Community Service questions are due now. 
If you have completed your community service, please make sure to turn in your reflection questions.  I am looking forward to your thoughts on your project.  If you still need a project, please see previous emails for Fish Fry information and help needed for Family Mardi Gras and Living Stations (yes, credit hours will be given in performing for Living Stations)  Contact the CCD Office for more information. 

Confirmation Retreat: 

I am excited to introduce IGNITE: A VIRTUAL RETREAT for our Confirmation Candidates. Ignite is a wonderful program that engages teens (and parents/sponsors) in a fun and different way.  
IGNITE can be completed on students’ own time and preferred schedule.  There are two parts for the Retreat. Part 1, the students complete themselves. It is meant to be done in one sitting and should take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete. Part 1 consists of teen friendly videos, some trivia questions, reflection and more! Students work on their own and at their own pace. Once the student completes Part 1, they are to download and email me a copy of the Certificate of Completion of Part 1.
Part 2 is designed for both candidates and parents and/or the sponsor to complete simple but challenging reflection each day for 10 days. Together, they will watch a short video (1 - 2 minutes) and use the discussion questions to reflect on how to build new spiritual practices together. After the candidate and parent or sponsor completes Part 2, please download and email in the certificate of Completion for Part 2. .

Remember this retreat is REQUIRED for Confirmation and must be completed by February 28th. Do not forget to download and email in both completion certificates to our CCD Office .  Parents, please register your child for the IGNITE retreat. Cost is 15.00 and can be paid online.  Registration link:    

https://www.growingcatholics.com/igniteretreat
If link does not work, type address in your browser.   

Letter of Intention for Confirmation to Father Dennis is due March 7th to the CCD Office. - These need to be typed in proper formal letter format and can be dropped off to the rectory or emailed to me.  If you drop it off, please make sure your name is on the envelope so I can mark it complete. 

We have scheduled our dates for Confirmation.  Because of CoVid, Father Dennis will be celebrating all Confirmation Masses at Holy Child Church.  With our large class, we have limited the number of students and family members that are allowed to attend.  Currently, families are allowed 8 total guests (6 guests plus candidate and sponsor) 
As we get closer to our dates, and our situation changes, I will let you know. 

Confirmation:  
To sign up for a Confirmation date please go to:  

https://signup.com/go/CrtBrsZ 

Date choices are:
Sunday, May 16 at 2 pm                                Tuesday, May 18 at 6 pm
Thursday, May 20 at 6 pm (limit of 5)      Sunday, May 23 at 2 pm
Tuesday, May 25 at 6 pm                       Thursday, May 27 at 6 pm (limit of 5)

I wanted to go into a more thorough explanation of why we set up the Confirmation dates as we have, as some of you have questions.  

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Bishop Zubik has extended Father Dennis the ability to confer Confirmation on our students up until July 1.  After many discussions, we decided to spread out our dates taking into account the current CoVid restrictions.  We have limited our students to 20 students and have added two specific days where it is only for 5 students, for a much smaller group. By doing this, we are doing our best to allow social distancing in the church and still be able to celebrate this wonderful sacrament. 

This is a difficult time for families. Some families are faced with many obstacles due to health concerns and family dynamics in choosing a Confirmation  date. These families are welcome to wait until Fall/Spring 2021/2022 for Confirmation to see where we are at with vaccines and restrictions. If you feel the  need to wait, please sign up for the Fall/Spring date so we have an accurate count. 

However, since we are looking at 8 months away, I can not tell you how Confirmation will happen. In our Diocese, Confirmation is one of the sacraments that is strictly performed by the Bishop.  Bishop Zubik  and his Auxiliary Bishops of Bishop Waltershied and Bishop Winter  have this honor. It is a rarity that parish priests are allowed to Confirm students. With Bishop Zubik allowing priests to confirm students up until July 1, there are three possibilities for the Fall.

1. If Bishop Zubik extends the right for Father to Confirm the students in the Fall, then we will choose a day in September or October for a Fall Confirmation. Father Dennis will perform the Confirmation.

2. If Bishop Zubik decides to begin performing Confirmations again, all Confirmations will be performed by the Bishop. Our Parish does not have a Fall Confirmation. Students will have to attend one at a neighboring parish.  We will do our best to find you a close one but we have no control over the number of people allowed to attend or the restrictions in place.  

3. If your family would rather wait until Spring 2022, at this time we are assuming Bishop Zubik or one of the auxiliary Bishops will be presiding over Confirmation.  If this is the case, more than likely any students who waited will be invited to join the upcoming Confirmation class to complete their Sacrament. It will be a large group similar to past years. 

I hope this helped clarify some of the questions asked about the Fall date.  We will do our best to make sure your children get Confirmed.   If anything changes, I will let you know. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Have a blessed day

Elizabeth Hand,  MRE
Director of Faith Formation Corpus Christi Parish
412-221-5213  ext 4220