High School Faith Formation Program
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Welcome to the High School Religious Education program! This page has information about Faith Formation for high school students, preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation link to heading on page, and the Peer Ministry link to heading on page program. Updated Summer 2011.
If you are looking for forms related to our program,
please click here
If you are looking for the Youth Ministry page, Please
click here
Tony Carbrello, the Coordinator of Religious Education, oversees the High School Faith Formation program as well as sacramental preparation for Confirmation (for those who are in High School). He would be pleased to answer any questions you have when you contact him directly at 978-369-7442 x223 or CRE55Church@aol.com.
High School Faith Formation
Faith formation for high school students at Holy Family parish is a two-year
formation experience including class gatherings, experiential learning
through service opportunities, retreats for reflection and community
building, and optional participation in the many activities and leadership
opportunities through our Youth
Ministry program.
The two years is necessary given the expectations of the US Catholic Bishops curriculum for High School Religious Education for parishes. Families with students in the (high school graduating) class of 2014 were notified during the summer of 2010 about the new requirement of two years.
Religious Education Sessions
High School religious education sessions occur on Sundays from 4:00-6:00pm. Please consult the calendar for specific dates for specific dates. We will take a break for food and fellowship during the middle of the session. Each student is assigned to a small group for the sessions.
Level 1 students utilizeThe Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth by St. Mary’s Press
The Level 2 Curriculum continues the themes started in Level 1 with an emphasis on how the Catholic Faith is lived in daily life. Topics focused on preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation will also be addressed.
Check out the Level 2 Blog here
For students who have received the sacrament of Confirmation, click here for more information about our Peer Ministry program.
Service Opportunities
Cor Unum - Level 1
Cor Unum has
served hundreds of people each day since they opened the doors in the
fall of 2006. Fr. Paul O’Brien, who founded Cor Unum, spent
some years of ministry in the Concord Catholic community.
The experience is unique - their facility is new and well-kept, guests are greeted, seated at tables, and served by wait staff (volunteers) rather than going through a meal line. Specific tables are designated for children who come on their own.
Guests at Cor Unum typically include the working poor, families with children, children without parents at home during meal time, the unemployed, the homeless, seniors, and those living with mental or emotional illnesses.
Holy Family sends 6 to 8 students and 2 or 3 adults on the second Monday of each month, as well as select fifth Mondays. Please sign up for a specific date with Tony or when you register for the program.
Cor Unum Permission
Slip
Cor Unum Information
Cor Unum Directions
Labels Are For Jars -
Fundraiser for Cor Unum
Oasis Soup Kitchen - Level 2
Oasis is an organization providing a variety of services to the homeless
of Boston. As a coalition of organizations and churches, one
of their services is to provide various food opportunities to alleviate
hunger. Guests at Oasis typically include the homeless, those
living with mental or emotional illnesses, the unemployed, and the
working poor.
Since the summer of 2009, the Oasis Soup Kitchen has been located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 138 Tremont Street, Boston 02108. This is a big church located across the street from Boston Common, in the heart of the city. You may find guests waiting outside on the steps, depending on the weather. Joe Neis is our contact, a former parishioner in Concord, and has been facilitating groups from the Concord Catholic Community for around 20 years.
Service groups from Holy Family will prepare food, cook food, serve food, and help clean up. We send five youth and two adults on the first Monday of each month. Please sign up for a specific date with Tony or when you register for the program.
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Permission Slip
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Information
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Driving Directions
Dream Team Day of Service - All Levels
We partner with the Concord
Council on Aging to
assist local residents with fall chores and tasks, mostly leaf raking,
checking smoke detectors, and other occasional seasonal chores. Participants
should bring their own rake and gloves. If you have an extra rake,
that may be helpful. Also, please bring tarps to help move leaves.
This service day requires a lot of involvement from parents to drive, assist with the work, and help organize the day. In order to participate, parents need to have completed the Virtus training and the parish must have a current CORI on file.
The Dream Team service day in 2011 will be Saturday, November 5.
