Living the Sacrament 2011 – Child & Parent/s – Journeying Together (Dossier)  A Note to
Parents and Children Welcome: A Chore or an Opportunity – Your Choice, God’s Invitation. Preparation for Confirmation can just be another thing we have to do. However, it can also be an opportunity to spend quality time as family reflecting on the deeper questions of what really matters in life. Do I matter? Why do I matter? What do I have to offer? How can I make good decisions? How can I connect with God? Each sacrament is a gift of God’s grace to us; God’s invitation to live our life to the full. How will we accept this invitation? Why Use this Dossier? Making Confirmation come alive How do we move confirmation from being just a one-off event to something more meaningful? Our hope is to experience the gift of confirmation, both at the celebration and for the rest of our lives. This dossier is a chance for parents and children to walk together discovering how the Spirit of God is already active in our lives; to explore other ways to enrich and grow ‘with and in’ the Spirit. The questions within are to help you reflect on your own story and how it is part of God’s larger story for you. We are all growing within God’s Spirit – and once we realise this, we can then choose to grow deeper. It is hoped that you will grow with God’s Spirit as you do these activities together and that you will grow with each other. It is hoped the dossier awakens aspects of the sacrament of confirmation for you both. How to Use this Dossier? Hint – It’s not homework! Each week the candidates (children) are invited to complete an activity with their parents. It’s important that we regard this activity as different to homework. We are not being tested, this is not a time of getting the “right answer” for some assessor. The truth we are seeking is about who we are and who God is with us. Suggested approach to each Week These steps are offered as a guide. Feel free to adapt. 1. Find a quiet time together. You may need to schedule this in for the week. You will need about half an hour each week together. 2. Find a space in the house away from where homework is normally done and away from other distractions (eg TV, computer, game consoles). 3. You may wish to set up a simple sacred space. A family bible, baptismal candle, rosary or crucifix, and coloured cloth may help provide a focus. 4. Ask God to be part of your time. A simple prayer such as the Sign of the Cross and: “Holy Spirit, be with us in this time” helps acknowledge that God is with us in this journey to confirmation. 5. Invite God into the conversation. Spend some time sharing where you have considered God to be present in your week. 6. Not Judging. Our society is pretty good at measuring us against others. The questions asked in the activities may sometimes leave us wondering if we are “holy” enough. But God meets us where we are and invites us to do the same. 7. Not stressing. If we get behind with the activity sheets, try to focus on making some meaningful for you, rather than rushing to get them all done. 8. Finishing in prayer. Thank God for the time together and share a prayer familiar to you both (eg Our Father) Involving the Sponsor Sometimes the sponsor may feel one step removed. Children may wish to touch base each week with the sponsor to share how they are going with the dossier. What will happen with the Dossiers? These Dossiers will be presented and blessed by Fr Mick Court on the weekend of 14 August at the 9.30 am and 6.00 pm Masses, with a simple sending forth of the children to live their Sacrament of Confirmation – and an affirmation of the parents as they also continue to live their sacraments. Click to go to each Week to see what you will share together ... Week One – Witnessing to Christ Week Four – The Gifts of the Spirit Week Five – God’s Spirit in me and the World Please tell me if you try this Dossier, and your experience with your |
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Confirmation Dossier for Parents & Child |