Dear Parents,
In this fourth and final candidate session of Fall 2020, after discussing so much about a personal commitment to follow Jesus, we underscored the importance of community in that life of discipleship.
Main Points:
- Aristotle said there are 3 types of friends: Friends of Utility (usefulness), Friends of Pleasure (enjoyment) and Friends of Virtue. The third type are friends that are concerned for your good.
- Having a mentor is like a coach for following Jesus. They can teach you but also work beside you to reach goals and find new places to grow. (Mentors include Confirmation Sponsors, but those are not the only faith mentors in your child's life.)
- Accountability is essential to discipleship: To be accountable means to own up to an expectation or a standard we are trying to reach. We take account of where we are in meeting that standard. To do this with another person keeps us honest.
“The 5 S’s of Accountability” help us have specific goals to work on in our life with Christ:
- Service
- Praying with Scripture
- Sacraments
- Overcoming Sin
- Sharing Jesus with Others
In the time between now and the January 4th deadline:
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Candidates should complete their Discipleship Plan 1.0 Form (their plan for responding to the kerygma in their life, using the 5 S's above, during the Advent & Christmas seasons (November through early January).
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Sponsors should complete the Sponsor Covenant Form, if they have not already done so.
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Both online forms are linked on the Confirmation 2021 page on our website: www.stbernadette.org/confirmation-2021
FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS:
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ASK: Who are the people in your life that bring out the best in you? (Parents, share your thoughts on this as well.)
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SHARE: Who are your "friends of virtue," and how do they keep you accountable? Recall 5 S’s of Accountability. Are there any that you think we can work on as a family?
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DISCUSS: How are you responding to the kerygma in your Discipleship Plan 1.0? What questions do you have about your Discipleship Plan? How can our family support you in that plan?
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PRAY: Read through the theme scripture from tonight (below), slowly, listening for what God is saying to you through the passage. Perhaps use the lectio divina method to guide you: https://tinyurl.com/LectioDivinaStepByStep
TONIGHT'S THEME SCRIPTURE: IRON SHARPENS IRON
“Iron is sharpened by iron;
one person sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)
