St. Mary of Vernon’s High School Sacramental Prep Program is administered by the Youth Ministry Office. Preparation to receive the Sacrament(s) requires participation in the following areas:
Connectedness to the Parish
Faith is first fostered and taught in the home. The parish community then reinforces that faith. All families of students participating in religious formation must be registered members of the parish.
Liturgy and Community
Attendance at weekly Mass is an essential component to the Sacramental Prep Program. The reception of Sacraments will be celebrated within our community; therefore, weekly Mass attendance helps foster a sense of identity and belonging to the community. If our young people are not present in the community then we as a church cannot foster their faith and empower them to live out their faith. Weekly Mass attendance will empower them to live out their faith as a contributing member of our community.
Youth Ministry Involvement
The Youth Ministry is the faithful companion of our parish young people in their exploration of faith and the aid to help them live out our shared faith in a supportive Christian community. Attendance at Youth Ministry events helps participants find a comfortablity within the community, acceptance, and informal interaction with peers living out their Catholic faith. Sacramental Prep participants are required to attend at least one Youth Ministry sponsored event each month (see class schedule).
Sacramental Prep Sessions
Sacramental Prep Sessions are held October through April and last 2 hours. Sessions will require candidates to participate in small group discussions and activities. There will be times that candidates will be required to do independent study work and homework. For example, candidates are required to research the life of the Saint which he/she chooses for his or her Confirmation name in the second year of Confirmation preparation.
Retreats
Sacramental Prep participants are encouraged to attend a retreat in “year 1” and required to attend and participate in a retreat in “year 2”. Retreats offer participants opportunities to reflect and gain a better sense of self, to continue to build relationships with others, and to grow closer to God. A portion of the cost of the retreats is not included in the program fee. More details will become available as the retreat dates draw closer.
Attendance
We are aware that many students are involved in sports and other extracurricular activities, which fill their schedules. It is not our desire to have our Candidates resent their time spent in our program, but to appreciate the efforts they make through the process. Our plan is not to weigh the Candidates down with unreasonable demands, but to help them fully appreciate their journey of faith, while providing ample opportunities to explore their individuality within the church.
This two-year program is designed with a limited number of gathering times; therefore, attendance of all planned activities is important to the preparation process. Each session is an important element in the program as a whole, therefore limited absences are allowed. If a student misses more than 2 classes a meeting with them and a parent must be scheduled with Jim Welch. If other commitments such as sports, job, family, school, do not allow faithful participation at this time we recommend waiting until you are prepared to schedule the time needed to prepare appropriately for the Sacrament(s).
To register a new student for High School Confirmation at St. Mary of Vernon, please call the Youth Ministry Office at 847-362-1021.
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