Dream
Team Service Day Permission Slip
Dream Team Service
Day Information
Alternative Service Opportunities - All Levels
Since it is not our aim to “clock hours”, but rather give
students meaningful learning experiences, the Alternative Service process
streamlines those requests and standardizes the process of requesting
a substitution from one of the program’s regularly scheduled service
opportunities. This process provides flexibility with these expectations
of service, while honoring the special requests from students and families
regarding our service expectations.
If pursuing this avenue of service, please return the request form by November 1.
Alternative
Service Information and Form
Alternative
Service Post Service Form
Retreats
High School Level 1 will have a mini-retreat on the first day of scheduled sessions - September 11, 2011, from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Parents are asked to attend from 3:00-3:30pm. A simple meal of pizza and soda will be offered to students during the session. Level 1 students are strongly encouraged to attend the spring retreat.
High School Level 2 will be expected to attend two retreats during the year. The Confirmation retreat is Friday, November 18 - Saturday, November 19. The second retreat is the spring retreat, and all Level 2 students are expected to attend.
Confirmation (Overnight) Retreat:
The November retreat is overnight, Friday November 18 - Saturday, November
19. The drop off/pick up location will be the parish offices
in West Concord Click
here for directions We
will be returning to the Espousal
Retreat Center in
Waltham.
November
Retreat Information
November
Retreat Permission
Slip
Medical Form
Confirmation (Day) Retreat (Make-up):
The December retreat will begin at 9:00am on December 4. This retreat
will be a shortened version of the overnight retreat, for those unable
to attend the November retreat. It is expected that students
will attend the November retreat if possible. This retreat
will take place in Monument Hall in Concord Center, and will include
attendance at Mass.
December
Retreat Information
Permission
Slip December Retreat
Spring (Overnight) Retreat
Our Second Annual High School Spring Retreat will be held on April 28-29,
2012, addressing topics specific to high school youth living their faith
as Catholic Christians in today's world. The retreat is open to
all high school students (Grades 9-12) and will be led primarily by the
Peer Ministers.
Spring Retreat Information
Spring Retreat Permission
Slip
Medical Form
Sacrament of Confirmation (for High School students)
The sacrament of Confirmation is typically conferred during the Easter
season of a students’ sophomore year, given their formation is
completed through two years of high school religious education, service
work, and retreat participation.
If you are looking for the Sacrament of Confirmation for adults, please contact our Pastoral Associate, Sr. Rose Marie Lipke Staff page
Confirmation
Sponsor Signature Information Form (for sponsors)
Information
Sheet on Choosing a Sponsor and Choosing a Name (for candidates and families)
Peer Ministry Program (debuted Fall 2010)
“Peer Ministry” is the name given to our leadership development
program for high school students who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Peer
Ministers provide the leadership of our retreat ministry, as well as co-facilitate
the small groups in the high school religious education program. Additionally,
the PeerMinisters have significant input into the topics discussed in their
own faith formation.
For more information, please contact Tony or Jackie at the parish offices.
All Levels:
High
School Religious Education Calendar
Dream
Team Service Day Permission Slip
Dream Team Service
Day Information
Alternative
Service Information and Form
Alternative
Service Post Service Form
Level 1 Forms:
Cor Unum Permission
Slip
Cor Unum Information
Cor
Unum Directions
Level
1 Information Sheet & Sign Up Sheet
Level 2 Forms:
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Permission Slip
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Information
Oasis Soup Kitchen
Driving Directions
Level
2 Information Sheet & Sign Up Sheet
Confirmation (Overnight) Retreat:
November
Retreat Information
November
Retreat Permission
Slip
Medical
Form
Confirmation (Day) Retreat (Make-up):
December
Retreat Information
Permission
Slip December Retreat
Spring (Overnight) Retreat
Medical
Form
Confirmation Forms:
Confirmation
Sponsor Signature Information Form (for sponsors)
Information
Sheet on Choosing a Sponsor and Choosing a Name (for candidates and families)
Pastor's
Blog