EXTRAORDINARY
A Virtual Confirmation Retreat for the Diocese of Rockville Centre
"We are all born original, but many die as photocopies"
- Blessed Carlo Acutis
Why Extraordinary?
Under normal circumstances, you would be gathering with your friends and classmates for retreat, in preparation for the great Sacrament of Confirmation. As we continue to face the challenges of these unprecedented times, we rely on extraordinary means to come together, to stoke our faith, and to encounter God. So, we offer this virtual retreat to all of the Confirmandi of the Diocese of Rockville Centre to make on your own, with your family, or by whatever means your parish faith formation office has put in place.
What has not changed over the past year, or since the beginning of time, is that you - and each one of us - were made for greatness. Not greatness in the way that our modern culture might define it, but something even better. You were made for holiness, for sainthood, and for eternal life with God Himself. You may think of yourself as ordinary, but God created you to be extraordinary. Confirmation is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime gift on your journey to become the saint He has destined you to be. Do not settle for less. Be extraordinary!
Let us pray...
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation,
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Start Here...
"Is God Real?"
Fr. Sean Magaldi, DRVC Director of Vocations
Introduction #2
"Encountering God"
Theresa LoCascio, Teacher at St. Anthony's High School
Introduction #3
"Discipleship"
Lisette Robustelli, DRVC Associate Director of Faith Formation
Introduction #4
"Living Your Faith"
Gina Hackett, Campus Minister at Hofstra University
Introduction #5
"Becoming a Saint"
Michael Clauberg, Campus Minister at St Anthony's High School and Youth Minister at St. Patrick Church in Huntington
Outro Video
Additional Resources & Options for Your Retreat
Lectio Divina
Learn how to read and pray the Scriptures
Click here to download handout: What is Lectio Divina?
Attend Mass or a Holy Hour with your classmates or family
Blessed Carlo's Holiness Kit Challenge
Love God with all your heart
Try to go to Mass each day
Receive Communion as often as possible
Pray the Rosary
Read a passage of sacred Scripture each day
Make a visit to Jesus in the tabernacle each day
Go to confession once a week
Help others as often as you can
Rely on your guardian angel as your best friend
Click here to download handout: Bl. Carlo's Saint Kit Challenge
Radiating Christ Prayer by St. John Henry Newman
Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance wherever I go.
Flood my soul with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly, that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from You; none of it will be mine.
It will be you, shining on others through me.
Let me thus praise You the way You love best, by shining on those around me.
Let me preach You without preaching, not by words but by my example, by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do,
the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You.
Amen.
Have questions? Need help implementing the retreat?
Contact us: youthministry@drvc.org