Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

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Confirmation Prep – Inspired to Faith

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Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide

  • Track A: Monday 10/4/2021, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
  • Track B: Tuesday 10/5 to Wednesday 10/6 in Religion class

Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)

Volunteers may share homework responses to journal questions, especially from pages vii and viii (Roman numerals 7 and 8).

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Act of Faith – textbook p. 108

Belief, Faith and Trust (10 min)

Beliefs are based in evidence, in things that are convincing to us, either by logic or by observation. By learning more about the teachings of the Catholic Church, we come to question them, accept them and believe them.

Trust is a decision made based on belief.  If I believe that someone is my friend, I may decide to trust her.  But I can also choose not to trust. I may believe that elastic and latex are strong materials, but not trust them enough to bungee-jump off a bridge. There are people who believe in God but do not choose to trust either God’s wisdom or God’s goodness. There is a mutual element to trust that is not present in belief: good, healthy relationships require both individuals to trust each other.

However, we can understand faith as a gift from God. Through the grace we receive in the sacrament of Baptism, our parents pass along the gift of their faith to us.  Faith is based on a change of attitude, a change of heart, not on observable facts. While your beliefs may or may not influence your actions, true faith in your soul changes the actions you take and the way you are. It is a different outlook on the world. Our faith is what leads us to trust in God.

Video Conversation-Starter: “Jesus and Laura”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhnRvb-M-P4

Breakout Session: Trust in God (25 min)

Briefly discuss the video in small groups.

    • How do you define “faith”? What does it take in order to have faith?
    • What, besides fear, might get in the way of faith?  How can someone overcome fear or those other obstacles in order to have greater faith?

Scripture: Trust in God
Use the question sheet for your table to give answers about your table’s assigned photo, Scripture passage and the key person involved in it.  The Scripture passage will be formatted like a reading at Mass, which facilitates proclaiming the Scripture passage out loud.

MATERIALS:  copies of reading * question sheets specific to each group * one photo to look at

Alternate Materials:

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus & Instructions for Breakout (10 min)

Going deeper on the video with “Jesus and Laura.”

Breakout Session: Reading the Church (25 min)

MATERIALS: general questions about images * 3 photos for each group * hint sheet in envelope

Hint sheet grids go here

Rite of Enrollment Practice (5 min)

Prayer Ritual (5 min)

“We Walk By Faith” (Marty Haugen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZViw5EKgSs

Candidates sing along or bring up their beige Commitment Forms during the song.

Closing & Dismissal (5 min)

HOMEWORK

  • Do pages 22, 23, 24 and 25 in your journal
  • Come to Rite of Enrollment at the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 17.
    • Arrive at church at 8:45 a.m., check in with the catechists in the carpeted gathering space, get a handout and then sit with your family toward the front.
    • At the end of his Homily, Msgr. Jim will invite you to stand at your places.  Be sure to speak loudly and from the heart!
    • If you cannot attend, please let Ms. Hohner know so she can make other arrangements to get your Bible blessed and into your hands.
  • Bring your Bibles and other materials to next class sessions after Rite of Enrollment:
    • Track A (Religious Ed): Monday, October 18, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • Track B (Q of A Elementary School): split between Tuesday, October 19 AND Wednesday, October 20 during 8th Grade Religion Classes

Note for later on:

  • Service Hours can be done now, submission form open soon; due finally in early February
  • Plan for you, your Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) to all attend the Zoom class session on Monday, November 8, 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ending early!)
  • Let Ms. Hohner know about conflicts with your attendance at Holy Fire which will be in early November.  See your track’s schedule for details.
  • Confirmation Name essay due at end of November, details & help coming in early November during the Saintapalooza lesson
  • Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson

Solidarity with the Suffering

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Many issues relating to peace and justice confront our world and dominate our news stories and social media feeds. It can be important to look at human suffering through the lens of our Catholic faith as we discern how God is calling each of us to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who suffer in our city and around the world.  Through our Prayers of the Faithful at Mass and our daily devotions, we pray for God’s help for our hurting world.  We can learn about the causes of this hurt, should amplify the voices of the victims and be advocates on their behalf to bring about greater justice, and may share our time and treasure through service or charity to try to alleviate what suffering we can.

Street Violence in the City of Chicago

Chicago’s biggest criminal justice issues are violent crimes: homicide, armed robbery, gang violence, and aggravated battery.  Chicago is one of the most gang-infested cities in the nation, with retaliation and gang warfare common.  On Saturday, August 7, two police officers were shot during a traffic stop in Englewood, resulting in the death of Ella French, the first female CPD officer shot and killed in the line of duty since Irma Ruiz in 1988.  That weekend of August 7-8 saw a total of 73 shootings with 11 deaths.  The following weekend, August 14-15 brought 52 shootings with 5 deaths, notably the death of a 7-year-old girl Serenity Broughton and the hospitalization of her 6-year-old sister after they were shot while sitting in a car in the Belmont-Central neighborhood.

