Confirmation catechists should ‘accompany’ students

With Ascension Press, MacIver put to good use the confirmation teaching experience of himself and others in “The Catechist’s Field Guide (to) Confirmation.” It’s about 100 pages and available digitally.
    

While he knows there are other excellent books on confirmation preparation,  he feels time-strapped catechists could benefit from a guide where any chapter could be opened to find useful tips for the classroom.
    

“In listening to catechists out there and knowing what the challenges are, I thought I would put something in people’s hands that was a doable resource that was good information and also fun,” MacIver said. It can be used  as a study program or as a catechists’ resource so “every time they pick it up, they can be better at their craft.”
    

It contains 10 “over-arching themes” that point catechists in the right direction and “give hope” on how to address the diverse confirmation candidates – kids for whom confirmation is not a priority; highly engaged kids with atheist or agnostic opinions who already have begun to  reject the faith; kids and parents of many faith levels and commitment.
    

“We’re trying to advise  catechists to engage that kid (and his parents),” MacIver said, reaching them where they are as they explore during confirmation preparation the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
    

“That helps equip your candidates for a life in Christ,” MacIver said.
    

He emphasized St. John Paul’s famous concept of “accompaniment.” He suggested getting to know a teen’s name and face and sharing faith through personal experience, not just teaching doctrine, and becoming that trusted friend who can nurture faith, witness Christian friendship and faith and demonstrate that God is a father who loves them.
    

“Sacramental prep is such a golden opportunity that shouldn’t be wasted,” he said, “knowing that it could blow people away with the love of God and be transformative ... as the moment of encounter that opens their hearts to the adventure of lifelong discipleship. It isn’t a graduation from faith, but preparation for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit ... for minds and hearts to come alive in faith.”
    

Colin MacIver teaches theology, is religion department chair and campus ministry coordinator at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington and is director of confirmation prep at St. Anselm Parish. He has created or contributed to Ascension Press programs on confirmation (Chosen), baptism, the seven sacraments and the Theology of the Body for Middle Schoolers.