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wwjd
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | wwjd | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic as of 4/7/07! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 03:48 pm |
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My daughter is upset about missing an out-of-town class trip in the spring because her confirmation retreat falls on the same weekend. She came home bursting with excitement and wanted permission to go on the trip so I had to remind her about the confirmation retreat (which is supposed to be mandatory) My dd said she knew of 3 other friends from school were going on the trip instead of the retreat. Just before her confirmation class last night, one of her friends asked the religious education director if the retreat was mandatory then apparently told her about the trip. Well, according to my dd, the director got really mad and started yelling. My dd overhead her say, “If you don’t attend the retreat, you won’t be confirmed!” I ask for your prayers that my daughter (and her friends) will understand the importance of the retreat and of confirmation and won’t feel resentment for missing out on the weekend get-away. I also ask for your prayers during the preparation for confirmation as my dd has said some kids talk during the confirmation class or ask “random” questions. She said she seems to be the only one who is trying to listen and learn. She said several kids got into trouble last night and had to be separated because they were talking too much. I worry what will happen once my dd is confirmed and no longer has religious ed. I am former Southern Baptist who is used to Sunday School every Sunday morning then Worship plus church related activities Sunday night and Wednesday night!
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1611 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 04:13 pm |
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wwjd, I agree with you about the lack of ongoing education after confirmation. As a former Southern Baptist, I am dismayed that most if not all catholic parishes do not have an equivalent to Sunday School. And they wonder why people are not catechized? Why adults say they never heard the gospel in the catholic church? I can think of explanations such as, the catholic "culture" used to be all around a young person and could serve to educate, or catholic schools could be depended on to catechize. But those are no longer working, if they ever did. It seems to be entirely up to the family to be actively teaching their children in an ongoing education process. Well that's good for those few families who can/will do that, but what about the vast majority of families who don't? Even a parent who may not attend church regularly will drop a child off for Sunday School. No, that's not ideal, but it's better than hoping the child will hold on to a third grade catechism all his life. Sorry for venting on a Lenten Friday. I just feel bad for the parents in this situation! 
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 05:00 pm |
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If the confirmation retreat were done right, it woule be as interesting and memorable as the class trip. In an ideal world of course, which this is not.
I have often missed things I thought would be fun and later people said it was not so fun because something happened (or didn't happen).
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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wwjd
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | wwjd | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic as of 4/7/07! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 05:17 pm |
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True....but I'm afraid that in this case we're looking at a confirmation retreat vs. Six Flags so the latter is much more appealing. I guess it would be a sin to pray for rain............JUST KIDDING!!!!!
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 06:11 pm |
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In our diocese, students who have a school function or another really valid reason are allowed to attend a retreat on a different weekend in a different parish. Our bishop attends all our Confirmation retreats and gives the same essential message each year, so the experience is equivalent. Could something like that be arranged in your parish?
I agree that it is dangerous to offer a student a choice between fun and faith, but it is also a shame to make them resent their faith by forcing them to choose it over fun.
Faith certainly can be fun, and a retreat can be an enjoyable experience, but if you walk in the door filled with resentment, it's doubtful anyone will benefit from the experience.
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wwjd
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 30 |
| First Name: | wwjd | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic as of 4/7/07! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 09:30 pm |
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CajunRick wrote: I agree that it is dangerous to offer a student a choice between fun and faith, but it is also a shame to make them resent their faith by forcing them to choose it over fun.
Faith certainly can be fun, and a retreat can be an enjoyable experience, but if you walk in the door filled with resentment, it's doubtful anyone will benefit from the experience.
I agree on both counts. Ironically, I received a call from another parent just before I received your response. I didn't realize that attending a confirmation retreat at another parish could be an option so I was momentarily encouraged. However, the other parent told me she asked the Director at our Parish about it but the idea was frowned upon. Besides, most parishes have had their confirmation retreats because Easter falls so early this year.
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Pani Rose
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| Joined: | Fri Oct 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Irondale, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 750 |
| First Name: | Rose | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Ruthenian Byzantine in a Melkite Greek Catholic Parish, raised ... |
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Posted: Sat Mar 1st, 2008 02:36 pm |
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Lord of the Powers be with them, for in times of distress we have no other help but You. Place this whole situation in order of agreement with your Word Jesus.
Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us.
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