Adult mentors help ready teens for Confirmation

BY PAT PASTERNAK
STAFF WRITER

"They are what they know," says Jon Sozek, faith formation director at St. Francis de Sales parish in Loudonville.

He was referring to 27 tenth-graders who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in a few months.

The parish has designed a mentoring program that helps the students get in touch with and discuss their faith in preparation for receiving the sacrament.

Basic training

Mr. Sozek, a teacher at Notre Dame/Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady, told The Evangelist that the program at St. Francis incorporates the basics of the Catholic faith and helps the students implement what they learn about living their Catholicism through interaction with adults.

The program was initiated by Rev. David Noone, pastor, who read about it in an ecumenical clergy publication. Once they got the materials, the video-based program was redesigned to fit the preparation program at St. Francis.

"What we were looking for was a way to get our kids talking about the basics of the Catholic faith," Father Noone said. "We began with an agenda of learning about God, the Trinity, how to read Scripture, a deeper understanding of the sacraments and the liturgy."

Mentoring

All tenth-graders in faith formation begin the mentor program in January.

"The mentors are adults who want to share their own faith experiences with the young people," said Mr. Sozek. "They are provided with plenty of discussion materials and background information to lead their small groups."

The main requirement is that the "mentors desire to engage in frank and meaningful conversations with young people. Often, the same mentors will volunteer for several years in a row. They seem to get a lot out of the program."

Talking it out

Between January and June, the students and mentors participate in four large-group and four small-group sessions, completing the equivalent of ten classroom hours of work.

The small-group sessions consist of two or three students meeting with a mentor for prayer, Scripture reading and discussion, and conversation about religion. Among other things, they discuss other faiths, the Mass, ministry and community service.

"The small-group sessions are a venue in which the students are free to discuss their faith, and how they see and live it," Mr. Sozek explained. "The conversations are all about faith and a real relationship with God."

All together now

In the large group sessions, which students and mentors attend together, they:

* create their own faith "coat of arms," which identifies each in a unique way;

* participate in a "show-and-tell Mass" during which the celebrant pauses to explain what is happening;

* attend a seminar on the Sermon on the Mount; and

* view videos about faith, ministry, discipleship and vocation.

Reaching out

During the summer, students participate in community action projects that are required for Confirmation.

"They have to complete ten hours of service, and we feel that this program well prepares them for that action," Father Noone said.

"The beauty of this program is that adult parishioners have the opportunity to connect with our youth while sharing their own faith stories, and the youth have the opportunity to see and learn how faith has empowered their mentors for a lifetime of service and ministry."

(02/14/08) [[In-content Ad]]