Deanery II-C and II-E parishes present an interactive, multi-day experience for 8th Grade and H..S. Youth during Holy Week 2026!

Teen Triduum

Register here: Teen Triduum Registration for Queen of Apostles Parish by Sunday, March 29!

Online payments for youth from Queen of Apostles Parish: Give Central
($30 per youth, $50 for 2 siblings)

If you are from a different participating parish, please scroll down and use the separate registration links provided below. 

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DAILY SCHEDULE for participants from Queen of Apostles Parish

Holy Thursday, April 2: 5 p.m. to 12 midnight, beginning and ending at the local parish

• 5 p.m. at Queen of Angels site (or St. Padre Pio site, depending on numbers) – youth gather with parish leaders for dinner and formation
• 7 p.m. youth participate in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at their local parish
  buses depart after Mass from each local parish site to meet at St. Andrew
• 8:45 p.m. Buses meet at St. Andrew as a group for the pilgrimage to other churches
  • St. Andrew Church, corner of Paulina & Addison, 3546 N. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60657
  • St. Alphonsus Church, corner of Wellington, Southport & Lincoln, 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. IL 60657
  • St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
  • St. Michael Church in Old Town, near intersection of 1633 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
  • St. John Cantius Church, near intersection of Ogden Avenue and Chicago Avenue, 825 N. Carpenter St., Chicago, IL 60642
  • St. Mary of the Angels Church, corner of Hermitage & Cortland, 1850 N. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60622
• 12 midnight – buses return to Queen of Angels site for pick-up by parents

Good Friday, April 3: 10 a.m. at St. Padre Pio (corner of Bryn Mawr & California) to 5 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy (4432 N. Troy)

• includes lunch, walking pilgrimage with Way of the Cross along 1 mile of city streets, and 3 p.m. Liturgy of the Lord’s Death
• parents and families can join in the 3 p.m. Liturgy of the Lord’s Death at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 4432 N. Troy St.

Holy Saturday, April 4: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Viator gym (3644 N. Kedvale), with evening Mass at local parish 

• includes lunch, witness talks, and activities focused on the Resurrection and preparation for the Easter Vigil
• youth participate with their families at 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass celebrated at Queen of Angels Church 

COST

$30 per youth, or $50 for 2 siblings (Give Central to Queen of Apostles Parish, or by cash or check the Parish Office at 4412 N. Western)

ORGANIZERS

Deanery Parishes and staff cooperating on the event:

• Saint Edward Parish — Fr. Dominic Clemente, Paul Minarik
• Our Lady of Mercy Parish — Fr. Tom Byrne, seminarian Derek Damasco, Sandra Narvaez
• Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish — Fr. Sergio Rivas Tamayo, seminarian Carlos Sepulveda
• Queen of Apostles Parish (Queen of Angels & St. Matthias) — Fr. Jason Malave, Fr. Sergio de la Torre, Rachel Hohner
• Saint Padre Pio Parish (St. Hilary & Transfiguration of Our Lord) — Fr. Peter McQuinn, M. Yanett Banda, Roberto Carvajal, Ashley Ramirez
• Saints Viator and Wenceslaus — Fr. Benjamin Arevalos, Sister Carmen Loredo, Miriam Martinez

“Growth in Grace”

Catechist Summary * Slides * Interviews conclude this week!

• Track A (Religious Ed. / Catecismo): Monday 2/9/2026, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall
• Track B (Catholic schools): Wednesday 2/11/2026 and Thursday 2/12/2026 in 8th Grade Religion class

NOTE: This is a hybridized session briefly covering several topics which happens only in years when Confirmation Masses are a little earlier in the Spring (late February or early March).  Certain aspects of this session may be further split up and expanded into multiple sessions (namely Spiritual Growth & Lent, The Power of Prayer,  The Gift of Grace, and a bit of One Faith Many Voices) in years when Confirmation Masses are a little later in the Spring (late March or early April).   

Gathering (5 min.)

Students can sign up for roles in the Confirmation Masses. Speaking roles in English and/or Spanish include giving the welcome, proclaiming one of the Readings, or leading one of the Prayers of the Faithful.  Carrying roles include carrying flowers to the altar, taking the collection (using baskets), and bringing forward the gifts of bread and wine.

If Ms. Hohner can get the mock-ups printed in time, students may also have the opportunity to proofread the nametags for themselves (for the Confirmation Name) and for their Sponsor(s) to be used at the rehearsals and Confirmation Masses.

