Pathways for Parish Leaders

Confirmation Preparation

Perhaps more than any other sacrament, the Sacrament of Confirmation draws in young people who are at widely different points on their faith journeys. For some, Confirmation is the capstone of a strong and vibrant religious education program through their elementary and middle school years. Others have been absent from religious education since their First Holy Communions and might attend Mass only sporadically. 

The Augustine Institute’s Confirmation preparation resources appeal to all members of this diverse audience; they are easy for catechists to use and help evangelize parents. 

“We successfully used  The Search program during socially distanced in-person classes last fall with over 40 middle school and high school students in our parish, most of whom are preparing to receive the sacraments. .. . This program, especially The Search episodes, were very highly rated by the students in evaluation surveys!” 

~ Steve, VA, Catechist ~

 

Top Recommendations: Recommended for middle school or high school students

New!

The Search Begins with Chris Stefanick and Jim Beckman

The Augustine Institute has adapted its award-winning series The Search and modified it for teens. The Search is an acclaimed evangelization series hosted by speaker and author Chris Stefanick. This adaptation for middle and high school students is called The Search Begins, a new series inviting teens to consider the deepest questions of the human heart and explore the meaning and purpose of life.

Download PDF plan for launching The Search Begins in your parish.

The Search Begins guides youth through the seven episodes of The Search and its themes of life, death, sorrow, happiness, science, and faith. The series includes teen commentary and uses shorter segments to facilitate honest conversations between teens and their youth ministers, parents, teachers, and peers. It emphasizes why a teen should care to ask life’s tough questions and, ultimately, seek an answer to this most important question: Who is Jesus Christ, and how do I respond to his invitation?

The Search Begins Leader kits are available on Catholic Market.  In 7 additional leader videos, Jim Beckman unpacks what The Search Begins is, how to use the Leader’s Guide & Participant Journals, and the why behind this program.

 

Sent by the Spirit with Dr. Brant Pitre
In this three-part series, Dr. Pitre addresses confusion that exists about Confirmation.  


Confirmation: The Sacrament of Evangelization and Martyrdom by Dr. Brant Pitre

We often misunderstand the actual nature of the Sacrament of Confirmation and how it directly affects our lives. In this talk, Dr. Brant Pitre invites us to understand better the tremendous graces and calling received through this sacrament. He points to various passages in Scripture that provide a historical foundation and, through bold witness, challenge us to surrender our lives willingly to Christ.

Never Alone: Life With the Holy Spirit

YDisciple is a toolbox of training resources for adults and teaching resources for teens, specifically designed with small groups in mind. YDisciple isn’t just another video resource. Programs don’t make disciples. Only a disciple can make disciples. That’s why YDisciple pairs video resources with extensive training and support for leaders

YDiscple: You Are Not Alone

We all want to belong. We all seek love, friendship, and acceptance. But where do you seek that? Do you seek it from those who bring out the best in you? Those who keep you accountable for your actions? Those who stand by you even in the tough times? 

The Wild Goose with Fr. Dave Plvonka

The Wild Goose series is truly a work of the Holy Spirit from 4PM Media and The Ministry of The Wild Goose. “Wild Goose” was a term the ancient Celts had for the Holy Spirit. The Wild Goose invites viewers to an encounter, or a renewed encounter, with the Holy Spirit. 

Forgiven

Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession explores the grace and healing offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and shows how this sacrament of mercy reveals the depth and bounty of God’s love. By looking at God’s revelation of his mercy in Scripture and making a step-by-step examination of the rite itself, Forgiven communicates God’s invitation to each one of us to experience his indescribable love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Watch Trailer Here.

Presence

Although the Eucharist appears to be simple bread and wine, it is actually the “source and summit” of the Christian life. Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist explores the truth and beauty of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, from its origins in Sacred Scripture to its profound role in the life of the Church and her members. It is the crescendo of the entire story of salvation

Best Practices  

  • Invite sponsors into the process and help them engage with the confirmand. Since our programs are digital, it’s easy to share FORMED with the sponsors and ask them to watch/listen along side the students and parents.  A Lighthouse talk (recommended above) is usually less than an hour and is a great starting point; any of the studies are great for sponsors as well. 
  • Engage the parents in growing in their own faith and in teaching their children. Be sure all parents have access to FORMED so they can participate and engage with their children.
  • Promote daily prayer for confirmandi and parents. We have many resources on FORMED for those parents who may not be as familiar with the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Novena’s, etc.
  • Promote family prayer during this time of sacramental preparation 

Webinars for Youth Ministry Leaders

Featured Stories

Dot Bowler: Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation

 

Download PDF

Testimonials:

“Thank you for this beautiful teaching of the Sacrament of Confirmation [Sent by the Spirit]. At the end of listening to the three sessions [Sent by the Spirit] I feel humble. The old saying “You don’t know what you don’t know” comes to mind. Thank you, Dr. [Pitre] for sharing your knowledge to those of us that have hungered to learn our faith in depth all of our lives.” 

—Sharon T. 

 “Beautiful work [Never Alone], Sarah; very profound!”

—Arturo M. 

“After completing this Wild Goose series, I feel I have truly been baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is by far the most powerful and impactful encounter I have had with the Holy Spirit in my 69 years of being a Catholic.”

—Karen A. 

“Fantastic series [The Search]; I really enjoyed it, and how it pieced together all the parts, the issues and questions people grapple with on their faith journey—great tool for evangelization, particularly for teenagers as it addresses many of the questions they grapple with. This is too good not to share . . . praise the Lord. Thank you to all involved—this is the way we need to teach faith in today’s world. It’s so inspiring; lots of food for thought.  Thank you and God bless!”

—Annette C.  

“Wow! This talk [Confirmation: The Sacrament of Envangelization and Martyrdom] is so fantastic. I will definitely need to listen to it a few more times to absorb all the rich content. This is my second year teaching Confirmation, and this is wonderful information to use for them.”

—Stacie 

“Very powerful; will use [We Must Go Out] with our two grandsons whom we are trying to supplement the Confirmation program at our church this very week.”

—Kathleen B. 

What’s Your Story?

Tell us your experience with using FORMED resources for RCIA