Page 11 - Gifted with the Spirit Senior High

As catechists, we strive to help our young people see their preparation for Con rmation as part of
an ongoing process. Christian initiation begins at Baptism, continues with First Eucharist, and will be completed in Con rmation. If we can instill in young people the idea that Christian initiation is a process, then we are helping them see Con rmation as the beginning of a lifelong journey in faith, during which they will continue to develop as faithful, active members of the Church.
Receiving the Tools for Mission
The Church has discerned that seven characteristics usually accompany the presence of the Holy Spirit. In The Order of Con rmation, the bishop and the priests who preside pray that the candidates receive these seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The Church teaches that when young people are sealed with the Holy Spirit in Con rmation, they will receive a strengthening of these gifts to empower them to live
out their baptismal promises. A simple way to think of this is that Con rmation gives us the tools to carry out the mission we have been given by God—active involvement in the Church and a life that re ects the Gospel.
As in all parts of our relationship with God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit involve divine initiative and human response. Through the Sacrament of Con rmation, God bestows these gifts upon us, but we must choose to respond. We have to work at developing the Spirit’s gifts and using them in our lives. When these gifts are truly visible in us, we re ect the work of God in ourlives.
Materials
Pens or pencils and highlighters will be needed for many of the steps.
• Steps1and13:smalltable,tablecoveringincolorofliturgical season, owers or plant, Bible, ba ery-powered candle
• Step4:CopiesoftheCatechismoftheCatholicChurch,one for every two young people (see also kofc.org/en/catechism)
• Step 6: Bible and concordance for the gi of knowledge group
• Step9:wri ngpaperorpersonaljournals
• Step 10: Bibles, one per group; wri ng paper or newsprint, one sheet per group
• Step11:wri ngpaperorpersonaljournals
• Step12:wri ngpaper;copiesofFirstEucharistandFirst
Penance textbooks, one per group
• Step13:instrumental/peacefulmusic;bowlofholywater
Materials needed for Addi onal Ac vi es
• Journaling:wri ngpaperorpersonaljournals
• ExperiencingCatholicTradi on—BlessingofWater:guest speaker; copies of Handout 7—Blessing of Bap smal Water,
one for each young person
• ExperiencingCatholicTradi on—TheFruitsoftheSpirit: copies of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, one per group; wri ng paper
Gi ed with the Spirit Con rma on 37
Planning the Lesson
The 13 steps that follow provide more than two hours of activities to present the themes of Lesson 4. Any steps that do not t into your allotted time can be sent home for the young people to complete before the next class session.
For a 60-minute session, complete
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 5 Step 8 Step 9 Step 13
For a 90-minute session, add
Step 4 Step 10
For a longer session, add
Step 6 Step 7 Step 11 Step 12
Addi onal Ac vi es
• LearningabouttheChris anWayofLife—DecisionMaking • ExperiencingCatholicTradi on—Bap sm
• LearningaboutCatholicTradi on—BlessingofWater
• LearningaboutCatholicTradi on—TheFruitsoftheSpirit