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HIGH SCHOOL CONFIRMATION

Confirmation Coordinator: Kathleen Karrigan

Phone: (847) 223-5875 

 youthmin@stgilbertschool.org

24-25 HS CONFIRMATION
UPCOMING SESSIONS

Session #5

Sunday, November 3, 2024

6:00PM-8:00PM 

Families, sponsors, etc. come 7-8PM

*Erickson's group*

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Session #6

Sunday, November 17, 2024

6:00PM-8:00PM

*Delaney's group*

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Session #7

Sunday, December 15, 2024

6:00PM-8:00PM

*Breines' group*

CONFIRMATION RETREAT

Saturday, January 18, 2025

10:00AM-9:00PM

CONFIRMATION CEREMONY

Sunday, May 11, 2025

2:00PM 

Bishop Grob​

SAINT NAME RESOURCES

CONFIRMATION STUDENTS

FAMILY SECTION

1. Sunday, November 3, 2024 (31st Sunday in Ordinary Time)

 

Take a minute to consciously acknowledge that you are in the presence of God and ask him to help you to hear the Word he wants you to hear this week.

 

Here’s a link to Sunday, November 3rd’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110324.cfm

Jesus is questioned by a scribe about the greatest commandment.

 

Read together this Gospel, Mark 12:28b-34 and discuss the following questions together.

  1. What would you say is the most important thing about being Catholic?

  2. What does love for God look like in practice?

  3. How well are you fulfilling these two commandments?

  4. Would Jesus tell you that you’re close to God’s kingdom?

  5. Why is it important to love God above all else?

  6. Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. How can I be better at that?

  7. Share some examples of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.

 

 

*  Family Challenge

Think about something for which you need more courage. Write (or draw) it on a piece of paper. Ask one family member to pray for this intention for a whole week.

 

*  Check it out

What colors and/or designs do you see in the stained-glass windows at your parish? Do they look different outside than they do inside?

 

End in Prayer

 

Prayer for Vocations
 

Loving and Generous God,

it is you who call us by name

and ask us to follow you.

Help us to grow in the love

and service of our Church

as we experience it today.

Give us the energy and courage

of your Spirit

to shape its future

Grant us faith-filled leaders

who will embrace Christ's mission

of love and justice.

Bless our domestic Church and larger community

by raising up dedicated and generous leaders

from our families and friends

who will serve your people as Sisters,

Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers

through marriage or the single life.

Inspire us to know you better

and open our hearts

to hear your call.

We ask this through our Lord.

Amen.
 

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2. Images of God Today

 

When we think of God, it’s easy to imagine the God of Abraham or the God of Sarah. We can find countless historical images of God. Today, however, God can sometimes seem old and out of date. Together, talk about images of God and which images resonate with each family member. 

 

Prayer

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God, we thank you for being in our lives. Help us to find images that encourage us to connect with you more. Amen. 

 

Activity

  1. Read aloud Exodus 34:5-7.   “The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.’"

  2. Then Read aloud 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”

  3. Ask each family member: What does God look like to you? Why? Or identify a trait or feeling that best describes God.

  4. Read the following Scripture passages and write the description of God from that verse. 

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  • Exodus 34:5-7

  • Deuteronomy 4:24

  • Deuteronomy 4:31

  • Deuteronomy 9:3

  • Deuteronomy 20:4

  • Psalms 48:14

  • Psalms 54:4

  • Psalms 62:7-8

  • Matthew 22:32

  • John 4:24

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33

  • 1 John 1:5

  • 1 John 4:16

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5. Discuss the following questions:

  • What did you discover about images of God from these scripture passages?

  • Which images did you like best? Why?

  • Which images made you most uncomfortable? Why?

  • How do you make sense of different images of God presented by different scripture passages? 

 

6. Talk about images of God today. What does God look like today? Why? How is God relevant today? Why? 

 

7. End in Prayer

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Heavenly Father, I lift up my family to You and ask that You would cover us with Your love and protection. Strengthen the bonds that unite us together and help us to build a foundation rooted in Your truth. Give us patience and understanding with one another, and grace to forgive each other's faults and shortcomings. Amen
 

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3. Remembering Those Who Have Died

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Prayer

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God, we remember those who have died and who meant so much to us. Be with us as we recall how their lives touched ours and celebrate the relationships we had with them. Amen. 

 

  1. Read the following Scripture verses:

  • Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

  • Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

 

2. Discuss: When have you felt brokenhearted? How did God work through other people to “bind up your wounds” or comfort you? 

 

3. What I Miss Most - discuss together

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Take a moment to recall family members, neighbors, or friends who have died. 

  • Which person do you miss the most today? Why?

  • In what ways did this person touch your life? What did he or she do or say that meant a lot to you?

  • What do you remember most clearly about this person? (Was it something he or she wore, the way he or she talked, or something this person did?)

  • What did you learn from this person?

  • If you could have another conversation with this person, what would you like to say? 

  • How often do you think about this person?

  • What reminds you of this person?

  • How do you feel about this person now? Do you feel sad? Grateful? Another feeling? 

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4. Think about how to commemorate these people you talked about. For example, you might have a picture of the person at your dinner table on All Saints Day or light a candle in his or her memory. If there’s a gravestone marker, you may want to visit it. 
 

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4. Sunday, November 10, 2024 (32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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Take a minute to consciously acknowledge that you are in the presence of God and ask him to help you to hear the Word he wants you to hear this week.

 

Here’s a link to Sunday, November 10th’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm

Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.

 

Read together this Gospel, Mark 12:38-44 and discuss the following questions together.

  1. In what ways do people today behave like the scribes? Like the rich? Like the widow?

  2. For what all do you wish to be noticed?

  3. Do you think the widow should have put in all she had?

  4. When have you been bravely generous, and why? When haven’t you been, and why?

  5. What is the difference between how the Scribes behaved vs. how the poor widow behaved in today’s Gospel? What can we learn from this?

  6. Do you know someone who displays the virtue of humility? Tell a story about that person and why you admire him or her.

  7. Why is it important to contribute to the needs of the Church by sharing our time, talent and treasure?

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*  Family Fun

 

Thankful Bunting

 

Start preparing for Thanksgiving by taking on an attitude of gratitude! Gratitude increases our overall happiness, helps us to be less self-centered, and helps us to be the people God calls us to be. Reflecting on what you are thankful for is a great way for your family to cultivate a generous spirit and a sense of contentment. Collect all of your family’s sentiments of gratitude and make a thankful bunting (a string of colorful triangular flags) today.

 

Instructions: First, cut paper into triangles big enough to draw and write on. Invite family members to draw pictures and/or write words of the things they are thankful for. Then color the images with paint, markers, or crayons. Arrange the triangles and put them together into one long bunting. Finally, hang your new thankful bunting up where everyone can see it!

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*  Family Challenge

Practice the virtue of humility by being mindful not to brag or talk about yourself excessively this week.

 

End in Prayer

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Praying with  Music

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As a family, listen to a song you can all connect with for prayer. Reflect on the lyrics and share with your family what speaks to you through this song.

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