Confirmation Service Ideas

PRINTABLE FORM
for tracking your own hours

Candidates are expected to complete and document at least 5 hours of Christian service. (Due to changes charitable organizations made during the pandemic, this is reduced from previous requirements for 10 hours.) Forms may be turned in earlier at any Confirmation Prep session, but they are due during the first week of February, 2025.

Christian service fits into two categories:

Direct service to persons in need, based on the Corporal Works of Mercy (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, helping the homeless and the poor)
Indirect service to benefit the people of God or all of creation through the Church, schools and other community groups (setting up for parish events, tutoring, office work, cooking, cleaning, caring for the environment or animals)

Our Candidates for Confirmation are encouraged to do as much direct service as possible as part of those 5 hours. Direct service transforms us as we look upon the faces of our brothers and sisters in need. Ask: Who am I serving today? “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” — Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

Group outings for performing service (such as to a Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, Cradles2Crayons or Feed My Starving Children) can be organized by catechists and/or by groups of parents. Parents/guardians can also sign off on service performed if a representative of the organization or person helped is not able to do so. Blank forms will be given at the initial class in September for students and their parents, or can be downloaded above.

SUGGESTED EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN OUR PARISH

Commons (parent-school-parish organization of Queen of Angels School)

Children’s Resale Shop – green resale event, Saturday, October 19, 2024, with donation drop-off times and sorting in the week leading up to it (Wednesday & Thursday 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). Youth may sort items and assist customers, especially if youth helpers during the sale are bilingual in English and Spanish. Please use the SignUpGenius link.
Community Family Masses – help host the reception after certain 9 a.m. Masses in English at Queen of Angels Church. Upcoming Community Family Masses on October 20, November 17, December 15, and January 12. A SignUpGenius will be available soon for the October 20 Mass.
Breakfast with Santa – fun event for children, Saturday, December 7, 2024 . Youth usually help supervise games and activities for younger children or replenish buffet items from the kitchen. Please note that the event is the same day as the Catholic H.S. entrance exam, so this is mainly an opportunity for students already in high school or not applying to Catholic high schools.

Respect Life Committee – Help host a reception after and/or lead Rosary Prayers in English or Spanish for the Friday Holy Hours for Respect Life Month, on each Friday, October 4, 11, 18 & 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Contact Mrs. Stella Peters, petersstella392@gmail.com.

Marketing for Queen of Angels School – contact Director of Marketing Ms. Ayani Brown, abrown@queenofangelschicago.org.

AppleFest in Lincoln Square – Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6. Set up in the morning and/or take down in the evening the tent representing the parish and Queen of Angels School at a neighborhood. Daytime shifts host children’s games and activities and help answer questions from prospective parents visiting the booth. Please use the SignUpGenius link.

Domestic Violence Outreach – Take responsibility for handing out purple awareness ribbon pins and other materials to raise awareness of the issue of Domestic Violence during October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Respect Life Month. Attend Mass as you normally would but then come back to the gathering space after Communion so you are in place when people begin to leave at the end of Mass. Each shift assumes about 15 minutes of service at the end of a Mass; signing up to serve at the same Mass all month is an easy way to document an hour of service. Please use the SignUpGenius link.

Scouts BSA Troop 894 – Our BSA Scouting Troop for boys and girls invites you to accompany them on some of their upcoming service activities, in partnership with different community organizations. You do not need to already be a Scout to attend, but each organization will be governed by their own rules for volunteers.

Ravenswood Community Services at 4550 N. Hermitage Ave. on Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Site of service possibly located at Ravenswood Elementary School instead? A similar event is being planned for December 14.
To sign up, contact Scout Leaders Lyzette Austen, vandergiggs@gmail.com, and/or Rachel Abajian, rabajian@gmail.com.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul – parish organization serving 70+ local clients in need and their families. A limited number of youth may volunteer with advance sign-up, but we recommend to wear a mask while serving. Youth will need the annual permission form for Society of St. Vincent de Paul events:

Thanksgiving Food Drive Sorting – 7 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2024, in Holy Family Hall (Queen of Angels Church basement), 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave. Sort donated food and household items so that each client family can shop for them the next day.
Thanksgiving Food Drive Distribution – 8 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, November 23, 2024, in Holy Family Hall (Queen of Angels Church basement), 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave. It is most helpful to stay for the whole time to help client families choose their food at timed appointments, or to sign up for only half the time.

