CONFIRMATION 2027 KEY DATES & INFORMATION

 

Below are the dates for our parish Youth Group. Sessions marked in *bold are the minimum reasonable expectation, but we hope that everyone will come to as much of the course as possible. 

 

Autumn

• *Wed 9th Sep—“Why Am I Here?” (Intro, Parent Session)
• *Wed 16th Sep—“What Makes Me Happy?” (Happiness)
• Wed 23rd Sep— Care Home visit: Memory Boxes
• *Fri 25^th to Sun 27^th—BUCKFAST RESIDENTIAL RETREAT
  (More information below)
• Wed 30th Sep—Chillout
• *Wed 7th Oct—“What’s Your Story, God?” (Salvation History)
• Wed 14th Oct—“How Do I Know God Is Real?” (Revelation)

 

Advent

• *Wed 4th Nov—“Who Is Jesus?”
• Wed 11th Nov— Youth Group (theme tbc)
• *Wed 18th Nov—“Why Be Catholic?” (The Church)
• Wed 25th Nov—“Where Am I Going?” (Afterlife)
• Wed 2nd Dec—Youth Group (theme tbc)
• *Wed 9th Dec—“How Do I Get There?” (Sacraments)
• Wed 16th Dec—Christmas Chillout

 

Winter

• Wed 6th Jan—“When Did My Journey Begin?” (Baptism)
• Wed 13th Jan—“How Does God Help When It Hurts?” (Suffering)
• Wed 20th Jan—Chillout
• Wed 27th Jan—“Who’s Calling?” (Vocation)
• *Wed 3rd Feb—“Are You Talking to Me?” (Prayer)

 

Lent

• *Wed 24th Feb—“Why Tell My Sins to a Priest?” (Confession)
• *Wed 3rd Mar—“Why Do I Have to Go to Mass?” (Eucharist)
• Wed 10th Mar—Chillout
• Wed 17th Mar—“What Would Jesus Do?” (Beatitudes)
• Wed 24th Mar— Youth Group (theme tbc)

 

Easter

• Wed 14th Apr—“Who Is Mary?” (Saints)
• Wed 21st Apr—“What Does It Mean to Say, ‘I Do’?” (Marriage)
• Wed 28th Apr—“Why Wait?” (Sexuality)
• Wed 5th May—Chillout
• *Wed 12th May—“Who Is the Holy Spirit?”
• *Wed 19th May—“What Does the Holy Spirit Do for Me?” (Gifts)
• *Wed 26th May—“Why Have I Been Chosen?” (Confirmation)

 

Summer

• Wed 9th Jun—“Do I Have What It Takes?” (Virtue)
• Wed 16th Jun—“How Do I Build the Kingdom?” (Mission)
• *Wed 23rd Jun—Confirmation Rehearsal at St Greg’s
• *Wed 30th Jun—CONFIRMATION MASS
• *Wed 7th Jul—“Where Do I Go from Here?” (Discipleship)
• *Sun 11^th Jul—Receive certificates at the 6pm Mass
• Wed 14th Jul—Chillout
• Wed 21st Jul—Old Sarum Picnic

 

 

RESIDENTIAL RETREAT PLAN

 

Venue:            Buckfast Abbey (Devon, TQ11 0EE)

Leave:             Friday 25^th Sep, 5pm, from the Parish Centre

Arrive back:      Sunday 27^th Sep, 4.30pm, to the Parish Centre

 

Pack:              Duvet cover & pillowcase (or sleeping bag)

                     Towel

                     Good shoes & warm clothes

 

Cost:             

A donation of £80 per child (or £60 each for siblings) would go some way towards covering the cost to the parish for the 2 nights’ accommodation, food, activities, and transport. This can of course be paid in instalments if that helps, but if any families would really struggle to afford this, then please do talk to us privately – money should not prevent any candidate from coming. 

 

Readiness

There is no “assessment” for Confirmation, and nobody who desires to receive the Sacrament will be denied. However, we will be encouraging every young person to consider very carefully whether they are ready for the commitment to our faith which we make by being Confirmed.

We will be encouraging them to assess their readiness based on various criteria throughout the course, including:

• Am I committed to living out my faith…
  • DAILY (by making time each day to pray)?
  • WEEKLY (by coming to Mass every Sunday)?
  • MONTHLY (by coming regularly to the Sacrament of Confession)?
• Can I sincerely renew my baptismal promises, by responding “I do” to all the statements of belief which we recite in the Creed?
• Do I recognise my need and desire for more of the Holy Spirit in my life?
• Am I committed to being involved in the life of my parish?

 

If a young person finds themselves unable to meet these criteria, we may encourage them to take a bit more time to reflect and grow in their faith, before taking the step of being Confirmed.