Session 1: Chapter 1 pages 3-17

Reminders:

You don’t have to do all of this material. If you do the “Starter” listed below you will have touched upon the main objectives. We don’t have enough time to hit all the points in every chapter. Read the chapter and teach what you like, something that resonates with your life. Just make sure you touch on the main objectives. This type of material can lead to questions for which you may not have answers. That’s ok. Call me. If I don’t know, I can find out for you. The book (look in the index) is designed to be an answer book as well!

Materials Needed:

►Paper and pencils

Background-Main Objective:

This book is written for the person who wishes to know more about Catholicism. From where most of are kids are “coming from” this is not a bad starting point. Even though they have been raised Catholic many teens would have a hard time describing what it means to be a Catholic. The main objectives for this lesson:

► 1. Catholicism is a denomination of the Christian religion.

► 2. Catholicism is more than a religion-it is a culture. And when you mix religion with a culture you get a tribe. (It is important to note that within our culture there are sub-cultures, fundamental Mother Anglica types and liberal types, like Good Shepherd.)

Starter:

► Introduce yourself and have the kids introduce themselves to the group.

► It is a powerful beginning to a year if you (the teacher) relate to the kids your faith journey, with all its twists and turns, and then, end the journey with why you are teaching Confirmation. Spend some time before class to recall your story, the people, the ups and downs etc.

► Ask someone to be a secretary for the following exercise. Begin the exercise by reminding your group that all of them have grown up Catholic and that what you are going to ask them to do next won’t be hard. Ask the group this question: “When you think of the word “Catholic” what adjectives (words that describe) come to mind. [Have the secretary record these]. Examine the responses. If there are very few, remind the kids that they are in the right place, they have a lot to learn. I f there are a lot of responses, ask the kids if, as Catholics, they can identify with those words. (Asking why or why not). See if you can weed out words that are cultural like “fish fry” and which are religious, like “sacrament.”

► Ask the kids, “How are kids portrayed in our culture?” Is it a fair portrayal?

► Tell the kids about each of the two main points listed above. Can they name other Christian denominations? Do they know how these denominations are like and unlike Catholicism?

Lesson:

Part I: What you have to believe:

► Have the kids open their books to page xxi. Let them read the Helpful hints for the Reader on this and the next page. Tell the kids that they have to read their books this year. Don’t apologize, rather emphasize that knowledge is power and when it comes to their faith, they don’t have enough information. Have them read the “►” statements on page 5 to reinforce this point. These bullet points are about Catholic culture from the past.

► Divide the group into two or three smaller groups. When that is done…

► Ask a volunteer to read the paragraph under What You Have to Believe on page 5.

► Ask each group to rewrite that paragraph in their own words. In addition divide the statements with the “►” on page 6 among the groups and have each group rewrite these statements in their own words.

► Follow up on how well they do. Do they understand what these words mean? Do they believe all of these, some of these, why or why not?

Part II: What you have to do:

If actions don’t follow beliefs, you have sin and hypocrisy. Ask the kids to list all the things that Catholic’s must do (not believe) in order to consider themselves practicing Catholics. (Go to Mass on Sunday, receive the Sacraments, honor the saints, keeping current with Catholic moral and social teaching.) As always, try and identify or tie these beliefs with your life as a Catholic adult.

For Next Time:

► Tell the students they should read “everything in boxes” from chapters 1 and 2 for next time. This includes every Saints Preserve Us, Epiphanies, For Heaven’s Sake, Your Guardian Angel, S’ter Says in these chapters.

►If the students grandparents are alive and if they are Catholic, ask the students to speak to them about what it was like to grow up Catholic.