• Track A draft nametags will be printed by table group: one page for candidates and a page for Sponsors.
• Track B draft nametags will be printed in alphabetical order (also divided by homeroom for Queen of Angels School): one set of pages for camdidates and one set of pages for Sponsors.

This is an opportunity to correct spelling, provide Sponsors’ last names, decide whether or not to use a nickname, etc.  Please sign your initials in the corner of each nametag after you have reviewed it and added any corrections or additions.

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ,​ for all the benefits you have given me,​ for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,​ may I know you more clearly, love you ​more dearly, and follow you more ​nearly, day by day.  Amen.​

Being Confirmed, Receiving Grace (10 min)

Grace is a share in God’s own life.  Sanctifying grace ​received in the sacraments​ awakens in us new strength and purpose.  We can tap into that strength whenever we are faced with a difficult decision or task. ​

Grace is an unmerited gift! No amount of service hours, written assignments, journal pages or comments in class discussion would ever be enough to earn this gift!  Our class assignments have been for our catechists, ​parents and Pastor to know where you are at on your journey, because we don’t have the perfect ​vision of God to see directly into your heart.

The Holy Spirit will be far more interested in…​

• …whether you put forth effort to grow spiritually. ​
• …if you participated because we said you had to or because you honestly want to be closer to Jesus through the Holy Spirit.​
• …if learning, service, and reflection will be part of your lifelong practice of your faith.​

Video of real people from St. Nicholas Parish (now St. John XXIII Parish after being united with St. Mary Parish), including Ms. Hohner’s friend Jocelyn!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Q5y_g5-e0

“Confirmation makes itself known when you do things.” Things like making decisions, choosing your friends​. serving the needs of the community, praying​, joining parish ministries.  ​

Being Confirmed is like making the basketball team. Your Sponsor is your coach.  If you get involved, you are playing in the basketball game.  If you just sit on the bench, you are wasting your gifts and talents you could be sharing with God’s family. And if you do that, you will never get better at playing the game.

Your Confirmation is the moment you have been working toward, but that moment is just the next step in a longer journey. Remember that Confirmation is NOT Graduation!   

Breakout Activity at Tables: Your Prayer Style (25 min)

Read directions for prayer type inventory packet carefully!

1. Take inventory (p. A)
2. Read descriptions of spiritual path (p. B) & Styles of Prayer grids (pp. C-D), keeping in mind your score in each category.
3. Discuss or reflect individually on your personal result and prayer suggestions.
4. Consider the flow chart for what to do when it seems like God isn’t answering your prayers, at least not in the way you had hoped. 

A Prayerful Confirmation Mass (5 min)

Review the Invitation to Prayer and Laying on of Hands Prayer to call down the Holy Spirit in the Confirmation Mass, using page 6 of last year’s Confirmation Mass program booklet:

• Track B St. Matthias School: 2025 English program booklet
• Track B Queen of Angels School and Track A Religious Ed: 2025 bilingual program booklet
  • though not all Track A Religious Ed students will be in the bilingual Mass, using the bilingual Mass program booklet to practice allows for unity of instruction  

Consider ways to call yourself back to prayer if you find your mind or hands becoming less prayerful during the Confirmation Mass.

Invitation to Spiritual Growth (5 min)

Think back to “Is Your Faith Still in Kindergarten?” video & S.M.A.R.T. Goals (metas de C.L.A.V.E. en español) you wrote on cards (and took a photo of) from last Fall.  Let’s hope you’ve been growing while preparing for Confirmation!

At the time, we set goals (where we want to go) but didn’t look closely at where we were already (where we started).  This would never work in navigating on Google Maps or Waze, where you need a clear starting location to get directions!  Maybe we are used to our phones automatically detecting this for us.  So let’s start making plans for growth after Confirmation by taking a look at where we are right now.

