Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

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Confirmation Prep – Purify My Heart

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Retreat 2 with Reconciliation: “Purify My Heart”

Catechist Summary (Schedule) * Limited slides (song lyrics and Reconciliation video only)

Opening Activities (15 min)

Arrival at St. Matthias Gym
Pick up your nametag and a giant UNO card from the table at the entrance

Icebreaker – Stack the Deck “Human UNO”
Pick up a large playing card when you get your nametag
Students get in a line against the wall as a deck of UNO cards

  • Hold card in front of you so others can see it
  • Students next to each other have the same value or the same color – it helps to start to form these groups and then get in the line together
  • Catechists have WILD cards to insert themselves where needed to close gaps
  • Students not yet stacked in the deck may get to trade in their cards when a DRAW 2 or DRAW 4 is engaged

Opening Prayer – “Pass the Cross”
Prompts will be given orally for individual prayer with a hand cross (3-4 crosses per table group).

First Talk (10 min)

Pentecost
Reading from Acts 2:1-12 (Mrs. Mocarski) followed by a talk on how the Holy Spirit radically altered the lives of the apostles.

Connect to the chorus to “Refiner’s Fire”:

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy, set apart for you, Lord.
I choose to be holy, set apart for you, my Master, ready to do your will.

In Confirmation, we re-enact this Pentecost event. But we do not place tongues of flame above our heads or create the sound of a great driving gust of wind. Instead, we are anointed with oil.

Oil is an ancient sign of protection and purity. It is a sign of being chosen, like getting tapped on the head in “Duck Duck Goose.” In being anointed with the Sacred Chrism, we are anointed with the seal of Christ on our foreheads, anointed and chosen as priest, prophet and king.

Students should bring their items (coats and Bibles particularly) with them to use during small-group activities at the gym.

Breakout (20 min)

Small Group Breakout: Chosen as Priest, Prophet, King
All 4 Question sheets as a Word doc

Video with lyrics and music for the retreat theme song, “Refiner’s Fire”

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8zP34AhuU)

Groups Report Back (10 min)

Second Talk (15 min)

Purification
Reading from Malachi 3:1-4 (Mr. Recinto).  Refining is the process of purifying metal by burning out the parts that have no value — the chemical impurities vaporize at lower temperatures than the pure metal, and so they are burned away.

Story about a women’s Bible study group investigating the process of a silversmith refining silver.  The silversmith tells them about how he

  • holds the silver in the hottest, middle part of the fire (as God does to us)
  • watches the silver very carefully the whole time (as God watches us),
  • can tell the silver is fully refined “when I can see my image in it” (as God sees in us).

Through purification, we are changed, converted to be closer to Christ.

Verses to “Refiner’s Fire”:

  1. Purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart, let me be as gold, pure gold.
  2. Purify my heart, cleanse me from my sin and make me holy. Purify my heart, cleanse me from my sin, deep within.

Full Lyrics to Refiner’s Fire: PDF 

Stretch / Restroom Break (5 min)

Brainstorming and Reflection (15 min)

Temptations and Challenges to Our Faith
Ms. Hohner will address to the difficult times in life when impurities can become problems in relationships with God, others, and ourselves, and brainstorm what impurities might affect your relationships with God, with others and with yourself.  Other catechists are invited to share and reflect on their own stories (mini-witnesses) as they are moved to do.

Breakout: My Impurities (10 min)

My Impurities worksheet completed at tables.  This is private information not to be turned in, but to be a sort of note-taking for and Examination of Conscience, which candidates may take into Confession (like the Advent Wreath exercise in early December).

If time allows, tables can also discuss the next verse in the passage, Malachi 3:5

Preparation for Reconciliation (15 min)

As Catholics, the most important tool we have for purifying our hearts is to experience God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

How to approach the Examination of Conscience and make a good confession (led by Mrs. McGovern)

Sacraments 101: Penance and Reconciliation video from BustedHalo

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz5-vu6A58E)

Dinner Break (25-30 min)

Early Dinner / Snack
Meal prayer
Pizza, carrots, fruit, chips, cookies and soft drinks or water

(around the middle of this part, Ms. Hohner leaves to go to church to prepare for Reconciliation service)

Clean up Table Materials / Pack to Leave for Church (5 min)

  • Students pack their things & use the restroom under the direction of Mr. Recinto and Ms. Larre Vargas
  • Put on coats!

Move to St. Matthias Church (5 min)

  • Ms. Kessler, Mrs. Gorgis, Mrs. McGovern, Mr. Recinto, and Mr. Hernández accompany students walking to church
  • (Ms. Oviedo and Ms. Larre Vargas remain at the Gym to clean up, and Mrs. Mocarski will have left by then)

Reconciliation Prayer Service (90 min)

Remember that we are in church, so do not forget your reverence for the Eucharist present in the tabernacle!

program booklet (order of service)
Priest confessors: Fr, Jason Malave, Fr. Sergio de la Torre, and several other priests
Candidates light electric candles when they are done with their confessions. Parents and Sponsors also invited to take the opportunity and go to confession!

Retreat Reflection
Students and their parents and Sponsors may continue to pray quietly or come to the back of the church.  There will be an evaluation for students to work on.  Remember that we are still in church and there is still prayer and Confession happening, so a prayerful quiet should be maintained.  Other prayer aids will also be available,

Reminders

  • Next week’s class will be split, service documentation due!
    • Track A Monday, February 2, 6:45-8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall at the Parish Center
    • Track B Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5 in 8th Gr Religion class

Closing Prayer
from the Reconciliation program booklet:

O God, your sons and daughters stand before you in humility and trust. Look with compassion on us and heal our wounds; stretch out a hand of mercy to save us and raise us up. Keep us free from harm as members of Christ’s body, as beloved children of your family who will be anointed as priests, prophets and kings in Confirmation. Do not allow the temptations of sin to triumph over us, or death to claim us forever, for you raised us to new life and call us as your own, holy and chosen. Amen.

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