SPRED – host agape receptions after SPRED Masses, perhaps in partnership with members of BSA Troop 894. Next SPRED Mass on Sunday, January 26. Contact Mrs. Kerry Hurley, flykerry@aol.com.

Church Art & Environment Committee, serving at Queen of Angels Church, 2330 W. Sunnyside; contact Mrs. Kathleen Tamayo at kathleen_tucker@yahoo.com or Mrs. Dorothy Long at dorothy_r_long@yahoo.com

mid-Advent decorating (Trees & Nativity Scene set-up), likely Sunday, December 15, 2024
late Advent decorating for Christmas (poinsettia flowers & Christmas decor), around Monday, December 23, 2024
after Christmas undecorating (remove and store trees, Nativity scene & all decorations), likely Sunday, January 5, 2024 or during that week

SUGGESTED EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE PARISH

Midnight Circus event with Welles Park Advisory Council from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29 – set up, sell food and beverages for the concessions tent, and clean up after circus performances in Welles Park, across the street from Queen of Angels Church. Sign up for youth (High School students only) is separate from sign up for adults. Also needed is a Park District Volunteer Waiver which can be signed by a parent and submitted online.

Soup Kitchen & Sack Meal Program at St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (4220 N. Sheridan) – Contactless soup kitchen serving soup each Wednesday at 6 p.m. Each week they need 5-7 volunteers to donate ingredients and make 5 sack lunches for clients to take with them. Packed lunches should be dropped off at their parish office at Buena & Sheridan between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday. See details and contact Darlene Kelly at dkelly@saintmarys.org to sign up to make sack lunches. (There is also a SignUpGenius for 4 hospitality volunteers each week 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to serve the hot soup, but this is normally for adult volunteers 18+ only. It looks like youth are able to sign up if chaperoned by a parent/guardian.) This is now a ministry of St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish that serves 350+ individual meals per month.

Ravenswood Community Services – youth under 17 may serve accompanied by an adult at Weekend Pantry events, hosted nearby at All Saints Episcopal Church

Ronald McDonald House serving families with hospitalized children – snack bags for residents, made alone or in small groups

Common Pantry in their new home at 3908 N. Lincoln Ave. Many shifts on-site are during the school day, so this is a better opportunity when it’s Summer Break or you have a day off of school. But you can also sign up to hold a Food Drive for them in your family, school, or neighborhood.

Common Kids opportunities for families with children ages 6-12, volunteering as a family unit
regular Volunteer Opportunities open to youth 13+ on their own and to adults – click on the big green “Volunteer” button and fill out a short survey to get started. Spots fill up fast, but available shifts could include:
- Mondays
  - Pantry Re-set: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  - Produce Day Clean-up: 12 noon to 1 p.m.
- Tuesdays
  - Bagging Groceries for Home Delivery: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  - To-Go Prep: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  - To-Go Distribution: 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesdays
  - Commons Kids Cookie Baking: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  - Hot Lunch Help: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  - Food Pantry Restocking: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Morning) or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Afternoon)
  - Food Pantry Distribution: 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Afternoon) or 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Evening)
  - Bagging Groceries for Home Delivery: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Thursdays
  - Bagging Groceries for Home Delivery: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  - Restock: 10 a.m. to 12 noon
  - Afternoon Distribution: 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  - Pantry Re-set: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Friendship Center at 2711 W. Lawrence Ave., a local food pantry. On-site volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show proof of vaccination. Many shifts on-site are during the school day, or limited to persons over 16 or 18 years old, so this is a better opportunity when it’s Summer Break or you have a day off of school, or with a parent. But you can also sign up to hold a Food Drive for them in your family, school, or neighborhood. Extra help is often needed by youth during these times:

Wednesdays, 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Third Saturday of each month, 8:30am-11:30am: Pet Food Pantry volunteers (12 years and up)
Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Hot Meal Kitchen Volunteer (14 years and up)
Fridays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: After-School Sorters (12 years to 16 years)

Lakeview Pantry still accepts volunteers under 18! Please read the youth guidelines, sign the youth waiver, register the family, and attend an online orientation session. (Orientation time can also be counted as part of youth service.)