Taliban Coup in Afghanistan

On Sunday, August 15, the Taliban effectively overthrew the government of Afghanistan by capturing the capital of Kabul.  This completes an offensive that has gained ground in more rural areas of the country as U.S. troops have been withdrawing from Afghanistan over the past 18 months. The airport flooded with foreign nationals as well as Afghan citizens who aided the U.S. military and may be targeted by the Taliban.  The world watches to see whether Afghan women will continue to enjoy freedoms and human rights or if they will be returned to the violence and cruel conditions endured under Taliban rule in the 1990s.  In the coming weeks, local organizations will help resettle those who may be granted visas or asylum after fleeing Afghanistan.

Earthquake and Tropical Storm in Haiti

On Saturday, August 14, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and multiple strong aftershocks struck the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti, affecting 1.2 million people in the affected zone.  At least 1,941 people have died, more than 6,900 have been injured, and more are still being pulled from collapsed buildings.  Torrential rain from Tropical Storm Grace in the following days complicated relief efforts with flooding and mudslides. Hospitals are overwhelmed and rescue and relief efforts are slowed by blocked roads. Pope Francis prayed that the “solidarity of all alleviate the consequences of the tragedy” in Haiti.

Native American Boarding Schools

Native American boarding schools, also known as Indian Residential Schools, were established in the United States and Canada during the early 19th and mid 20th centuries with a primary objective of “civilizing” or assimilating Native American children and youth into Euro-American culture. In the process, these schools stifled the Native American culture and made children give up language and cultural practice.  The Catholic Church showed a sinful disrespect of Human Dignity against our Native/Indigenous brothers and sisters by participating in the mandatory institutionalization of children into residential schools.

Is there another current issue related to peace and justice that you would like to see spotlighted on this page?   Please contact parish@queenofangelschicago.org with your suggestion.  This page is intended to be dynamic, and different issues may be featured as current events shift in focus and different resources and articles become available.  

Novena for Healing and Atonement

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Please join Bishop Mark Bartosic and the Viciariate II parishes for a 9 day novena for healing and atonement addressing the issue of clergy sexual abuse. This novena will be held at the 9 churches below. All of them will be at 7pm except for The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini,  that Sunday will be held at 11am.
Through prayers and reflection of the Holy Spirit within our church, we will pray for  healing and peace for our victims, their abusers, and our Catholic churches. Join in this opportunity to walk together in the Spirit toward reparation,  forgiveness and healing.
As with our new normalcy, and for contact tracing, please sign up with each church and reserve your seat.  Please bring a friend or come alone, whichever way you decide,  reserve a spot.
Dates/Churches
 
Tuesday 4/20 Holy Child of Jesus Parish (at St. Margaret Mary Church) – 2324 W. Chase Ave.
Wednesday 4/21 Mary Mother of God Parish (at St. Ita Church) – 5500 N. Broadway
Thursday 4/22 St. Clement Church – 642 W. Deming Place
 
Friday 4/23 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church – 708 W. Belmont
Saturday 4/24 Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph Parish – 1431 N. North Park Ave.
 
Sunday 4/25 The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – 2520  N. Lakeview Ave.
Monday 4/26 St. Benedict Church – 2215 W. Irving Park Road
 
Tuesday 4/27 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church – 1775 Grove St. Glenview, Il
Wednesday 4/28 Sheil Catholic Center – 2110 Sheridan Road, Evanston,  Il.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour & Enshrinement

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Join us to observe a Holy Hour of Prayer in the Queen of Angels Church at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021 as part of Divine Mercy Sunday weekend.  The hour includes solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, music, and a reflection from guest presider Father Xamie Reyes.   Prayer aids will be available. At the end of the Holy Hour, our Pastor Monsignor Jim Kaczorowski will lead Benediction and the enshrinement of an image of the Divine Mercy for Queen of Angels Church, site of shared worship for Queen of Apostles Parish (formerly Queen of Angels and St. Matthias).

Divine Mercy shrine at St. Matthias Church
Divine Mercy shrine at St. Matthias Church

Because of the pandemic, please register for the Holy Hour if you plan to attend.  Attendees are encouraged to plan to return for the 5 p.m. Mass which anticipates Divine Mercy Sunday.  Please register separately for the 5 p.m. Mass.  The church will be emptied for sanitizing between the two events.

The Divine Mercy Novena, prayed over 9 days from Good Friday through the Sunday following Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday). is an opportunity to express trust in the greatness of God’s mercy, to pray for different groups of souls and to immerse them in the fount of mercy represented by the blood and water flowing from the wounds of Christ crucified, as was revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska.

  • Eucharistic Adoration is time spent praying before the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, recognizing that we are with Jesus when we are with the Eucharist in which Jesus is truly present.
  • The Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office, is the set of daily prayers prayed at different hours of each day by priests, ordinary lay Catholics, and religious communities of monks and nuns with whom it is especially associated.
  • The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a different set of prayers, for the salvation of souls, that can be prayed with the help of the beads of an ordinary Rosary.
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