Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

Building on 100 years of sharing and caring.

9:00 am Weekday Mass & Rosary

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Daily Mass on Saturdays at Queen of Angels in the Upper Church.  Usually followed by the praying of the Holy Rosary.  On the final Saturday of each month, the Rosary will be said with a special Respect Life intention. 

Confirmation Prep – Rules and Tools

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Rules and Tools for Christian Life

Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide

  • Track A: Monday 11/18/2024, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
  • Track B: Wednesday 11/20 and Thursday 11/21 in Religion class

Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)

Check in about Confirmation Names – reflection paper due in 3 weeks!

Opening Prayer (10 min)

Opening Prayer
Guided meditation (leader’s guide) with “Hold My Hand” (Adam Bitter) playing in the background

Presentation on the Ten Commandments (10-15 min)

with handout

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq89Z3Zr_WU)

Icebreaker: Morally Good or Morally Suspect? (15-20 min)

Using the handout Morally Good or Morally Suspect?, groups will explore 5 scenarios for if they are intrinsically good actions (which promote their relationships with God or others) and whether the intention of the action or not having a free choice (due to conflicting obligations or some other circumstance) contribute to making the action wrong.

Presentation on Theological and Cardinal Virtues (10 min)

The theological virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity) come to us from God.  The cardinal virtues (Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance and Justice) are the result of human effort.  “Cardinal” means “hinge”.

If the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes are the “rules” for leading the moral life in Christ, then the Virtues are the “tools” that help us to know and follow the rules.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTVNK4g9npo) 

Breakout: Virtues and Deadly Sins
Use the question sheet (English | Español) to explore the Deadly Sins and their corresponding Theological or Cardinal Virtue. Groups can decide to break into partners or work together as a table.  (Storybooks from the library and) printed story cards will be available for anyone needing to familiarize themselves with the folktales illustrating the Deadly Sins. Story cards (or their sources) are linked in the table below.

7 Deadly Sins
“the Poison”		 7 Pecados Capitales
“el Veneno”		 7 Virtues
“the Antidote”		 7 Virtudes
“el Antídoto”
Pride
excessive focus on self; excessive trust in your own abilities
– – –
“The Hare and the Tortoise”
Proverbs 28:26
Proverbs 16:18		 Soberbia
excesivamente enfocado en si mismo; confianza excesiva en sus propias capacidades
– – –
“La liebre y la tortuga”

Proverbios 28:26
Proverbios 16:18		 Faith
focus on God and trust in divine providence
– – –
Elijah and the Widow:
1 Kings 17:8-24		 T
H
E
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
LV
I
R
T
U
E
S		 Fe
enfocado en Dios; confianza en la providencia divina
– – –
Elías y la Viuda:
1 Reyes 17:8-24		 V
I
R
T
U
D
E
ST
E
O
L
O
G
A
L
E
S
Sloth
lack of hope in God’s goodness
– – –
“The Little Red Hen”
or “The Grasshopper and the Ants”

Proverbs 10:4-7
Proverbs 13:4		 Pereza
la falta de esperanza en la bondad de Dios
– – –
“La gallinita roja” o “El saltamontes y la hormiga”

Proverbios 10:4-7
Proverbios 13:4		 Hope
confidence in God’s goodness
– – –
The Parable of the Talents:
Matthew 25:14-28		 Esperanza
la confianza en la bondad de Dios
– – –
La Parábola de los Talentos:
Mateo 25:14-28
Envy
resentment of others and their gifts
– – –
“Snow White” or “The Woman Who Outshone the Sun”

Proverbs 23:17-18
Proverbs 24:1-2		 Envidia
el resentimiento de otros y sus regalos
– – –
“Blancanieves” o
“La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol”

