


In 1993-94, the diocesan Sacraments Preparation Team began a consultation process with all the diocesan parishes regarding the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. This consultation process had a two-fold purpose: To provide feedback to help in the establishment of new policies and programs for preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Reconciliation; To provide feedback to help in the revision of the Confirmation preparation program which had been in place for a number of years. Following the responses from that consultation: A new policy and program for Baptism preparation has been established; The Confirmation preparation program has been revised; The Sacraments Preparation Team is currently reviewing the policies and preparation programs for First Communion and First Reconciliation. The hope is to eventually establish one diocesan policy and program for each of these sacraments with a strong focus on the partnership between the parents, as the primary faith educators of their children, and the parish community and the catholic school in their vital roles. Baptism Purpose: A new program entitled "Go Forth Into Deep Water" has now been implemented. This program was presented to the parishes for evaluation and "fine tuning" before being implemented. In the Spring of 1995 a training session was offered to interested volunteers willing to start a parish baptismal preparation team. The Baptismal program includes 4 steps : 1 Home visitation. 2 Three Group Meetings whose topics are : The Loving God; Death and life with Jesus Christ; To live in the Spirit. 3 Celebration of Baptism. 4 Follow up to the Celebration. These steps represent a process which invites the parents as well as the godparents (whenever possible) to a rich journey of faith. It encourages small group faith sharing, and invites the participants to see their faith in connection with their everyday lives. This process encourages adult faith education. A child's baptism provides the opportunity for parents and godparents to become more conscious of their own faith journey. This may deeply enrich their faith lives and help parents to better understand their role as the primary faith educators of their child. Confirmation History In collaboration with Father Paul André Durocher, appointed pastoral co-ordinator for the diocese of Timmins in September 1989, several persons gathered to prepare a diocesan policy and program for the preparation of our youth for Confirmation. This program was launched in the Fall of 1990 by the Sacraments Preparation Team. The program was recently revised by the Sacraments preparation Team. The Program In our diocese, young people are invited to celebrate the Holy Spirit and to confirm their faith at the age of 12/13, or at any age after this, depending upon when they feel ready to prepare for the sacrament. It is the parish which facilitates the preparation for this sacrament. Each parish provides a person or a team to co-ordinate this project. Parents help by leading small sharing groups of 5 or 6 candidates. The school also has an important role in this process. Since kindergarten, the teachers have passed onto their students the Catholic teaching of the Church. Moreover, the diocese offers specific lessons from 5th to 8th grade about the meaning of confirmation. The program takes the following steps: School "Blitz" The confirmation co-ordinator for the parish, often accompanied by the parish priest, parish co-ordinator, or pastoral worker, meets the candidates at school to talk about the process and to help them discern if they are ready to begin it at this time. Ice-Breaker Night All the candidates of the same parish, who feel ready to begin the preparation, meet for an introductory evening. They bring their registration form and their baptismal certificate as a sign of their decision to follow through with the preparation. This evening includes games, discussions and prayer. They will have the opportunity to meet the leader and the other candidates in their small sharing group. Parents' meetings The parents meet with the parish co-ordination team and the diocesan sacraments preparation co-ordinator twice during the process. The first meeting is an information session. The second one helps the parents to become more aware of the meaning of confirmation in their personal lives. Small sharing groups Six (6) small sharing group meetings take place every two weeks or so for about 3 months. The leaders are trained by the diocesan co-ordinator to work with the youth. The topics for these six (6) sessions are : Growing in the Spirit ; Opening our eyes ; Recognizing our talents and gifts ; Living an adventure ; Building the Church ; Preparing the Celebration. Liturgical celebrations The candidates and their family, godparents, and friends gather during the Sunday liturgy for special celebrations : The Rite of Enrolment and the celebration of commitment to the service project. Service Project Responding to Jesus' call to Love and Serve, the candidates are invited to give 10 hours of community service as part of their preparation. Recollection At the end of the process, the candidates are invited to gather in their parish for a time of reflection and prayer before they receive the sacrament. Confirmation After Easter, the bishop goes to the parishes to celebrate the sacrament with the prepared candidates. Follow up A follow up is encouraged through the youth ministry office of the diocese.