Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

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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.
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