Proverbios 23:17-18
Proverbios 24:1-2		 Charity
love of God and others shown through sharing gifts
– – –
The Good Samaritan:
Luke 10:29-36		 Caridad
el amor de Dios y de otros demostrado de compartir regalos
– – –
El Buen Samaritano:
Lucas 10:29-36
Wrath / Anger
uncontrolled hatred; acting without thinking
– – –
“Rapunzel”Proverbs 17:14
Proverbs 29:22
Proverbs 30:33		 Ira
el odio incontrolable; actuando sin pensamiento
– – –
“Rapunzel”

Proverbios 17:14
Proverbios 29:22
Proverbios 30:33		 Prudence
the ability to think before acting
– – –
The Parable of the Ten Virgins:
Matthew 25:1-13		 C
A
R
D
I
N
A
LV
I
R
T
U
E
S		 Prudencia
la capacidad de pensar antes de actuar
– – –
La Parabola de las Diez Vírgines:
Mateo 25:1-13		 V
I
R
T
U
D
E
SC
A
R
D
I
N
A
L
E
S
Avarice / Greed
excessive desire for material wealth and abundance
– – –
“King Midas”

Proverbs 15:27		 Avaricia
el deseo excesivo para las riquezas materiales y la abundancia
– – –
“El rey Midas”

Proverbios 15:27		 Justice
a desire to make sure that all can share in God’s abundance
– – –
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard:
Matthew 20:1-16		 Justicia
el deseo de asegurarse que todos puedan compartir la abundancia de Dios
– – –
Parábola de los Trabajadores de la Viña:
Mateo 20:1-16
Lust
desires that disrespect the dignity of others
– – –
“The Fisherman and His Wife”

Proverbs 12:8-11		 Lujuria
los deseos que faltan al respeto y dignidad de otros
– – –
“El Pescador y Su Esposa”

Proverbios 12:8-11		 Fortitude
the strength to resist excessive desires
– – –
The Temptation of Jesus:
Luke 4:5-8		 Fortaleza
la fuerza para resistir deseos excesivos
– – –
La Tentación de Jesús:
Lucas 4:5-8
Gluttony
excessive desire for food and drink
– – –
“Hansel and Gretel”

Proverbs 23:20-21		 Gula
el deseo excesivo para alimento y bebida
– – –
“Hansel y Gretel”

Proverbios 23:20–21		 Temperance
balancing what you want with what you need
– – –
Parable of the Birds and the Wildflowers:
Matthew 6:25-34		 Templanza
equilibrar lo que usted desea con lo que usted necesita
– – –
La Parábola de los Aves y los Lirios:
Mateo 6:25-34

Homework and Reminders (5 min)

HOMEWORK (due in 2 weeks, after Thanksgiving)

  • Textbook pp. 37-40 and 51-52
  • Journal pp. 32-34
  • Work on your Confirmation Name Reflection due in mid-December!  Try to choose a Confirmation name, finish researching your saint, and begin writing your reflection (Track A * Track B)!

REMINDERS

  • No regular class next week; Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Next class session is the week after Thanksgiving – this is when your book/journal homework is due
    • Track A (Religious Ed): Monday, December 2, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall
      • will include opportunity for Advent Confessions at Queen of Angels Church, 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
      • arrive and dismiss from class in Mission Hall as usual; students will be walked back and forth to church
    • Track B (Catholic schools): Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 and 5 during Religion class
      • includes preparation for attending Advent Confessions during school time the following week
  • Confirmation Name reflections are due the next class after that
    • Track A Monday 12/9, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall
    • Track B maybe Wednesday 12/11 and Thursday 12/12 in 8th Grade Religion class

Closing Prayer Ritual (5 min)

Act of Faith, Hope and Love (prayer card, in your preferred language)

My God, I believe in you, I trust in you,
I love you above all things, with all my heart and mind and strength.
I love you because you are supremely good and worth loving; and because I love you,
I am sorry with all my heart for offending you.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

Dios mío, creo en ti, confío en ti
y te amo sobre todas las cosas con todo mi corazón, con toda mi mente y con todo mi ser.
Te amo porque eres absolutamente bueno y digno de ser amado; y porque te amo,
te pido perdón de todo corazón por haberte ofendido.
Señor, ten misericordia de mi, pecador. Amén.