Breakout Activity at Tables: Spiritual Life Snapshot (20 min)

Tree parts worksheet for each student to complete a spiritual life tree

Lent: A Time for Spiritual Growth (10 min)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJBMw2pQZiA

ALTERNATE VIDEO, in case the one above ceases to work in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday (as happened in 2024 at this time):

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9rM5VOqndg

During Lent, we seek unity with Christ through personal sacrifice.  Lenten sacrifice in the spirit of Jesus, as our Lenten discipline as disciples of Jesus, should be about giving up something you need in order to benefit another person (like Jesus giving his life for us on the cross), not just giving up something you enjoy but shouldn’t have because it’s bad for you (candy, cartoons, coffee).  Lenten sacrifices are not the same as New Year’s Resolutions!  Consider this short video’s example of a sacrifice (no spoken dialogue, so watch closely to follow along):

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-LK_MyvnLA

This year, as a sign of our growing spiritual maturity, let’s stretch beyond the things we have done as children during Lent!  Take on something extra (daily prayer, service, Scripture reading, spiritual journaling).  If you do choose to make giving something up a part of your Lenten discipline, consider how you can give up a related thing you need (like the money or time spent on that thing) to benefit someone else (through charitable donation, service, or prayer for the needs of the world).

We can join our parish to use CRS Rice Bowl as a tool for our for prayer, fasting & almsgiving this Lent.  This is a way to help the victims of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as others in need around the world, including victims of natural disasters, war, and climate change.

Breakout Activity at Tables: My Lenten Sacrifices (10 min)

Students write on the side of their CRS Rice Bowl bank what they are sacrificing for Lent.  Groups should also look at the calendar and recipes from the booklet inside the bank.

Reminders and Closing Prayer (10 min)

Reminders:

• Confirmation interviews conclude this week!  Ms. Hohner is still missing a couple of Letters to the Pastor!
• NO class next week, Presidents Day Holiday on Monday 2/16
• final class for all students Monday 2/23 @ 6:45pm-8:30pm in Mission Hall
• rehearsals Wednesday 3/4, bring your Sponsor or a parent
  • 6pm at St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie, for the English-only 10am Mass on Saturday, March 7
    • Track A English-speaking RE students who are fine with an English-only Mass
    • Track B St. Matthias School students
  • 7:30pm at Q of A Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside, for the bilingual 1:30pm Mass on Saturday, March 7
    • Track A Spanish-speaking or bilingual RE students needing a bilingual Mass
    • Track B Queen of Angels School students

Homework:

• textbook pages 75-76
• journal pages 43 and 63 
• make sure your Sponsor (or parent/other adult) knows to come to Wed 3/4 Practice
• if you missed the retreat Fri 1/30: go to parish confessions on a Saturday morning, 9am-10am at Queen of Angels Church

Closing Prayer:

At your Baptism, your parents and godparents made some promises on your behalf, mainly because you were probably a tiny baby or a small child when this happened.  They took responsibility for your sprirtual growth as Catholic Christians!  On the day of your Confirmation, you will renew those Baptism promises with your own voice, supported by your Sponsor(s).  Let’s practice doing this in a nice firm voice so we can be heard and believed!

Renewal of Baptism Promises (from slides or inside back cover of textbook, or center pages of old Confirmation Mass booklets)

Do you reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises? I do.
Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? I do.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? I do.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came up on the apostles at Pentecost and will be given to you sacramentally in Confirmation? I do. ​
Do you believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? I do.​
This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. ​

You should take home the copy of the old program booklet to continue to practice this, as well as the dialogue you will have with the bishop when you are anointed with oil.

Let’s conclude with a shorter prayer (from back cover of textbook)

O Lord, may I feel your strength and love each day of my life.  Let me know your guiding presence so that I can grow into the fullest person I am called to be.  Increase in me the fruits of your Holy Spirit.  May your peace and light accompany me and guide me.  Let me realize how deeply loved and precious ​I am in your eyes.  Amen.

“Faith in Action” (Hands and Feet)

Session Overview for Catechists
Catechist Summary * Slides

• Track A: Monday 2/2/2026, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
• Track B: Wednesday 2/4/2026 and Thursday 2/5/2026 in 8th Grade Religion class

Icebreaker (<5 min., Track A)

Track A can discuss journal pages 36-37 from homework journaling while students gather.
Track B should probably move on to the Opening Prayer quickly to have time for other things later in class.

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

“Do Something” by Matthew West

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3IrwujyAJ4

Sent to Serve (10 min)

See slides presented by Ms. Hohner (or Mr. Howell or Mr. Rosales in Religion during the week).
handout: Two Feet of Service and Justice

We are sent at the end of every Mass to serve our brothers and sisters in this world. The very word “Mass” comes from the Latin “missa”, meaning “it is sent”.  The priest or deacon dismisses us with the word, “Go!” with the option to send us to do a couple of different things:

• Go forth, the Mass is ended.
• Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
• Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
• Go in peace.

