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 Summary

  • Track A: Monday 11/3/2025, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
  • Track B: Wednesday 11/5 and Thursday 11/6 in Religion class

Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)

Check in about Confirmation Names research. With your group (or with a partner), share names of 2 saints and what you find interesting about each of them.

Reflection essay due in 2 weeks! (assignment guidelines: Track A | Track B)

Opening Prayer (10 min)

Opening Prayer
Guided meditation (updated leader script) with “Hold My Hand” (Adam Bitter) playing in the background

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9Mu972W8Q)

The Ten Commandments (10-15 min)

with handout

The Ten Commandments are a covenant between God and us, God’s people. They give us boundaries so we can be free. That probably sounds strange.  Consider how, when God first gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, it was at the end of a long time of enslavement and suffering in Egypt.  The Israelites had learned all kinds of things from the Egyptians that hurt their relationships with God and with each other.  They were easily falling into the worship of other gods, such as the gods of the Egyptians or the gods of the Canaanites, instead of God with whom their ancestors (Noah, Abraham & Sarah, Jacob/Israel) had been in relationship.   They had learned only cruelty and domination during their years of enslavement, and did not know how to have healthy relationships with one another.  They had been terribly abused and treated as less than human, and so they devalued life and lacked gratitude for the things they did have.  God needed to redraw their boundaries and give them some guidelines by which to live, for their protection and instruction.

(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 6 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.

Theological and Cardinal Virtues (10 min)

Have you ever had to put together furniture you bought disassembled (IKEA, online, or Facebook Marketplace)?  It can be a problem if you don’t have the right tools, which is why many companies now provide a little Allen wrench along with the instructions (or a QR code to download them), flat-packed furniture pieces and hardware.  You get the “rules” (instructions) and the “tools” (Allen wrench) for putting together the furniture.  God does the same thing!

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.

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”.  One way to understand the difference is to think about how you might develop a talent for playing the piano.  Maybe God gave you long fingers and you have always enjoyed piano music.  These are like the Theological Virtues, they come from God.  But in order to actually be good at playing the instrument, you still have to practice!  That’s like the Cardinal Virtues, which are developed through your own efforts.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTVNK4g9npo) 

