Director: Parish Office
standrewparish@yahoo.com
Two-Year Preparation Policy for receiving Sacraments
The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated every other year. Confirmation preparation will be offered at St. Andrew’s during the 2017-2018 school year, for first year preparation, and will continue 2018-19 school year, for second year preparation. As with First Holy Communion, students in the Confirmation class will have participated in our Preparation Program for two consecutive years (2017-2018) and (2018-2019) for a total of two years, to strengthen their understanding of the Catholic faith before receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring of 2017. Confirmation preparation is open to allnHigh School students. Please see below for additional requirements.
| 2017 |
2017 |
2018 |
2018 |
| Sep 10 |
Nov 21 |
Jan 3 |
Mar 14 |
| Sep 20 |
Nov 15 |
Jan 17** |
Mar 28 |
| Oct 4 |
Nov 29 |
Jan 31* |
Apr 11 |
| Oct 11** |
Dec 13 |
Feb 14 |
Apr 25 |
| Oct 18* |
|
Feb 28 |
May 9 |
*Denotes meeting is held at Core Team family home instead of activity center. Please pick up youth from home.
** Denotes meetingis held in the social hall and it is mandatory that Parents and Sponsors attend with youth.
CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated every other year. Confirmation preparation will begin at St. Andrew’s during the 2017-2018 school year, for first year preparation, and will continue 2018-19 school year, for second year preparation. As with First Communion, students in the Confirmation class must participate in our program for two consecutive years (2017-2018) and (2018-2019) to strengthen their understanding of the Catholic faith before being Confirmed. Confirmation preparation is open to all High School students.
We have two mandatory retreats this year: fall and spring. These retreats must be attended in order to qualify for Confirmation.
The Diocese of Yakima, and our Catholic Faith, requires that students and their families preparing for Confirmation must attend either Saturday or Sunday Mass throughout the year. If students are noticed to be missing Mass regularly, they are considered to be unready to receive the sacrament and will be asked to attend the program at a later time.
In addition to attending Mass, all candidates are expected to be a part of a ministry with Mass at St. Andrew’s. Each student will select and regularly participate in how they would like to engage in Masses. Options would include: Altar Server, music, ushers/greeters, or Lector. Training will be provided and can be done at a Mass that the family normally attends.
All candidates are expected to take their preparation seriously. Missing more than three sessions over the course of the year will require the Pastor’s approval. Makeup sessions will be offered on a limited basis.
Each Candidate requires a Sponsor. This person should be selected as soon as possible. Eligible sponsors are at least 16 years of age, have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation, and be faithful Catholics. If married, sponsors must be married in the Catholic Church.
Confirmation candidates are expected to complete 20 hours of community service through St. Andrew’s. Service opportunities will be provided throughout the year.
A copy of your Baptismal Certificate is required, if you were not baptized at St. Andrew’s.
Mass Attendance
The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith. Just as without nourishing our bodies daily we would die, so too, without nourishing ourselves with the graces provided by this Sacrament, our souls would perish. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, becomes present in our midst. It is this sacrament which distinguishes Catholics from every other religion on earth, and it is through the Eucharist that every grace is given to the world. In short, without the Eucharist, there would be no Church.
When a child is preparing for their First Holy Communion, attendance at weekly Mass introduces them to the person of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our God, the beginning and end of our faith. In addition, regular attendance helps the child grow in their Catholic identity and unite themselves to their fellow Catholics in prayer and community life. The most important means to foster this love of the Mass, and thus, of the faith and our God, is the example of parents. Studies have shown that if only the mother of a family attends Mass regularly, her children have a 3% chance of attending Mass regularly once they are adults. If both the father and the mother attend Mass regularly, their children have a 33% chance of attending Mass regularly once adults. The parents’ example is critical to ensuring the Faith is handed on to their children. (See the full study at www.bit.ly/Massandfamilies ).
Because Mass attendance is the essential act of Catholic worship, participation at Mass is a necessary part of preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, along with classroom
instruction. Following the directives of the Diocese of Yakima, Confirmation candidates are “judged not to be prepared for reception of Confirmation if they do not attend Mass on
Sundays and Holy Days and receive the Eucharist with regularity.” If parents have youth preparing to receive this sacrament, we ask that they attend Mass with them, if at all
possible. If this is not possible due to sickness, family circumstances, or other conflicts, please contact St. Andrews to see if alternate transportation can be provided. As the
Catechism asks of prayer, “How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him?”
Mass is the perfect prayer. In attending Mass, may we learn, with the saints, that “Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy.
. . . For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin.” Mass attendance and participation encourages unity, family,
community, and holiness. It is how we will one day reach salvation and eternal happiness in Heaven.
Middle School and High School Fund Raisers,
Retreats and Social Events Calendar 2015-2016
FOOD NIGHTS