Service is lifelong and part of being a mature Christian.  It’s not just for 5+ hours for Confirmation Prep or for 40 hours to graduate from H.S.  But our faith teaches us that service is just the beginning. In addition to Service (or Charity), there is also Justice. When you served for your hours, did you do acts of Charity or acts of Justice? Acts of charity give direct or indirect service to meet immediate needs: giving someone a hot meal, sorting books at the school library, setting up furniture for a parish event.  Acts of justice help to educate and to break the cycles of injustice and poverty through social change: participating in an awareness walk, stuffing envelopes for a mailing at an immigrant justice organization, registering people to vote.   ​

When we think of justice, we might picture a courtroom or a criminal getting a harsh sentence after being found guilty of a terrible crime, “justice has been served”.  But remember that Justice is a Cardinal (human) Virtue — something we work at in cooperation with God. When you act with justice, you are considering the needs of others and trying to be fair. ​But that does not mean treating everyone exactly the same (equally or with equality)!  If a student gets a paper-cut, they should get a bandage. If the next student to be hurt falls off the playground equipment and breaks their arm, the equal thing is to give them a bandage too — but that’s not helpful for a broken arm, that student needs to go to the ER and get an X-ray and a cast on their arm.  Equity is everyone getting what they need, not everyone getting the same thing.

In the eyes of God, we are all equal, with equal dignity and made in the image and likeness of God.  But sin forces many inequalities on us and creates barriers — racism, poverty, prejudice, etc. — to the resources and opportunities offered by the world God created.  Charity is doing what we can to help people overcome the existing barriers, while Justice is doing what we can to remove the barriers and open opportunities to all. 

Charity and Justice work together.  Charity meets basic needs, helps individuals, and is more of a temporary fix.  Justice addresses or removes the root causes of social ills, improves structures​, and is more lasting in its effects. Both are necessary responses, though Justice often takes longer and is harder to achieve.

When a skateboarder is injured, you both tend to the wounds — whether a scraped elbow or a broken arm — and try to prevent a repeat injury — wearing better protective safety gear and maybe learning how to “fall safely”.  Other responses we might make are less necessary because they do not tend to the injury: outlawing skateboarding might protect property from damage or prevent a lawsuit, but it also takes away something fun that can be done reasonably safely. We don’t outlaw driving a car or walking and you can get hurt doing both of those.  Blaming the person who fell assumes they were doing something dangerous just because they were on a skateboard at the time — they could have hit a rough spot on the flat sidewalk or been crashed into by someone else.

Brainstorm a few examples from students’ service experiences of what might be Charity and what might be Justice.

Justice takes time and effort.  Charity can seem like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, a ship already sinking – what impact or difference can an individual act make, when there are so many complicated problems in our world?  These are big challenges, but we have a lot of help through in our faith and hope in Jesus.

We just completed a Jubilee Year of Hope, in which we recalled that we are Pilgrims of Hope, traveling through this life hoping to get to eternal life and doing as much good as we can while we are here because Jesus sends us to do it.  We have hope that for God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27).  We have hope because Jesus gave his life on the cross and resurrected to new life in a victory over sin and death.  Pope Francis often used the image that the Church is a hospital for sinners.  We are the paramedics, the Church is the hospital we are bringing the injured to, and Jesus is our ultimate healer.

As of January 10, we have now begun a Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, in honor of the 800th anniversary of his death in 1226.  One quote often (mis)attributed to him is “Preach the Gospel at all times.  If necessary use words.”  While he probably didn’t actually say or write this, and St. Francis certainly gave many spoken homilies about the Gospel, this quote points to the fact that our actions to serve one another should match the spirit of the Gospel, or our words will ring hollow.   

Reflection on Service (25 min.)

worksheet: Reflection on My Service

worksheet: Two Feet of Service and Justice

make notes for an optional application for the Monsignor Jim Kaczorowski Loving Service Award (available here)

Bring service packets to the prayer table (turn-in basket).

Service Project: Valentine Cards for Nursing Home (25 min.)

Students will receive materials to make a nice card for elderly persons living in Balmoral Nursing Home.
Students working remotely from home or doing make-up work should make a Valentine Card for a family member or neighbor who may feel lonely or sad.

