Sealed is a journey uniquely designed to help parents and their teens enter deeper into the mystery of God and walk closer with Jesus Christ and His church as they make their way towards the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In this 2 year program, parents, teens and sponsors will get to explore the teachings of the Catholic Church and the relevance of faith today, especially for young people, the future of our church. The meetings give a great opportunity for teens to learn and explore their relationship with Christ and for parents and sponsors to support them through this process.
We welcome you to come join us on the journey!
SEALED Confirmation 2024-2025
September 8, 2024: Why Am I Here?
Introduction to the program and the team. Focuses on the teen’s desire to be working toward receiving their Confirmation. “You are here for a purpose, and when you pursue that purpose, you will become what you are intended to be. You are here to know, love, and serve God in this life and to be happy with him forever in the next.”
September 15, 2024: Where the Journey Begins
The imagery of Baptism is found in Creation, in Noah’s ark (where eight souls are saved through water), in the escape of the Hebrews under Moses from captivity by crossing the Red Sea, and in the crossing of the Jordan River by God’s Chosen People in order to enter the Promised Land. By understanding the symbolism and significance of this rite in their own lives, candidates will be encouraged to think of the salvation story more definitively as their story.
October 6, 2024: Knowing Jesus
To encourage candidates to rediscover Jesus and to reassess the role he should be playing in their lives. Teaching candidates that Jesus and his teachings are the answer to the problems we face in our lives and in the world and helping candidates recognize the power and importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus.
November 3, 2024: Cultivating a Prayer Life
Our Catholic tradition has many different ways to approach God in prayer, including verbal prayer, meditation, and contemplation. Through prayers of blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise, we experience God both through personal prayer and as a people of God, especially in the liturgy.
November 24, 2024: WWJD
Challenging teens to live a life of radical discipleship.* Following Jesus is the sure way to become the people God created them to be. To be Christian is to be like Christ, sometimes enduring persecution just as he did; other times to be like Jesus is to bring peace. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt. 5:10-12).
December 22, 2024: A Focus on the Family - Parents are invited to attend
Parent and Teen Faith Journey - Parents are called to do their best to form their children’s faith, educate and raise them to know Him. Then, when they are old enough to decide for themselves and walk their own faith journey, parents can support and pray.
February 2, 2025: The Sacraments of Healing
Understanding the restorative power of the sacraments of healing and our relationship with God. Anointing of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation - Understanding the examination of conscience and how to go to confession.
March 9, 2025: Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
We hurt and, so often, we hurt because we love. There is no love without suffering, and there is no suffering without love. The question for us is, will we take both realities? Our God did.
March 30, 2025: Discipleship
Each of us is called to share in the divine life of God by making Jesus the focal point of our lives. All of us are imperfect and will struggle in following the teachings of Jesus. To be Jesus’ disciples, we must continually be filling ourselves with His presence and grace found in the sacraments, and reach out to those in need.
September 22, 2024: What’s Holding Me Back?
Demonstrating that all paths are not equal and that there is such a thing as objective truth. To teach Candidates to recognize patterns of negative thinking in their lives. Helping candidates recognize who and what is holding them back from living the incredible life God invites them to.
October 13, 2024: Who is the Holy Spirit?
This session will be demonstrating the practical power of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit and helping candidates to recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Candidates will be challenged to look at how the Holy Spirit guides them in their decisions.
November 10, 2024: Can Anybody Hear Me?
It is often difficult to hear God over the “noise” of our lives. We must practice listening to God as He speaks through many different methods. Discerning God’s will and following it will make us the best version of ourselves.
December 8, 2024: What is Love?
We will explore the purpose of relationships and that the most important relationship in our lives is with God. Teach candidates how to make good decisions in the area of relationships. Demonstrate that developing healthy relationships is essential to the life God is calling us to live.
January 12, 2025: Who are the Saints?
A look into the saints and give the candidates a chance to research and discover a saint name that they might choose for their Confirmation.
February 16, 2025: What is the Liturgical Calendar?
In the Liturgical Year every season or feast day has its own unique symbols and color which help us to explore and be involved in the mystery of the incarnation, birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
March 16, 2025: Parables and Miracles
The Church consistently investigates and approves miracles attributed to the intercession of saints. It is through the Church’s authoritative interpretive power, bestowed by the Holy Spirit, that we are able to view the parables and miracles in multiple senses.
April 6, 2025:What is the True Presence?
Adoration of God is primarily a recognition of the reality that God is. It praises God for His own sake and gives Him glory not for what He does, but simply because He is. The practice of Eucharistic Adoration flows from the belief in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. In Eucharistic Adoration, God is with us, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. This session will include some practical tips for bringing Adoration into your life.
September 29, 2024: The Existence of God
As you grow in your understanding of Catholicism, Candidates need to move toward a truly adult approach to faith, based on full intellectual assent to the teachings of the Church—which are not valid merely because they are our traditions but because what God has revealed is true.
October 27, 2024: Enduring Wisdom
Saint Paul is credited with writing several letters in the New Testament, which were circulated to instruct and guide the early Church. These letters contain wisdom and practical advice for us today. By prayerfully reflecting on the wisdom of St. Paul’s writings, we are convicted by his life and legacy to love more boldly every day.
November 17, 2024: Answering the Call
Understanding of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In addition, candidates will be offered an opportunity to learn a bit more about the process of discerning a vocation to the priesthood, religious life, married life, or single life. A panel of priests, deacons, and lay people will be present.
December 15, 2024: Who is Mary?
Inspire a deeper appreciation of Mary as Jesus’ mother as well as the Queen of Heaven ... and of our hearts. We will also take a closer look at the “communion of saints” in order to understand why Catholics are so devoted to our heavenly brothers and sisters and why that is an important part of being a member of the family of God.
January 26, 2025: Why do we go to Mass?
Understanding the beauty and richness of the Mass and seeing it as our “front-row seat” to the most important event in human history. As Catholics, we are also morally obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation. The Catechism tells us that the liturgical celebration has remained substantially the same since the second century, and that together the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist form a “single act of worship” that is reflected “on earth as it is in heaven”. In a most special way, it is through this sacrament that Jesus fulfilled his promise: “I am with you always.”
March 2, 2025: Living Your Truth
Jesus doesn’t say that he merely speaks the truth; he claims to be the embodiment of Truth. He doesn’t say he can give life; he tells us he is the source of life itself. What does this mean for your life?
March 23, 2025: How Should I Use the Bible?
To give candidates a general introduction to the Bible. To demonstrate that the Word of God is a practical and powerful source of inspiration and direction in our lives. To encourage candidates to develop the habit of reading the Bible regularly.
April 13, 2025: Being Fishers of All
Following Jesus is a choice, and we have to be honest about our current reality in order to choose His will and plan for our lives.
April 27, 2025: Where do I go from here?
Year 2 ONLY Sponsor/Candidate Meeting
In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are invited to embark on a mature phase of our relationship with Christ, in which the seeds that were planted at Confirmation and watered and pruned through the other sacraments begin to blossom and bear fruit in the kingdom of God.