AIMEE

 

Good afternoon Ladies, Gentlemen, and fellow teens. Welcome to the 2003-2004 Rite of Confirmation Orientation Meeting.

 

Let us begin as we begin all things.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, we gather in your name.

Holy Spirit, replace the tension within us with a holy relaxation.

Replace the turbulence within us with a sacred calm.

Replace the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence.

Replace the fear within us with a strong faith.

Replace the bitterness within us with the sweetness of grace.

Replace the darkness within us with a gentle light.

Replace the coldness within us with loving warmth.

Replace the night within us with your light.

Straighten our crookedness.

Fill our emptiness.

Dull the edge of our pride.

Sharpen the edge of our humility.

Light the fires of our love.

Quench the flames of our lust.

Let us see ourselves as You see us.

That we may see You as You have promised, and be fortunate according to Your word: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”

 

It is my pleasure to introduce our Pastoral Vicar, Father Robert Kuzmann.

{Father Kuzmann’s opening remarks . . .]

 

Thank you Father.

 

I am Aimee Vasile, a senior at Largo High School, member of LOC’s Life Teen, and Assistant Coordinator of Confirmation.

 

It’s important from time to time to recall some of the principles that are the foundation of our parish religious education program. Here a three of them. The General Directory for Catechesis, paragraph 255, says that parents are the primary educators in the faith. This is your responsibility, taken on at conception and affirmed at your child’s baptism. It’s a major task in life to try to shape a child in becoming a life-long follower of Jesus Christ. You have to constantly remember that TV or secular schools won’t do this. You have to keep learning, as they grow and change. You don’t always succeed as well as you would like.

 

However, you are not alone in the process. The Directory says that catechesis is the responsible of the entire Christian community (#220). But who is community? We, of course. Not just the parent and family. Not just the parish staff. Not the various parish organizations, such as, Life Teen, Middle School Youth Ministry, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is all of us, together.

 

Finally, the Directory says, the parish is, without a doubt, the most important focus to which the Christian community is formed and expressed (#257). This is true because the parish is the place for the sacraments, those wonderful signs instituted by Jesus Christ to give grace. The parish is the official connection with our Bishop and Pope, so in matters of faith and morals, this is the place where, together, we get it right.

 

The community of Light of Christ has entrusted the preparation of your daughters and sons to the Rite of Confirmation Team, know as the ROC Team. This team is composed of 12 adults, 2 young adults, and 17 teens from our Youth Ministry program. Their names are in the information packet you will receive later in the orientation. I am sure you have heard of these adults and in the coming months you will get to know the teens.

 

It would be self-defeating then, if a parent is not involved in a teen's parish religious experience, in some way, shape or form. And it would be a complete contradiction, as Catholics, if we did not ensure our teens were going to both Mass and a parish religious class.

 

You are here this afternoon with you daughter or son to begin to discern if they will be confirmed in 2004. While it is true it is their decision, parents have a tremendous impact on their decision making process – we, as you, in the Spirit of Christ assist them in any way possible.

 

The principles just expressed are in the Parish Religious Education Handbook [show handbook]. This handbook is the same as that given out for the past two years. If you do not have one, please ask for one. We ask all parents and their Confirmandi to read and understand these policies. And, we ask everyone sign the Parish Religious Handbook “Acknowledgements and Agreements” sheet and return it when you register for confirmation. The diocese asks us to keep these sheets on file.

 

It is my pleasure to introduce Christi Helms, our second coordinator of confirmation.

 

 

CHRISTI

 

Thank you, Aimee.

 

Aimee just mentioned, “The diocese asks….” We are also required by the diocese to speak about the harassment policy, which is found in the last few pages of the Handbook. Our hope and purpose is that each individual be free from any physical, psychological or verbal intimidation. Unwelcome conduct that ridicules or offends individuals, or disparages whole classes of people, has no place here in this parish. We wish everyone maintain and develop attitudes and behaviors which express respect for others and reflect each person’s God-given dignity. And we have a heighten sensitivity about behaviors that others find offensive or intimidating, whether those behaviors refer to race, religion, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, family status, veteran status or disability. Light of Christ wishes to be a harassment-free zone.

 

So, what is harassment? For our teens, harassment may come in the form of physical roughhousing or name-calling. Some behaviors start out as fun: someone takes another’s cap or jacket. Someone chases somebody else. But, if physical fun becomes intimidating or hurtful or blocking a person’s normal movements, a line is crossed and must stop. Our teens often tease with names like stupid or retard. As an expression to put someone down, for example, that is so gay is relatively current. These verbalizations are inappropriate and cannot be tolerated.

 

For us adults, it is any unwanted, inappropriate touching or speaking to these teens – or to each other. Holding hands in church at the Our Father is sometimes done, but freely. For a catechist to require a teen to hold hands in prayer would be improper. For a catechist to insist and persist that a teen read aloud, or give personal witness to some aspect of faith, without free choice and consent, is improper.

 

We ask you to read the policy and make sure your teen(s) understand. Please remember that parish staff members as well as all volunteers (ROC Team) are required to report any acknowledgement or suspicion of a teen’s physical abuse or neglect. You, also, must report any concerns you may have to Father Jacob or Kuzmann, Deacon Jim, Bill Woodard (our Director of Religious Education), Neil Kennedy (our Coordinator of Youth Ministry), or to the Diocesan Director of Religious Education, or Executive Director for the Diocesan Department of Catholic Formation and Education.  A confidential investigation will then take place. If you have any questions at all about the harassment policy or the follow-up procedures, please see Bill Woodard or Neil Kennedy.

 

Man, that is heavy – but necessary.

 

Modesty of dress. The continuing battle between parents/adults and children/teens. Our youth ministry program has a simple rule – keep the strike zone covered at all times. Specifically, from just below the neck to just above the knees – proper covering. No see-throughs, spaghetti straps, short-shorts or mini skirts. For the gentlemen, we do not want to see your underwear or lack there of.

 

I’ve heard our Coordinator of Confirmation has some un-cool “T” shirts for strike zone or loooow pants violations – I guess they start at the neck and reach all the way to the floor. Please parents, stress the importance of modest dress. The ROC Team does not want to call you and ask you bring appropriate clothing for your daughter or son.

 

For you teens, The Team has include a sharing called True Beauty in your information packet.

 

I introduce to you Light of Christ’s Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Neil Kennedy.