Discipleship Plan Resources

PRAY LIKE MARY. SERVE LIKE MARTHA.

2019 Confirmation Self Exploration Packet.pdf

ABOVE: Self-Exploration Packet from SPIRIT DAY (Oct. 5)

Above, you may access an electronic copy of the packet you worked through together, including a blank Discipleship Plan 1.0 (final page, front and back). Your Discipleship Plan 1.0 is due at our candidate session on November 13, 2019.


Worthy of the Call Clearance

Any candidate who will be serving in parish ministry or justice encounter to people who are under 18 must be trained and submit references under the Archdiocese Worthy of the Call child and youth protection process for teen volunteers. There is a training scheduled on Sunday, June 9th, from 1:15 - 2:00 pm in the Youth Room (lower level of the parish house); all candidates who are not yet trained/cleared should plan to attend this training. If you missed the training, please contact Ms. Rena ASAP.


Universal Church Experience

Our Church is catholic — which literally means “universal.” All kinds of people, all over the world and through time, have experienced God through the Catholic Church. To expand the candidate’s understanding of this fundamental aspect of our lives as Church, you are asked to explore a Catholic community different from St. Bernadette in history, place, and/or culture. This can be completed individually, with your family, with your sponsor, or with St. Bernadette Youth Ministry.

Some examples of experiences you may select include:

Participating in offsite youth ministry events, including:

    • NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference, odd years) or BYCC (Baltimore Youth Catholic Conference, even years).
      • NCYC 2019 deadline is August 15th. More info about NCYC here: NCYC Flier
    • Spring Retreat (Feb. 16 & 17)
    • Annual Youth Pilgrimage (Mar. 14)

Exploring an important Catholic place, for example:

  • Attending Mass and touring any Catholic cathedral or basilica (for example, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC) or historically significant Catholic church (for example, a mission church in Southern California). Some local examples include:


Justice Encounter

By the time you enter Confirmation preparation, it is likely you will have had many experiences of what is usually called “service.” Rather than asking you to collect a certain number of service hours, what is required for Confirmation preparation is an experience of “going deeper,” by connecting your service to the Church’s teachings on social justice (Catholic Social Teaching) and the corporal works of mercy.

What “counts” for my Justice Encounter?

A list of suggested Justice Encounter opportunities is enclosed, but if you have an idea for a Justice Encounter not listed, please discuss it with Ms. Rena as soon as possible. The requirements are that your Justice Encounter must:

  • Include an act or acts of service which directly impact the life of someone in need (i.e., the vulnerable and/or marginalized). Examples include: Persons who are hungry, homeless, or poor; persons with disabilities or who struggle with language barriers; persons affected by incarceration or who are ill, elderly, or have lost a loved one.
  • Be a substantial engagement (i.e., direct contact with vulnerable individuals, or a sustained commitment to a form of indirect service) – note that almsgiving (giving money or goods) by itself will not “count” for the purposes of the Justice Encounter.

Suggested Ministries & Agencies for Your Justice Encounter

HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING

  • Baltimore-Appalachia Workcamp – B’more or WV – 2019 or 2020. Contact: Rena Black
  • Winter Shelter at St. Bernadette Parish – Nov. 2019. Contact: Rena Black
  • Sarah's House (Temporary Housing for Families in Emergency Need, @ Fort Meade). Contact: Bruce Clopein at 410-551-7722 ext. 213 or bclopein@cc-md.org
  • Visit the Catholic Charities volunteer homepage for even more opportunities!

HUNGER & BASIC NECESSITIES

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

PERSONS WHO ARE ILL OR ELDERLY

PERSONS WITH OTHER CHALLENGES

  • Chrysalis House (for women struggling with addiction and their children).
  • Mary Center (bi-lingual center which offers supplies and support for women and families with an unexpected pregnancy). (7567 Ritchie Highway).
  • Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE) (Organization supporting international women seeking asylum in the Baltimore area).
  • Esperanza Center (Catholic Charities resource center for immigrants).
  • Moveable Feast (Provides nutritious foods and other services in order to preserve quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening conditions).
  • Operation Welcome Home MD (Welcome returning troops upon their arrival at BWI).


Parish Ministry Apprenticeship

Part of what you are embracing as a Confirmation candidate is the responsibility to serve within the local church—in other words, to minister in the parish. You will select an area of parish ministry and participate in it under the guidance of a parishioner already active in that ministry. Your role is that of an “apprentice” (a learner), while your teacher is in the role of the “master” or veteran minister—the terminology we will use is “coach.” You will be responsible for contacting your ministry coach, discussing the needs of the ministry, and outlining your agreement with your coach as to how exactly you will be involved in the ministry. Your involvement should be meaningful and substantial, but should also serve the needs of the ministry. As in the case of your Justice Encounter, you will not be amassing a certain number of hours—your time requirements will be determined by the ministry’s needs and you will record your commitment explicitly in your Discipleship Plan. The idea is to explore an area of ministry in which you may want to continue serving beyond Confirmation. This is an opportunity to dive deeper into what it means to be Catholic Christian, not a “hoop” to jump through!

Your coach may be from any one of the following committees and ministries, or you may work with the Coordinator of Youth Ministry to develop a “self-designed” apprenticeship.