Confirmation Rite Explained (15 min.)

Textbook p. 88-90, or an old Confirmation Mass booklet

Track B St Matthias School will use an English-only version from St. Matthias Church where this can be found on pp. 4-6
Track A Religious Ed. and Track B Queen of Angels School will use a bilingual version from Queen of Angels Church where this can be found on pp. 5-7

• Presentation of Candidates by Pastor
• Homily by Bishop
• Renewal of Baptism Promises by Candidates
• Laying on of Hands by Bishop over the Candidates
• Anointing with Chrism by Bishop of each Candidate

Scripture Exploration: Anointing with Oil and Laying on of Hands (25 min.)

Each table will be assigned to look up two Scripture verses, one for Anointing with Oil, and one for Laying on of Hands.  Discuss each passage and what the symbols of anointing and laying on of hands meant to the people experiencing these signs.  Use the hand outlines to record your answers.

• Anointing with Oil:
  • EITHER Numbers 27:15-23
  • OR Acts of the Apostles 19:1-6
• Laying on of Hands:
  • EITHER Leviticus 8:10-12
  • OR 1 Samuel 9:26-10:1

Closing and Dismissal (5 min)

PRAYER

Blessing using the Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila (extend hands over one another as we send each other forth to serve)

Christ has no body now but yours,​
No hands, no feet on earth but yours, ​
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, ​
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,​
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, ​
Yours are the eyes, you are his body. ​
No hands, no feet on earth but yours, ​
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.​
Christ has no body now but yours.  ​

May almighty God bless us all + in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

HOMEWORK

• Do textbook pages 88-90
• Homework due at next class session
  • Track A (Religious Education/Catecismo) Monday 2/9, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Track B (Queen of Angels School and St. Matthias School) Wednesday 2/11 and Thursday 2/12 in 8th Grade Religion class
• Sign up for your Confirmation Interview with a parish leader, if you have not already signed up
• Turn in late Confirmation Name reflection and/or Letter to the Pastor – can be done digitally!
• If you missed last Friday’s Retreat 2 with Reconciliation, be sure to complete your make-up packet and also go to confessions on your own time (parish confessions are offered after the weekday Mass on Saturday mornings, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside)

“Teen Dating Safety”

Opening and Closing Detail: Catechist Summary * Slides
Core of the session set and presented by Sarah’s Inn personnel, our guests for the evening

Tracks A and B together: Monday 1/26/2026 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall at the Parish Center

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

“Sacred” – Joe Melendrez feat. Danielle Rose (version recorded during COVID lockdown in 2020, skipping much of the intro about social distancing)​
Lyrics handout

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEk6tIdJjWU&t=54s

Healthy Relationships Presentation from Sarah’s Inn Staff (~90 min.)

While the program is set by Sarah’s Inn personnel and varies from year to year, past activities and resources for teaching about preventing Teen Dating Violence and promoting Healthy Relationships have included:

Highlights from the January 2025 Presentation

• “Green flags” – signs of a healthy relationship or desirable qualities in a partner
• Healthy Relationhips and Types of Abuse – 2-sided handout (or graphic shown on screen) describing characteristics of healthy relationships and types of abuse that can occur in relationships, making them unhealthy
• Definining dating violence, which affects 1 in 3 teens and is rooted in the exercise of power and control
• Types of abuse one might experience – sexual, physical, digital, emotional
• “Red flags” – signs that one partner may be exercising power and control on the other
  • Coercive, degrading, controlling, embarrassing
• Relationship spectrum
  • Healthy – equal partnership
  • Unhealthy – imbalance between partners
  • Abusive – one partner has all the power and the other has none
• Scenarios with informal polling on whether the relationships described are Healthy, Unhealthy, or Abusive
• Card game Build-A-Boo
  • can be used with updated worksheet My Perfect Partner, which is set up to read traits from a slide rather than from cards
  • each table has a set of many cards, each card different from one another so there are no repeats at the table
  • each person chooses about 4 (positive) qualities to build their ideal romantic partner – things like funny, treats me well, smart, good kisser, etc.
  • discuss: what is missing?
    • appearance-based traits (tall, pretty, etc.)
    • flaws (negatives like puts me down in front of my friends, rude to my family, etc.)
  • each person is then assigned a 5th trait, a flaw, based on the first letter of their first name (this can be a little hard to read from the slide)
  • 2 universal deal-breakers: controlling and violent
• Abusive Relationships vs. Healthy Relationships
  • Controlling vs. Equal
  • Violent vs. Safety
• It’s Your Call – newer version of inventory worksheet to choose how acceptable or unacceptable certain behaviors are in a romantic partner
• It’s Your Turn – practice setting personal boundaries within a healthy relationship
• Teen Resource Guide (2 pages) – updated 2025 handout of hotline contact numbers and other crisis resources for getting help when you need it
• booklet cover page with coloring activity for dealing with stress or anxiety with a creative and calming outlet

