Confirmation Intensive: Success!

Joe Paprocki Junior High

Last night’s Confirmation Intensive, a 2-hour session with the 8th graders, was a resounding success!

The kids were not surprisingly curious and anxious about what they were going to do for “2 WHOLE HOURS!!!”

We had them on the move for the whole 2 hours and they were delightfully engaged in their mini-sessions (20 minutes with each of the 4 eighth grade catechists. For my sessions, we met in my room in the school and then moved from the school building to the convent chapel. To do so, we formed a procession: I asked for volunteers to carry a cross, a candle, and my CD player that was blaring “Lord, send out you Spirit!” I got a kick out of how the kids got into this. No, they were not solemn and in fact they were somewhat giddy but I would have to say that they processed in a spirited manner and it set the tone for my sessions with them.

The 2 hours went by in a flash and the DRE tells me that she surveyed a number of kids on their way out and they said they enjoyed it. This was an engaging and effective method for covering a great deal of information about Confirmation in a significant block of time without “boring” the young people.

I’m greatly appreciative to my DRE, Arlene, who is so supportive and open to new ideas. I am also greatful to my fellow 8th grade catechists…they are such a great team to work with and I was so impressed with the kids from their classes…they are obviously doing wonderful work with them.

We’re off now until after Christmas and then we have a few more Confirmation intensives.

I’ll post the rest of this week and then will take Christmas week off. Talk to you tomorrow.

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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