Note for later on:

  • Service Hours can be done now, due finally in early February  
  • Confirmation Name essay due in mid-December (Track A on Mon 12/9, Track B on Thurs 12/12).  
  • Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson.

Confirmation Prep – Sponsor Night

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Class with Parents and Sponsors

Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide

  • Track A & B: Monday 11/11/2024, 6:45-8:30 p.m. at St. Matthias Church

Gathering Icebreakers (10 min.)

Candidates should share with their parent and/or Sponsor(s) the research they have done so far on the saints they are considering for their Confirmation Name.  Students were asked to come to this class prepared with the names of 2 saints and something they find interesting about each of them.

Candidates and their Sponsor(s) (or parents) will also do an icebreaker evaluating their gifts and talents using:

Opening Prayer (5 min)

Opening Prayer
“Pan de Vida” (v. 1 in English, v. 2 en español)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ-j-DrNMOo 

Introductory Comments from Father Jason Malave (10 min)

Videos on the Corporal Works of Mercy (15-20 min)

Bilingual Photo Handout on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
(Videos should load fine at church where the internet is different; they are just caught in the Q of A School firewall for unknown reasons.)

English video with option for good subtitles in Spanish:


(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfWEUw0iwAQ)

Spanish video from the same producers on the same topic; script is ever so slightly different, but may be helpful for those making up the session at home:


(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=486MoqSEpWM)

Partner Work: Questions on the Works of Mercy and Saints of Mercy worksheet (25-30 min)

Candidates will work with the Sponsor(s) and/or parents on the worksheets:

Presentation on Service & Sponsor Responsibilities (15 min)

Gifts of the Spirit Demonstration (10 min)

Savannah P. (11/11), Kyla M. (11/9), and/or Viviana C. (11/14) will be invited to come forward and open a “birthday present” for the class, gift cards listing the Gifts of the Spirit.

Homework and Reminders (5 min)

HOMEWORK

  • work more on your Confirmation Name Reflection.  In the next week or so, before Thanksgiving, try to settle on a Confirmation Name to choose, and finish your research on that saint.
  • Textbook read/do pp. 41-43
  • Journal read/do pp. 52-54

REMINDERS

  • Next class session is next week – this is when your book/journal homework is due!
    • Track A Monday 11/18, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall at the Parish Center, 4412 N. Western
    • Track B Wednesday 11/20 and Thursday 11/21 in 8th Grade Religion class

Closing Prayer (5 min)

St. Ignatius’ Prayer for Generosity (slides, in your preferred language)

Teach me, Lord,
To serve you as you deserve.​
To give without counting the cost,​
To fight heedless of wounds,​
To labor without seeking rest,​
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward ​
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.  Amen.​

Enséñanos, Señor,
A servirte como mereces: ​
A dar sin contar el costo, ​
A luchar sin contar las heridas, ​
A trabajar y a no buscar descanso, ​
A laborar sin pedir recompensa ​
Excepto que saber qué hacemos tu voluntad.  Amén.​

Note for later on:

  • Confirmation Name essay due in mid-December (Track A on 12/9, Track B on 12/12).  
  • Service Hours can be done now, due finally in early February
  • Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson.

