Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

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Confirmation Prep – CST

by

“We Are One Body”

The Social Teaching of the Catholic Church

Session Overview for Catechists, Monday 1/12/2026 for all students!
catechist summary * slides

Introduction to the Session (25 minutes) by Ms. Hohner

Gathering and Icebreaker (10 minutes)
Name a club, team, or group to which you belong (or wish you could belong).

Opening Prayer (5 minutes)

We have just celebrated Sunday feasts related to occasions where Jesus was revealed to be God-with-us: The visit of the Magi (3 Kings, Epiphany of the Lord) guided by the star of Bethelhem, and the Baptism of Jesus when the heavens opened and the Father’s voice asked us to listen to his Son.  These events are sometimes called theophanies, a term most often used by our Eastern Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters.  A theophany is a moment when God is revealed or manifested to humankind.  An early theophany in the Old Testament is God revealed to Moses in the bush that was burning brightly but not being consumed by the fire.  A later theophany in the New Testament is the Transfiguration, when Jesus’ clothes glowed blindingly white in front of his disciples’ eyes.  Art of these events helps us to appreciate the role of light in each one.  The light in each of these reveals divinity, shows the presence of God’s own Spirit, and we are constantly guided by this beacon.

use phone flashlight at words dealing with light, hope, shining, during the prayer

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j51HBY8NIGE)

Catholic Central Video (10 minutes)

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ufhPStuZI)

Panel Discussion (20 minutes)

  • Ms. Rachel Hohner – Moderator
  • Mrs. Josie Gorgis – Life and Dignity of the Human Person (parent of a participant in SPRED)
  • Mr. James Hohner – Option for the Poor and Vulnerable (member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul)
  • Mrs. Jamie Mocarski – Community, Family and Participation (member of Commons)

Breakouts at Tables (50 minutes)

Download full range of current discussion question sets for all 10 tables (20 pages)

Download outline handout (printed on teal or blue-green paper)

BLACK Table (Mr. James Hohner for Ms. Pascale Larre Vargas): OPTION FOR THE POOR & VULNERABLE, PART 2

  • review details from outline handout (top of page 2) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to the Option for the Poor & Vulnerable
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Option for the Poor & Vulnerable

BLUE Table (Mrs. Josie Gorgis for Mrs. Stella Peters): LIFE & DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON, PART 1

  • review details from outline handout (top of page 1) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to Life & Dignity of the Human Person
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Life & Dignity of the Human Person

BROWN Table (Mr. John Kyle): CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION

  • review details from outline handout (bottom of page 2) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to Care for God’s Creation
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on Care for God’s Creation

GREEN Table (Ms. Rachel Hohner): LIFE & DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON, PART 2

  • review details from outline handout (middle of page 1) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to Life & Dignity of the Human Person
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Life & Dignity of the Human Person

ORANGE Table (Mr. Jack Recinto): THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS

  • review details from outline handout (middle of page 2) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

PINK Table (Mrs. Jamie Mocarski): CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY & PARTICIPATION

  • review details from outline handout (middle of page 1) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to the Call to Family, Community and Participation
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Call to Family, Community and Participation

PURPLE Table (Mrs. Melissa Richlen): RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • review details from outline handout (bottom of page 1) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to Rights and Responsibilities
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on Rights and Responsibilities

RED Table (Ms. Isabel López): OPTION FOR THE POOR & VULNERABLE, PART 1

  • review details from outline handout (top of page 2) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to the Option for the Poor & Vulnerable
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Option for the Poor & Vulnerable

WHITE Table (Mrs. Karyn McGovern): CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY & PARTICIPATION

  • review details from outline handout (middle of page 1) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to the Call to Family, Community and Participation
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on the Call to Family, Community and Participation

YELLOW Table (Ms. Justine Kessler): SOLIDARITY

  • review details from outline handout (middle of page 2) and read Scripture passage:
  • create slogan(s) and posters (2-3 students work together on 1 poster so all participate) relating to Solidarity
  • prepare to report back: Decide who from group has best poster to show, and who will explain how it relates to the teaching on Solidarity

Drawing Conclusions (20 minutes)

Group representatives report back (>15 minutes, or 2 minutes for each group)

Reminders, Homework Assignments & Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Reminders:

  • Interviews should be starting toward at the end of this week! Watch for an email in the coming days with the sign-up link.
  • NO class next week!  Martin Luther King Jr Holiday on Monday; most schools closed.
  • Next class is Tracks A & B together: Monday, January 26 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall at the Parish Center, 4412 N. Western. This will be a Teen Dating Safety workshop presented by guests from Sarah’s Inn, a Domestic Violence agency in the near western suburbs.  
  • Also coming up is Retreat 2 with Reconciliation, “Purify My Heart”
    • 4-hour retreat Friday, January 30 at our St. Matthias site (using gym and church)
    • students (candidates) arrive at 4:30 p.m., stay until 8:30 p.m.
    • parents and sponsors will join for dinner and Reconciliation during the second half of the retreat, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Get your 5+ service hours documented! Service hours documentation due in just 3 weeks, at the beginning of next month:
    •  Track A (Religious Education/CCD): Monday, February 2
    • Track B (Catholic Schools): Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5 in Religion class
  • Monsignor Jim Kaczorowski Loving Service Award applications are due Saturday, March 28.  Download link to come.

Homework due at next class:

  • Textbook, read pages 9 and 101
  • Journal, do pages 14, 35, 36 and 37

Also work on documenting your 5+ service hours, because they are due in 3 weeks at the first class session in February! Upcoming opportunities for service:

  • Undecorating Queen of Angels Church after the Christmas season, Tuesday, January 13 from 3 p.m. (or when you can get there after school) until about 5 p.m. in Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside.  Sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0944A8AD2CA02-61500826-youth
  • Group outings on Wednesdays, January 21 and February 4 to the Soup Kitchen at St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, serving from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in the school basement at 1026 W. Buena (meet us there by 5 p.m., or meet at 4 p.m. at the Parish Center to travel with the group via CTA bus).  Sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0944A8AD2CA02-61342418-soup#/
  • Delivery and Distribution of Girl Scout cookies to local troops and Scouts’ families, Thursday, January 22 from 3 p.m. (or when you can get there after school) until 6 p.m. in Holy Family Hall (basement of Queen of Angels Church), 2330 W. Sunnyside. Entry is through the side doors from Claremont Ave. behind the rectory (priest residence); if the doors seem locked, pound firmly on the doors!  Sign up in advance with Ms. Blair McAnany via email at blairmcanany@gmail.com. 

Closing Prayer for Hope and Light

Heavenly father, I am your humble servant,​
I come before you today in need of hope.​
I need hope for a calm and joyful future.​
I need hope for love and kindness.​
I pray for peace and safety.​
Some say that the sky is at its darkest just before the light.​
I pray that this is true, for sometimes life seems stormy and dim.​
I need your light, Lord, in every way.​
I pray to be filled with your light.​
Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and service.​
In your name I pray, Amen.​

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