Breakout: Virtues and Deadly Sins
Use the folktale question sheet 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
– – –
Folktale:
“The Hare and the Tortoise”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 28:26
Proverbs 16:18		 Soberbia
excesivamente enfocado en si mismo; confianza excesiva en sus propias capacidades
– – –
Fábula:
“La liebre y la tortuga”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 28:26
Proverbios 16:18		 Faith
focus on God and trust in divine providence
– – –
Bible Story:
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
– – –
Historia bíblica:
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
– – –
Folktale:
“The Little Red Hen”
or “The Grasshopper and the Ants”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 10:4-7
Proverbs 13:4		 Pereza
la falta de esperanza en la bondad de Dios
– – –
Fábulas:
“La gallinita roja0 “o “El saltamontes y la hormiga”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 10:4-7
Proverbios 13:4		 Hope
confidence in God’s goodness
– – –
Bible Story:
The Parable of the Talents,
Matthew 25:14-28		 Esperanza
la confianza en la bondad de Dios
– – –
Historia bíblica:
La Parábola de los Talentos,
Mateo 25:14-28
Envy
resentment of others and their gifts
– – –
Folktales:
“Snow White” or “The Woman Who Outshone the Sun”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 23:17-18
Proverbs 24:1-2		 Envidia
el resentimiento de otros y sus regalos
– – –
Fábulas:
“Blancanieves” o
“La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 23:17-18
Proverbios 24:1-2		 Charity
love of God and others shown through sharing gifts
– – –
Bible Story:
The Good Samaritan,
Luke 10:29-36		 Caridad
el amor de Dios y de otros demostrado de compartir regalos
– – –
Historia bíblica:
El Buen Samaritano,
Lucas 10:29-36
Wrath / Anger
uncontrolled hatred; acting without thinking
– – –
Folktale:
“Rapunzel”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 17:14
Proverbs 29:22
Proverbs 30:33		 Ira
el odio incontrolable; actuando sin pensamiento
– – –
Fábula:
“Rapunzel”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 17:14
Proverbios 29:22
Proverbios 30:33		 Prudence
the ability to think before acting
– – –
Bible Story:
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
– – –
Historia bíblica:
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
– – –
Folktale:
“King Midas”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 15:27		 Avaricia
el deseo excesivo para las riquezas materiales y la abundancia
– – –
Fábula:
“El rey Midas”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 15:27		 Justice
a desire to make sure that all can share in God’s abundance
– – –
Bible Story:
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard,
Matthew 20:1-16		 Justicia
el deseo de asegurarse que todos puedan compartir la abundancia de Dios
– – –
Historia bíblica:
Parábola de los Trabajadores de la Viña,
Mateo 20:1-16
Lust
desires that disrespect the dignity of others
– – –
Folktale:
“The Fisherman and His Wife”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 12:8-11		 Lujuria
los deseos que faltan al respeto y dignidad de otros
– – –
Fábula:
“El Pescador y Su Esposa”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 12:8-11		 Fortitude
the strength to resist excessive desires
– – –
Bible Story:
The Temptation of Jesus,
Luke 4:5-8		 Fortaleza
la fuerza para resistir deseos excesivos
– – –
Historia bíblica:
La Tentación de Jesús,
Lucas 4:5-8
Gluttony
excessive desire for food and drink
– – –
Folktale:
“Hansel and Gretel”
– – –
From the Book of Proverbs in the Bible:
Proverbs 23:20-21		 Gula
el deseo excesivo para alimento y bebida
– – –
Fábula:
“Hansel y Gretel”
– – –
Del libro de Proverbios en la Bíblia:
Proverbios 23:20-21		 Temperance
balancing what you want with what you need
– – –
Bible Story:
Parable of the Birds and the Wildflowers,
Matthew 6:25-34		 Templanza
equilibrar lo que usted desea con lo que usted necesita
– – –
Historia bíblica:
La Parábola de los Aves y los Lirios,
Mateo 6:25-34

Homework and Reminders (5 min)

HOMEWORK due at next class (with Sponsors & Parents)

  • Textbook pp. 37-40 and 51-52
  • Journal pp. 32-34
  • Work on your Confirmation Name Reflection due in mid-November (in 2 weeks)!  Try to choose a Confirmation name, finish researching your saint, and begin writing your reflection (Track A * Track B)!

REMINDERS

  • Next class session for all is next week – this is when your book/journal homework is due
    • with Sponsors and Parents – make sure you have at least 1 adult (16+) coming with you!  Tell your table leader catechist or Religion Teacher if you will need to partner up because no adult from your family can accompany you.  It is best to have Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) there with you.
    • Monday, November 10, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • at St. Matthias Church,  2310 W. Ainslie
      • 4 blocks north of the Queen of Angels site
      • near the McDonalds in Lincoln Square
  • Remember that our first Retreat will be Saturday, November 15 from 12 noon. to 6 p.m. in Holy Family Hall (basement) at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside.
    • The retreat theme is “Never Alone” and will be presented by a team of missionaries from NET Ministries.
    • Plan to be dropped off and picked up at the appropriate times.
      • We will begin in the church basement (Holy Family Hall) and conclude in the main worship space upstairs.
      • Families are invited and encouraged to join in the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass in English for the last hour of the retreat.
    • Lunch will be provided (pizza with fresh fruit, carrots & dip, cookies, soft drinks or water). You may bring your own food if you wish.
    • It is suggested to bring a refillable water bottle labeled with your name.
    • You will NOT need your usual materials for the retreat (Bible, book, journal, folder).
    • Expect witness talks, music, games, prayer, small group activities, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and more!
  • Confirmation Name reflections are due at the next class after that
    • Track A Monday 11/17, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall
    • Track B Wednesday 11/19 and Thursday 11/20 in 8th Grade Religion class (reflection due Thursday)

Closing Prayer (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-November (Track A on Mon 11/17, Track B on Thurs 11/20).  
  • Letter to the Pastor due in early January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson.
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