through OCP/SpiritandSong.com. Jackie and her husband, Bobby Angel, live in California. Visit JackieFrancis.com to learn more. Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is the founder and director of Servant Enterprises Inc., dedicated to the promotion of Catholic values. He makes regular appearances in Catholic media and leads retreats, seminars, and conferences around the world. Deacon Harold and his wife, Colleen, live with their children in Portland, Oregon. Visit DynamicDeacon.com to learn more. Brian Butler is co-author of Theology of the Body for Teens (both the high-school and middle-school editions). He is the co-founder and president of Dumb Ox Ministries (DumbOxMinistries.com), a nonprofit organization dedicated to chastity and vocation formation for teens and young adults. Brian and his wife, Lisa, live with their children in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. The four Dominican sisters who participated in the Chosen program are from a congregation of nearly 280 religious sisters based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia are committed to Catholic education and serve more than 12,000 students from preschool to college throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Australia.
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