Justice & Peace Committee - Chair: Mr. Mike DaPonte (justice@stbernadette.org)

  • Winter Shelter at St. Bernadette - Ms. Rena Black
  • Adopt-a-Family - Ms. Jan Zlockie (jlzlockie@yahoo.com)
  • Summer School Supplies Drive - Mr. Dan and Ms. Lisa Bell (410-551-2355 or rupierupe@yahoo.com)
  • Fall racial justice series - Mr. Mike DaPonte (justice@stbernadette.org)
  • Other projects as needed (Haiti school sponsorship program, etc.) - Ms. Rena Black

Creating Community Committee - Chairs: Ms. Marge Sholl & Ms. Christina Brandon

Music Ministry - Director: Mr. Geoff Rohrbach (grohrbach@stbernadette.org)

  • SPIRIT (teen choir) - both vocalists and instrumentalists welcome!
  • Cantor (leads the congregation in song)
  • Other music groups

Liturgy Committee - Chair: Ms. Maria Castro (liturgy@stbernadette.org)

  • Committee Member (meet monthly to plan and evaluate parish liturgies)
  • Lector (proclaims first or second reading at Mass) - Ms. Marge Sholl (mdsholl@gmail.com)
  • Leader of the Prayer of the Faithful - Ms. Barbara Hannon (bhannon@vincentbaltimore.org / Ms. Carol Paska (carol.paska@gmail.com)
  • Liturgical Environment - Help with Christmas decorating/undecorating - Ms. Rena Black
  • Serve in Holy Week liturgies (Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and/or Easter Vigil) - Ms. Rena Black
  • Usher - Mr. Michael VanDereedt (mvandereedt@aacps.org)
  • Baptism Host - Mr. Dan Miller (dmiller@stbernadette.org)
  • Once Confirmed, you may serve as a Eucharistic Minister! Contact Ms. Rena Black ASAP if interested, as we can work with you during Confirmation so that you can begin to serve in this ministry right away.

Facilities Committee - Mr. Mike Matagliati (mike.maltagliati@graybar.com)

  • Fall Cleanup and Spring Spruce-Up
  • Other projects based on need/giftedness

Faith Formation, Early Childhood & Elementary Division - Ms. Pat Radford (410-969-2786 or pradford@stbernadette.org)

  • Vacation Bible School Team
  • Reconciliation & First Eucharist Aide
  • Sunday (AM) Faith Formation Aide Religious Education

Youth Ministry / Middle & High School Faith Formation - Ms. Rena Black

  • Sunday (PM) Faith Formation Aide, including Middle School Group Leader
  • SummerStretch Peer
  • Middle School Ministry Peer
  • Hunger for Justice Planning Team
  • Spring Retreat Planning Team
  • Parish Picnic Games / Easter Egg Hunt

Technology/AV Ministry - Ms. Rena Black

  • Roles based on parish's needs and your giftedness

Annual Report Team - Ms. Rena Black

  • Help to obtain information and stories from all parish ministries and committees for the Annual Report

“Design-your-own” apprenticeship - Ms. Rena

  • Got a great idea? Let's talk!


Personal Prayer Practice Resources

Come Holy Spirit Prayer

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Holy Spirit from the Rite of Confirmation

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought these your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin: send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety; fill them with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit - Saint Augustine of Hippo

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

Amen.

Selected Scriptures

Old Testament

  • Isaiah 11:1-4a
  • Isaiah 42:1-3
  • Isaiah 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9
  • Ezekiel 26:24-28
  • Joel 2:23a, 26-30a
  • Psalm 30

New Testament

  • Acts 1:3-8
  • Acts 2:1-6, 14, 22b-23, 32-33
  • Acts 8:1, 4, 14-17
  • Acts 19:1b-6a
  • Acts 10:1, 33-34, 37-44
  • Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
  • Romans 8:14-17
  • Romans 8:26-27
  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-13
  • Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23a, 24-25
  • Ephesians 4:1-6
  • Ephesians 1:3a, 4a, 13-19a
  • Hebrews 2:23a, 3:103a

New Testament - Gospels

  • Matthew 5:1-12a
  • Matthew 15:24-27
  • Matthew 25:14-30
  • Mark 1:9-11
  • Luke 4:16-22a
  • Luke 8:4-10a, 11b-15
  • Luke 10:21-24
  • John 7:37b-39
  • John 14:15-17
  • John 14:23-26
  • John 15:18-21, 26-27
  • John 16:5b-7, 12-13a

Some Suggested Prayer & Study Apps:

  • YouVersion Bible is a comprehensive, ecumenical Bible app, with many translations (we recommend the NABRE, which is the translation used at Mass). It includes the awesome feature of built-in bible reading plans on various themes (like trust, the Alpha series, or a specific book of the Bible). Plans break scripture down into bite-size pieces day-by-day, with plan lengths from a few days at a time to a full year. You can set reminders and link up with friends to read a plan together, too!
  • Verbum is a Catholic app that's basically a faith library in your pocket. a great resource!
  • Laudate is THE Catholic app -- it has things like the daily readings, Saint of the Day, rosary, a guide for Reconciliation/Confession, Stations of the Cross, the Catechism, and like a billion other things...all in one spot.
  • iBreviary is a favorite of priests and religious, because it is a digitized version of the Daily Office/Liturgy of the Hours that the ordianed and religious pray but we're all invited to participate in. If you ever see a priest praying with an iPad, he's probably using iBreviary.
  • Echo is a beautifully designed, unique tool for intercessory prayer. You can create lists of people and causes to pray for (organizing them however you like), and set reminders to help you remember to actually pray for them. So helpful!

Some Catholic Resources:

Have other faith and prayer apps you love? Let us know!