Older materials from previous versions of the presentation:

• Card game with older My Perfect Partner worksheet to choose desired qualities from a slide for an ideal romantic partner (and be randomly assigned 3 undesirable qualities in the same partner)
• It’s Your Call – older version of inventory worksheet to choose how acceptable or unacceptable certain behaviors are in a romantic partner
• Relationship Timeline – inventory worksheet for when during a relationship certain behaviors may feel appropriate
• Relationship Manifesto worksheet, summarizing one’s values related to dating
• Ally Info and Warning Signs – 2-sided handout of information on how to be an ally of someone experiencing dating violence, and what warning signs to watch for in yours and other people’s relationships
• Teen Resource Guide – slightly older version of handout of hotline contact numbers and other crisis resources for getting help when you need it
• Adult Coloring Page provided by Sarah’s Inn for dealing with stress in a healthy way
• True/False questions about teen dating violence statistics, played on Kahoot! app

Reminders and Closing Prayer (10 min)

Homework:

• Christian service documentation for 5+ hours due at next class!

Reminders:

• Retreat 2 with Reconciliation this Friday 1/30 at St. Matthias – make sure your parents and Sponsors know to come!
  • 4:30 p.m. students arrive
  • 6:30 p.m. parents and sponsors arrive for dinner (RSVP so we have a headcount!)
  • 7 p.m. Reconciliation Prayer Service with Confessions
  • 8:30 p.m. dismissal from retreat
• bring in your service documentation, due at next class!
  • Track A (Religious Ed./Catecismo): Monday 2/2
  • Track B (Catholic Schools): Wednesday 2/4 (service hours due) and Thursday 2/5 in 8th Grade Religion class
• sign up for your Confirmation Interview if you have not already!
• make sure your Letter to the Pastor has been submitted to Ms. Hohner, digitally or in print

Closing Prayer (petitions against Domestic Violence)
Handout of all petitions

Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

1. For all who are victims of domestic or dating violence, may God help them free themselves from abuse and live safely in the peace of Christ.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
2. For our community of faith, that we become as compassionate and sensitive toward victims of domestic and dating violence as Jesus would be.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
3. For all victims of domestic and dating violence, may they feel neither guilt nor shame but have the courage to seek help in order to free themselves from abuse.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
4. For all of us and our parish that we might not judge victims of domestic or dating violence but offer them the support they need to free themselves from abuse.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
5. For perpetrators of domestic or dating violence that they may stop their abuse and seek professional help.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
6. For those who suffer domestic or dating violence, that they may know they are not alone, they are loved, and help is only a phone call away.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
7. For those who witness domestic or dating violence – especially young children – that they may understand that violence is never an expression of love, is never acceptable and must never be imitated.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
8. For victims of domestic or dating violence that they may know that their suffering is not a cross to bear or a punishment from God.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
9. For victims of all types of abuse, may they know God’s love and understand that they are not alone. May they be guided to help, support and safety.
   We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.
10. For our families, may they know God’s love and may they share this love with kindness and consideration for one another, free from abuse and controlling behaviors.
    We pray… Lord, hear our prayer.

Confirmation Interviews will take place from Friday, January 16 to Saturday, February 14, 2026 for those planning to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The purpose of the interviews is for our Pastor to get to know the candidates whom he will present to the Bishop at our upcoming Confirmation Masses, and to see how our parish can continue to serve their needs after Confirmation.  It is hoped that these candidates can continue to grow in discipleship, service and connection to the community after their Confirmation in April, and this journey will look different for each young person.  There are 88 candidates, and our Pastor Father Jason is only one person.  So Father Jason has opened this opportunity for our new Associate Pastor and other trusted parish leaders from our Catholic schools and RE program to join in the interview process and help him extend himself to be able to personally interview each candidate for a meaningful amount of time.

