Providing A New Approach to Forming Our Young People in Faith

St. Ann Catholic Church is transitioning to a new model of Youth Ministry and Confirmation preparation for our high-school youth.
Rather than continuing with a traditional two-year Confirmation program, we are moving toward an ongoing Youth Ministry and discipleship model focused on helping young people encounter Jesus Christ, grow in their Catholic faith, become part of a faith community, and learn how to live that faith in their daily lives.

Confirmation remains an important part of our program, but it is no longer the sole focus or “finish line.” Instead, Confirmation becomes one part of a young person’s continued journey of faith.

Our hope is not simply to prepare young people for a sacrament, but to help form young disciples who desire a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.

Wednesday Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry is held on Wednesday's from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM and classes are organized into two groups - general youth group and discipleship groups.

6:00 - 7:00 PM | General Youth Group
The first hour is our general Youth Group gathering for high-school youth.
This is a welcoming and engaging environment where young people can build friendships, become comfortable within the parish community, hear the Gospel, and grow in their relationship with Christ.
A typical evening may include:

• Games and activities

• Prayer

• Faith-based discussions

• Short talks or testimonies

• Community-building activities

• Opportunities to explore the Catholic faith

We want Youth Group to be a place young people enjoy attending while also providing meaningful opportunities for them to encounter Christ and grow in faith.

7:00-8:00 PM | Discipleship Groups
The second hour is dedicated to discipleship.
During this time, youth will have opportunities to participate in smaller groups designed around different areas of faith, formation, and interest.
Discipleship groups may include:

• Confirmation preparation

• Prayer and spiritual-life groups

• Bible studies

• Discussions about living the Catholic faith

• Other topics based on the interests and spiritual needs of our youth

Not every young person is at the same place in his or her faith journey. Discipleship allows us to meet young people where they are and help them take their next step in faith.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Does Confirmation Work Now?
Under this new model, Confirmation is no longer based on completing “Year 1” and “Year 2.”

Instead, young people who are of high-school age may be considered for Confirmation when they believe they are ready to take that next step in their faith.

The process includes a Confirmation readiness interview. What Is the Confirmation Readiness Interview?
The interview is not a test of memorized Catholic facts and is not intended to be a pass/fail examination.
Instead, it is a conversation that helps us discern a young person’s readiness to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The conversation will focus on areas such as:

• Faith in God

• Faith in Jesus Christ

• Faith in the Catholic Church

• The young person’s desire to continue growing in faith

• How faith is beginning to be lived in everyday life

The purpose is to understand where the young person is in his or her faith journey and determine the best next step.

What Happens After the Confirmation Readiness Interview?
If the Young Person Is Ready
If readiness for the sacrament is discerned, the young person will enter a six-week Confirmation preparation group.
These sessions will take place during the Wednesday discipleship hour from 7:00-8:00 PM and will focus specifically on helping the young person understand and prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

If the Young Person Needs More Time
If it is discerned that a young person is not yet ready to receive Confirmation, this should not be understood as a failure or rejection.
Faith develops differently for every young person.
The youth will be encouraged to continue participating in Youth Group and discipleship opportunities where he or she can continue growing in:

• Relationship with Jesus Christ

• Prayer

• Understanding of the Catholic faith

• Catholic community

• Living the faith in everyday life

At a later time, the young person will have another opportunity to revisit readiness for Confirmation and participate in a future discernment interview.
Our goal is not to unnecessarily delay the sacrament. Our goal is to help each young person approach Confirmation freely, intentionally, and with a sincere desire to continue living the Catholic faith.

Why Are We Making This Change to our Youth Ministry Program?
We want our young people to understand that the Catholic faith does not end with Confirmation.
For many years, Confirmation has often been experienced as a program with a beginning and an end: complete the required classes, receive the sacrament, and move on.
Our hope is to move toward something deeper.
We want Youth Ministry to help young people:

• Encounter Jesus Christ personally

• Develop an authentic Catholic faith

• Build relationships within the Church

• Become comfortable with prayer and the sacramental life

• Ask questions and explore their faith

• Discover what it means to follow Christ in everyday life

• Continue participating in the life of the Church after Confirmation

Confirmation is an important moment in the journey of faith, but it is not the end of that journey.

Who Is Youth Ministry For?
Youth Ministry is for high-school youth, not only those currently preparing for Confirmation.
It is a place for young people who are:

• Beginning to explore their faith

• Growing in their relationship with Christ

• Preparing for Confirmation

• Already Confirmed

• Looking for Catholic friendships and community

• Interested in learning more about the Catholic faith

• Ready to go deeper in prayer and discipleship

A young person does not “graduate” from Youth Ministry after receiving Confirmation.
We want our youth to continue growing, participating, serving, forming friendships, and deepening their relationship with Christ throughout their high-school years.

Is there still a two-year Confirmation program?
No. Confirmation is no longer based on completing a traditional Year 1 and Year 2 program.
Young people will instead participate in the broader life of Youth Ministry and may seek Confirmation when they are of high-school age and ready to take that step in their faith journey.

Is Youth Group the same thing as Confirmation class?
No. Youth Group is our broader ministry for high-school youth.
Confirmation preparation is one of the discipleship opportunities offered within that larger ministry.

Does attending Youth Group automatically mean my child will be Confirmed?
No. Confirmation is based on readiness for the sacrament rather than simply completing a certain amount of time in a program.

Is the Confirmation interview a test?
No. The interview is a conversation about the young person’s faith and readiness to receive the sacrament. We are not looking for memorized responses or testing how many Catholic facts a young person knows.

What happens if my child is not ready after the interview?
They will continue to be welcomed and encouraged in Youth Ministry. This is not a failure or rejection. It simply means that additional time for faith, formation, prayer, and discipleship may be helpful.
When appropriate, the young person will have another opportunity to revisit readiness for Confirmation.

What happens when my child is ready?
A young person who is discerned to be ready will participate in six weeks of focused Confirmation preparation during the Wednesday discipleship hour.

Our Big Picture Goal
The question we want to ask is no longer simply: “Has my child completed the requirements for Confirmation?”
We want to help our young people begin asking: “Do I believe in Jesus Christ, and how is He calling me to live my faith?”
Our desire is to accompany young people not only toward Confirmation, but toward a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. We look forward to partnering with parents and families as we continue this new chapter of Youth Ministry at St. Ann Catholic Church.

Questions?
For questions about Youth Ministry or the new Confirmation process, please contact:
Cristian Santiago
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Phone: (984) 321-8790
Email: cristian.santiago@stannjoco.org