Confirmation Prep – Saintapalooza

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Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide (with Homework & reminders on p. 2-3)

  • Track A: Monday 10/28/2024, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
  • Track B: taught Tuesday 10/29 and Wednesday 10/30 in Religion class

Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)

Scenes from a Cup (Charades)
Candidates take turns silently miming actions written on slips drawn from the cup at the center of their table.  Other group members guess the name of the action being performed. The point is that we can read actions like we read words, and draw understanding from them.  If time, you can also share journal p. 45 responses from the homework,

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Beatitudes Reading: Matthew 5:3-12

Joe Melendrez, “Mercy”

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6_QJg96ic

The Beatitudes and Sainthood (15 min)

Beatitudes Don’t Be Fooled handout
backed by slides which translates the Beatitudes into modern language (a.k.a. into emojis)

Saints Presentation

  • The Communion of Saints: As Catholics, we look up to the example of the holy men and women who have come before us. Through a particular process called canonization, the Church recognizes a holy person an official Saint (with a capital S).  Part of that process is looking at the miracles that have happened due to the intercession of that saint.  Intercession means that we can ask a saint to pray for us, often as the patron saint for particular things that would have also been important to that saint in his or her earthly lifetime. The Church does not make Saints, only recognizes them.   All of us are called to be saints (with a lower case s) by leading good and holy lives.
  • How to “Read” a Saint Image: The Christian faith and example of the saints have inspired many artists over the centuries.  Because there are so many saints, it is important to know something about how to recognize the language of symbols used in their portraits.
    Here are some basics:  Guidelines For Reading Saint Images

Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint of the 21st Century

Preferred video to show (video file uploaded into slides and should play OK directly from there)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaAGFDFIDg

Back-up video to show (if needed due to technical difficulties with slides)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ0p_3o-uMc

Breakout Session at Tables: Saint Bios (45 min)

  • Each table or group receives a large envelope with about 15 saint bio cards with information about different saints listed on them. These saint biographies were written by teens just like you. For any student doing a make-up without the physical cards, an index listing all of the cards can be found online at the bottom of this post on an older website.
  • After the group has read through a selection of the bio cards, choose one that means something to you, which you will work with personally.
  • Complete the Questions Handout for the saint you have chosen.
  • Virtual students do NOT need to read all of them; let yourself become interested in 3-5, read them, and then select 1 to answer the Questions Handout.

Candidates do not have to commit to any of the saints explored tonight as their Confirmation Name saint.  Rather, the purpose of this activity is to introduce you to the stories of different saints, how to understand their stories and take them as a model for living your life.

Guided Reflection: The Cost of Discipleship (15 min)

As disciples who are Catholic Christians, we have been called by our God to “love as Jesus loved, deny ourselves and follow him.”  (Reading and individual reflection on changes we will make in our own lives to become better disciples)

Nothing can stand between us and Jesus:

  • Not our family (if they are not on fire with their own faith)
  • Not our activities (that might crowd out our prayer time)
  • Not our possessions (our stuff that we should not value more than our relationships with God and others)

We have to be ready to suffer, to recognize that this path of following Jesus is not always going to be a happy one.  It will sometimes be dull, sometimes challenging or painful.  Jesus gives us two examples to show why it’s worth it.  We have to be like the builder who budgets money to build a tower, and like the king who wins the battle even with his troops outnumbered.  We have to look at the cost of discipleship which must be paid before we see the great results that will come!

  • Response Sheet: The Cost of Discipleship
    Read the quotation at the top, a definition of the cost of discipleship. Consider the ways you might better love others as Jesus loved, or ways you might sacrifice the pleasures of life that are standing between you and Jesus.  In what ways will you follow Jesus as his disciple?
    Then look at the 6 questions written up and down the left and right margins of the page.  Inside the large cross outline, jot down one or two words in response to each question.  These words represent more complicated answers that will stay in your own heart.
    Look back at the words you have written.  Among these words are the barriers between you and Jesus as well as the sacrifices that will bring you closer to him.  They are your cross.  Read the invitation from Jesus at the bottom of the page: “Take up your cross and follow me.”
  • Turning in Sponsor Forms: Now also pick up your blue Sponsor form (Track A | Track B).  Your Sponsor will help you to carry the cross so that the load is lighter.  Just like Simon of Cyrene who was chosen from the crowd to help Jesus carry his cross, you have chosen your Sponsor to be at your side and help you when the load gets to be too much.
  • Prayer Responses: Take up your cross and your Sponsor form and lay them before the image of Jesus on the prayer table, to ask him to help you and your Sponsor as you leave those things behind.  As you await your turn or return to your seat, each person prays individually in silence using the 2-sided saints prayer cards (reading the info and praying the prayer on back / contemplating and “reading” the image on front) from the small, white envelope for each group.
    Some popular cards for our virtual students to choose from:

     

Homework and Reminders (5 min)

  • Choose a saint prayer card (2-sided, with the colored border) to keep and use.  This does not mean you will be choosing this saint for your Confirmation Name, but that is an option if you are moved by their story.
  • NO CLASS next week.  Retreat next Tuesday instead!
    Rise Up Retreat information:

    • Tuesday, November 5 (Election Day, which is a day off for CPS and most other schools, but a day of class for Catholic Schools)
    • 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Holy Family Hall (basement) and Queen of Angels Church, both at 2330 W. Sunnyside
      • Track A: be dropped off at 8:30 a.m. and picked up at 2:30 p.m.; plan now who will bring you or how you will get there if your parents will be working that day!
      • Track B: arrive to and depart from school as usual, you can walk over and back as a group
    • lunch will be provided (pizza with fresh fruit, carrots & dip, cookies, soft drinks or water)
    • a refillable water bottle labeled with your name is suggested
    • expect witness talks, music, games, prayer, small group activities, Living Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and more!
    • First Year Confirmation classes (7th grade / Level 7 and Level 7+ Sunday RE) are also invited to attend
  • Next class for both tracks with Sponsors and Parents: 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, November 11, in St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie
  • Homework due at next class (Flyer with details of homework is set as pages 2 and 3 of catechist plan – Track A on p. 2 and Track B on p. 3)
    • Do pages 2-4 in your journal
    • Do some research for your Confirmation Name selection.
      • Bring in the names of 2 saints you are considering for your Confirmation Name, and something about each of them that you think is interesting. It may be helpful to jot down notes for yourself so you do not forget the names and details of the saints you researched.  The final essay is due in mid-November.
      • See page 2 of “Selecting a Confirmation Name” assignment (Track A | Track B) for research tips. While your search might start with Googling, please draw your research notes from the saint’s entry on CatholicSaints.info, CatholicOnline (Catholic.org), or a similar Catholic website.  Wikipedia is not the best place to draw information about saints from because it is so comprehensive about historical detail that it rarely gets to the heart of who the person was and why he or she is a saint.  It is not a practical resource.  For example, if you wanted to bake muffins, you would look up the recipe on a cooking website, not just investigate the history or variety of muffins on Wikipedia.
  • Remember that  Sponsor & Parent Night is on Monday, November 11.
    • Make sure a Parent and your Sponsor(s) (or at least an Adult “stunt-double” from your family) can come with you.  Each youth Candidate should have a Sponsor and/or parents in attendance to work with as a small group.
    • Tell your catechist table leader if you have to come alone or if you will be sharing a parent or Sponsor(s) with a sibling/cousin/friend also in the class.
    • Bring in any missing Commitment (beige) or Sponsor (blue) forms (download for your correct Track at the blog post from the first class).

Closing Prayer Ritual (5 min)

Litany of the Saints with option to be rapped!
(leader script with approximate timings | backing track)

  • Next steps for choosing Confirmation Name
    • Read instructions for Confirmation Name reflection paper (final paper due week after Thanksgiving)
    • Keep researching saints using the guidelines and resources

Note for later on:

  • Service Hours can be done now, due finally in early February. 
  • Plan for you, your Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) to all attend the class session on Monday, November 11, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  It will take place at St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie, so we have room to spread out.
  • Confirmation Name essay due in mid-December – this class helps to launch our efforts to choose and reflect on a Confirmation Name!
  • Letter to the Pastor due in mid-January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson
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