Liturgies
- Weekend Mass Times:
- Saturday: 5:30 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:45 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:00 PM (English)
- 12:15 PM (Spanish)
- 9:15 AM (First Sunday of the month only - German)
- Weekday Mass Times:
- Monday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM (English)
- Thursday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Friday: 8:30 AM (English)
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About the Confirmation Program
Our confirmation program is designed so that over three years, students can
- Explore the major themes and books of the Old and New Testaments
- Explore Christian discipleship and the demands of Christian morality
- Review what we believe in the Creed
- Review what we believe about the sacraments
- Develop their life of prayer, as they mature and grow
All of this assumes a background in the Catholic faith, acquired in grades one through five. By the end of confirmation preparation, our goal is that students have the knowledge contained in our comprehensive goal and vision statement.
The program has these components:
- Attendance at mass on Sundays and holy days
- Attendance in classes in Religious Education or AACA
- Completion of three parish retreat days - one for each year:
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- A reflection on their gifts and using the gifts of the Holy Spirit -
Year I.
- A reflection on discipleship - Year II.
- A reflection on living a life of holiness, and the saints - Year III. - Completion of their service journal
- Optional attendance at off site activities:
- - Helping with the resettlement of a refugee family in Chicago through Project Exodus in Year I
- A tour of a local Jewish synagogue (alternating years).
- A 'pilgrimage' to sites important for the Catholic history of Chicago (alternating years.)
- A Night Walk with the Night Ministry - an immersion experience to think about what it means to be homeless - Year III
Confirmation I includes students who begin the program in sixth grade, along with seventh and eighth graders who begin later.
Confirmation II includes students in seventh grade, along with eighth and ninth grade students who began later.
Confirmation III includes students in eighth grade, along with ninth and tenth grade students who began later.
If you have any questions or concerns about the program, contact Cathy Crino by email or at 773-525-0709, ext. 111
Calendar
Go here for the full RE/Sacrament program calendar.
Go here for the current year Confirmation program events on one page.
Correspondence with Families
Letter to Confirmation I Families 9-1-11
Letter to Confirmation II Families 9-1-11
Letter to Confirmation III Families 9-1-11
Letter to Confirmation I Families 9-21-11
Letter to Confirmation II Families 1-10-12
Letter to Confirmation I Families 1-15-12
Letter to Confirmation III Families 1-15-12
Letter with Information about Field Trip 1-24-12
Permission Slip for Field Trip to Temple Sholom on 2-3-12
Letter to Confirmation III Families about retreat and Night Walk - 2-17-12
Letter to Confirmation III about Night Walk - permission slip - 3-5-12
Letter to Confirmation III about the novena, rehearsal and ceremony - 5-1-12
FAQs
- When do I pay the fee? There is a $50 fee for each year of Confirmation preparation. You can pay the $50 fee any time. You can pay by check, made out to St. Alphonsus and directed to Cathy Crino's attention. Or you can go to GiveCentral on the left and pay there.
- Are the retreat days mandatory? Yes, they are mandatory. What happens if my son or daughter misses the retreat day? In years I and II, they can make up the retreat day in the following year. In year III, they will have to do a retreat elsewhere with another confirmation program. We might be able to help to arrange the options, but the choice might be very limited. Obviously, it is better to not miss a day - and to participate with one's classmates!
- When is Confirmation and which bishop will be confirming? Confirmation is on Friday, May 11, 2012. Bishop George Rassas is scheduled to come.
- What if we don't go to mass at St. Alphonsus on a Sunday? Get the bulletin where you do go to mass, and have the priest sign it, if possible. Please put your child's name on it and give it to the catechist or teacher to give to the rectory office.
- Who can be a sponsor? A sponsor can be any baptized and confirmed Catholic over the age of 16, who not the parent, step-parent or adoptive parent of the candidate. A sponsor is a mentor and guide in the process - someone who can help the candidate to prepare for the sacrament and serve as a role model for the Christian life.
- When should my child choose a sponsor? The candidates can select a sponsor at any time. In January of Year III, we'll begin to ask for the names of the sponsors.
- When does my child pick a confirmation name? In selecting a new Christian name, the candidate is 'adopting' a new patron saint. We begin to work on this in January of Year III, but it is a great thing to be thinking about this and learning the lives of the saints earlier. You can find excellent resources for this, both in the St. Alphonsus bookstore, and publications from the Daughters of St. Paul. Other good resources are Saint of the Day from St. Anthony Messenger and the saints and angels index on Catholics.org.
- What is the pilgrimmage? The pilgrimmage is a bus tour to sites important to the Catholic heritage in Chicago. It takes place on a weekday, when CPS students are off for report card day. In 2012, the pilgrimage will not take place. Confirmation II students will join in the pilgrimage in 2013.
- What is the field trip to the Temple? On February 3, 2012, we will take all the Confirmation candidates (all three years) to Temple Sholom so that they can learn more about the Jewish roots of Christianity.This is a Friday, when CPS is not in session. The day will begin at 8:30 AM and conclude after lunch.
- What are the other two off site trips? In Year I, we take the articles we have collected for Project Exodus, welcome the family as they arrive in America, and set up their apartment for them. In Year III, we have an 'immersion' experience with the Night Ministry, to learn more about homelessness in Chicago. In 2012, we will try to schedule the Night Walk in March.
- What is the service journal? The service journal is a red folder with pages for each corporal and spiritual work of mercy. Students should be looking for opportunities to perform the works of mercy all the time. Periodically, their teachers or catechists will invite them to write down their experiences in the journal, along with their reflection on what they learned.
- Where can I buy religious items that might be suitable for a confirmation candidate?
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Pauline Books and Media is downtown at Michigan and Randolph Watra's is on the south side on Archer Avenue.
- Can you recommend other materials that might me and my child to develop our faith? Check out our St. Alphonsus bookstore on Amazon for suggestions!