Interviews will be scheduled to take about 20 minutes per candidate and will be outside of class time, such as afternoons after school, weekday evenings, and Saturday mornings. While the parent may accompany the youth to the interview location, the interview is intended as a one-on-one conversation for the candidate and the parish leader.  Safe Environment policies will be followed.

Candidates (or their parents signing up for them), when choosing an interview slot (appointment time), please consider these priorities, in this order:

1. Which interviewer should I make an appointment with?  To maximize the perspectives available to Father Jason, please meet with a parish leader you DO NOT KNOW pretty well already. This includes but is not limited to the following rules:
   1. Track A (Religious Education / catecismo) students should meet with Father Jason, Father Sergio, Mr. Houlihan or Mrs. Pacholski — NOT with Ms. Hohner, Coordinator of Religious Education.
   2. Track B students from St. Matthias School should meet with Father Jason, Father Sergio, Mr. Houlihan or Ms. Hohner — NOT with Mrs. Pacholski, Principal of St. Matthias School.
   3. Track B students from Queen of Angels School should meet with Father Jason, Father Sergio, Mrs. Pacholski or Ms. Hohner — NOT with Mr. Houlihan, Principal of Queen of Angels School.
2. When can I actually come for the interview? (Which times best fit with my family’s schedule?  Keep in mind you may need to arrange transport if you are not already on one of our campuses for another activity.)  You being able to be there at the time you choose is just as important as who interviews you.
3. Would it be best for me to meet with an interviewer who speaks Spanish?  (Father Jason and Father Sergio speak excellent Spanish, while Mrs. Pacholski and Ms. Hohner also speak some Spanish.)

Please include the full name of the candidate (student) in the “My Comment” field as you sign up. This will help the interviewer to call the candidate by the correct name and not address them with a parent’s name when they arrive, and to be able to locate and study the candidate’s Letter to the Pastor before the interview.

Please sign up for an interview: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0944A8AD2CA02-61342925-confirmation
(if viewing on a mobile device, you will need to click “More” to advance to see later appointments)

Interviewer Profiles

Photo	Name and Role	Appointments Offered (sign up above!)	Location of Interviews
	Father Sergio de la Torre is the Associate Pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish. Se habla español.	Wednesday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. (4) Wednesday, January 28, 6:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. (4) Wednesday, February 4, 6:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. (4) Thursday, February 5, 6:30 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. (4)	Parish Center 4412 N. Western Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60625
	Ms. Rachel Hohner is the Coordinator of Religious Education at Queen of Apostles Parish. Se habla un poco español.	Tuesday, January 20, 5:20 p.m. to 8 p.m. (8) Thursday, January 22, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (15) Saturday, February 7, 10 a.m. to 12 noon (6) Friday, February 13, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (3)	Parish Center 4412 N. Western Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60625
	Mr. Tom Houlihan is the Principal of Queen of Angels School.	Tuesday, January 27, 3:20 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. (3) Tuesday, February 3, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (6) Wednesday, February 4, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (6) Monday, February 9, 3 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. (4) Wednesday, February 11, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (6)	Parish Center 4412 N. Western Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60625
	Father Jason Malave is the Pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish. Se habla español.	Friday, January 16, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (6) Monday, January 19, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (6) Tuesday, January 20, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Wednesday, January 21, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Friday, January 23, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (15) Monday, January 26, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Tuesday, January 27, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Wednesday, January 28, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Monday, February 2, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Tuesday, February 3, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Wednesday, February 4, 3 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (7) Friday, February 13, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (9) Monday, February 16, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (9)	Parish Center 4412 N. Western Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60625
	Mrs. Nicole Pacholski is the Principal of St. Matthias School. Se habla un poco español.	Tuesday, January 20, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (6) Wednesday, January 21, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (6) Thursday, February 5, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (3) Wednesday, February 11, 5 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. (1)	St. Matthias School 4910 N. Claremont Ave. Chicago, IL 60625

Parish leaders will be meeting with many candidates, perhaps candidates they do not know.  To make sure they remember each candidate accurately and can connect them to the resources they need to live in discipleship after Confirmation, the interviewing parish leader may take notes during or after the interview.  This is not intended to make the candidate nervous or make them feel judged, it is simply an aid to memory and to give some common structure to the interviews conducted by different parish leaders.
Note-taking form for the interviewer’s use, with sample topic headings