Cradles to Crayons – they have a warehouse in our neighborhood where they process and pack donations of clothes, books, and art supplies

2024 Walk to End Lupus Now, Chicago at the Lincoln Park Lagoon on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Register to walk and fundraise, or volunteer for, this walk for a good cause: raising money for lupus research, increasing awareness of lupus, and rallying public support for the estimated 1.5 million Americans who suffer from its brutal impact.

Registration/Money Collection opens at 9:00 a.m.
Opening Ceremony at 9:45 a.m.
1 mile Walk steps off at 10:00 a.m.

Great Lakes Alliance – beach clean-ups

Greater Chicago Food Depository – limited # of students as volunteers, with adult chaperones

Great Schools Uganda – write letters of support and friendship to students in Uganda

Upparent – places to volunteer & at-home opportunities

The Honeycomb Project, “putting kids at the forefront of social change”
– gathered, socially-distant events to pack food boxes or make craft kits
– sign up to cook a dish at home (potluck-style) and drop off to programs serving the homeless
– Honeycomb at Home – virtual lessons and projects to do with your family at home

Resources for Military & Support Personnel – making cards & sending to the chosen charity
– greeting cards
– care packages

Cards for Hospitalized Kids
– FAQs
– how to make the cards (options for holiday or general cards)
HQ is at 7290 W. Devon Ave., 60631. You may be able to drop off cards there, but contact them directly

Project Linus – making blankets
– FAQs
– easy no-sew pattern for 2-layer fleece blankets
– drop-off in Western suburbs
– drop-off in Northern suburbs

In your neighborhood, you can also reach out to

families who can’t afford babysitting, and help watch younger children while parents run errands
your elderly neighbors, to perform outdoor tasks such as gardening, leaf-raking, snow-shoveling. Or count time baking treats and making cards for them.

Already past events:

Chicago River Day with Friends of the River and BSA Troop 894, May 11, 2024
Parish Feast Day Potluck Meal Set-up/Clean-up, May 18, 2024
Host Agape Reception after SPRED Mass with BSA Troop 894, May 19, 2024
School Supplies Unpacking – 7 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2024, in Holy Family Hall (Queen of Angels Church basement), 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave. Unpack boxes of purchased school supplies so that each client family can shop for them the next day.
School Supplies Distribution – 7:45 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, August 17, 2024, in Holy Family Hall (Queen of Angels Church basement), 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave. It is most helpful to stay for the whole time to help client families choose their food at timed appointments, or to sign up for only half the time.
Harvest Jam – fall family festival on Saturday, September 14, 2024 in our parish parking lot at Western & Sunnyside. Youth usually help supervise games and activities for younger children, and/or help with event logistics like set-up and clean-up. (Time at the 8th Grade Class Booth doing fundraising for the Class Trip unfortunately does not count.)
SPRED Mass – Sunday, September 22. Host agape receptions after SPRED Mass, perhaps in partnership with members of BSA Troop 894 or Commons.

With thanks to Lisa Michalak, Liz Wannemacher, Jane Bishop Lillegard, Lyzette Austen, Megan Fallen Duffy, Stella Peters, and the leaders of Troop 894 for their help in compiling these resources!

What DOESN’T count as service for Confirmation Preparation?

8th Grade Class Trip fundraising, labor in a family business, or other efforts directing money to a small group of which you are a member
Work for which you have been paid (babysitting or lawnmowing jobs, regular employment)
Chores around the house (babysitting own siblings, washing the dishes, shoveling your own walkways, making your own bed) which are your ordinary responsibility as a member of the household
Volunteering during Sunday Mass (altar server or choir member) or charity/buddy projects with your class during the school day since you would participate in the time allotted for that activity anyway. (Altar serving at a second Mass the same weekend could count for service hours).