Written by Ryan Dilag, director of campus ministry, Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland, CA, [email protected]
Parent: “Hi Mr. Dilag, my son wants to be Confirmed, but we can’t participate in our Parish Confirmation Program. He just has too many commitments with sports practice and games, homework and his weekend job. Does O’Dowd offer a High School Confirmation Program?”
This conversation with a parent, and many more just like it, led to the formation of Bishop O’Dowd High School’s Confirmation Program in partnership with the Diocese of Oakland.
Today’s generation of students are busier than ever before—with athletics, co-curricular activities, work, service hours, family events and, of course, school. But, in the midst of this flurry of activity, students are actively searching for something much bigger than themselves.
Life Teen’s recent 2024 report, “The State of Catholic Youth in America,” highlights five critical areas that are impacting Catholic teen discipleship:
- addressing anxiety
- the need for belonging
- the search for purpose
- the importance of family
- tackling loneliness
Shockingly, only 51 percent of high school students report feeling like they belong at their school. To put it simply, high school students are searching for who they are, where they belong and who they belong with.
Parish Confirmation Programs can help create a meaningful environment where students experience belonging and encounter God. However, these programs have become less accessible as student’s schedules have become more demanding. Building an in-house High School Confirmation Program offers a solution—creating an opportunity for students to explore their existential identity in the familiarity and belonging of their peers, teachers and campus. This model has already been adopted in several Catholic high schools, including Archbishop Mitty High School, Marin Catholic and Notre Dame San Jose.
Building Your Own Accessible and Inclusive In-House Confirmation Program
Here are the steps you can take to pilot a Confirmation program on your campus.
- Seek approval from your local diocese. Since Confirmation is primarily a parish program, it is essential that you create and nurture a strong partnership with your diocese and local bishop.
- Seek support from the Presbyteral Council and approval from the parish pastors in your diocese. This step is crucial. Without the collaboration and partnership of your diocesan priests, an in-house Confirmation program cannot take place.
- Create a program that incorporates authentic Catholic teachings in both creative and modern ways. The program can include formation sessions, prayer and worship experiences and retreats. Since most Catholic high school students already participate in daily prayer, monthly liturgies, retreats, charity and social justice drives, service hours and religious studies classes, it is important for the in-house Confirmation program to build upon that experience. Gathering key stakeholders for a Confirmation Committee, including school leadership from campus ministry, service and justice programs, religious studies and more, will ensure an effective program.
Sample Confirmation Program
The following is an example of an in-house High School Confirmation Program, including a description of the commitment and the activities students will experience.
Description
Facilitated by campus ministry, our one-year Confirmation Program invites 10th, 11th and 12th grade students to discern their next step in their Catholic faith.
Topics will include exploring who students are as children of God, who God and the Catholic Church are, sacraments, saints, morality and how students can “go and set the world on fire.”
Formation classes take place during a student’s open period nine times each semester and require a few weekend commitments every month for retreats, Masses and youth groups, as well as an Advent Taize Service and a Lenten Stations of the Cross Service. All 10th, 11th and 12th grade students are welcome to participate!
- Formation Classes & 1-1 Meetings: Nine formation classes take place during the second half of a student’s open period three times per month each semester. Each formation class is 45 minutes in length and is led by two campus ministers—one for 10th graders and one for 11th and 12th graders. At the end of each month, students schedule a 1-1 check-in meeting with one of our on-campus priests for an intimate conversation about their faith journey. And every other month Confirmation students meet with their sponsor to continue to dialogue about their faith.
- Content: Using our Confirmation textbook, “Confirmed in the Spirit” as a guide, classes are divided into six topics with three different themes: Bonding & Scripture Reading, Catechesis, and Lived Experience. The six topics include Sacraments, Nicene Creed & Saints, Morality, Trinity & Holy Spirit, Discipleship and Grace. “Homework” includes journal writing using a Confirmation journal (we use Loyola Press’ “My Confirmation Journey” journal.)
- Monthly Youth Groups and Family Masses: Students attend monthly youth groups and family Masses. Youth group sessions are led by two adult youth ministers who guide Confirmation students to dialogue about real life concerns and to reflect on finding God in all things. Each of the family Masses includes a post-Communion student reflection and a fellowship dinner. Masses create opportunities for all Confirmation families to build relationships and strengthen their faith together.
- Prayer Experiences: During Advent and Lent, students are invited to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with an on-campus priest or a priest of their choosing. They also participate in a student-led Advent Taize Service and Lenten Stations of the Cross on campus. Each prayer service concludes with Eucharistic Adoration.
- Retreats: Confirmation students participate in day-long retreats at the beginning of the program and towards the end. Retreats are on campus and take place on Sunday. The theme of the first retreat is “Becoming an Intentional Disciple” and the theme of the final retreat with their sponsors is “Unwritten.” Each retreat concludes with a family Mass and fellowship dinner.
As teenagers continue to be committed to various afterschool activities, while still searching for meaning and purpose, it is critical that Catholic high schools build new programs that meet students where they are. An in-house High School Confirmation Program is an accessible solution for today’s generation, supporting students to find the peace, belonging, connection and joy of enriching their spiritual lives—while on campus and in community.
