High School Religious Education/Confirmation
All students (Public, St. Joseph's Catholic Academy & Homeschool) in grades 9-11 MUST register for CCD each year regardless of where they receive their weekly religious instruction. Please note that ONLY public school students attend regular weekly morning Sunday CCD classes at OLVCS or the church. 9th & 10th grade students report to Sunday morning classes. Deacon Dave will come to St. Joseph's Catholic Academy for your special sessions. Please see below in the 11th grade dropdown box. All groups registering helps our program coordinators keep track of ongoing yearly mandatory diocesan requirements for students preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Please see the dropdown boxes below for grade level Confirmation preparation requirements for all student in grades 9-11 (Public, St. Joseph's Catholic Academy & Homeschool) that are in addition to the religious education received at St. Joseph's Catholic Academy, homeschool or CCD.
Various programs from Ascension Press are used in 9th grade CCD Classes every Sunday from 10:30am-11:20am. They deal with Searching for God in Daily Living. One of them is VENTURE The Bible Timeline for High School Teen Bible study by Mark Hart ("This is not your Grandma's bible study."). 9th grade students will also review basic prior knowledge about Catholic teaching and practice as well as the lives of the saints.
Through a unique learning experience, including powerful cinematography and workbook resources, teens will come to see the Mass and the priesthood in a dramatically new way. Altaration is designed to stir thought, create conversation, dispel myths, and inspire young souls to a deep and lasting love for the Mass. The goal of Altaration is not to fill teens’ heads with information but to pierce their hearts with transformation. - Ascension Press
The Search
Our ninth graders learn about this journey in between the event we call “birth” and the one we call “death”. This journey is taking you somewhere, or are you leading yourself to some kind of destination – a destination that could extend beyond your last breath. What do you want from your life during the in between? The questions are there. And, the answers are too.
Another program our 9th graders will use is CONNECTED: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation (God's creation, Dignity of Human Life, Environmental Stewardship, Poverty & Dignity of Work & Family Issues. Pure Faith by Jason Evert, is given to the students at the end of the year as a gift. It is a prayer guide written just for teens, to help deepen their interior life so that they can encounter God on a daily basis. It contains prayers for every occasion, prayers before and after Mass and Confession, prayers to various saints, and a wealth of advice on how young people can develop a rich prayer life.
Ascension Press also publishes our 10th grade CCD textbook: YOU. Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body by Brian Butler, Jason Evert, and Crystalina Evert. Theology of the Body curriculum for teens helps them discover God's plan for love and their life. John Paul II's landmark teaching engages teens minds and hearts. The curriculum is both catechetical and evangelistic. This program is presented to our 10th grade CCD Students each Sunday from 10:30am-11:20am
Why should I get Confirmed? What is the point?
9th & 10th Grade Confirmation Preparation
Ninth & tenth grade students CCD (public) students will meet with their teachers each Sunday at OLVCS from 10:30am-11:20am. St. Joe's Students are not required to attend Sunday classes as they receive catechesis on a daily basis during the school week. However, they are welcome to come on Sundays if they wish. Please see requirements below for ALL public, private, and home educated Confirmation Track Students.
9th & 10th Grade Required Components for ALL Students
Choose your Confirmation Sponsor to pray with you and walk with you on your journey towards Confirmation. (See form below):
*Requirements as per the Code of Canon Law:
A. Only one male sponsor or one female sponsor for a Confirmation candidate is to be used.
B. Must have completed the sixteenth (16) year.
C. Must be a Catholic who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Most Holy Eucharist & Confirmation.
D. If married, must be a Catholic who has received the sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Church.
E. Must be a Catholic who leads a life in harmony with the Catholic Church (registered and active [going to Sunday Mass] in a Catholic Church).
II. Documents Required from the Sponsor of a Person to be Confirmed:
A. A copy of sponsor’s Baptism Certificate, First Communion Certificate, Confirmation Certificate and if married, a copy of the Marriage Certificate.
B. A letter from the pastor where the sponsor is registered and active, stating he or she is registered and active and qualifies to be a sponsor.
SHYCON (Senior High Youth Conference) This event will be held this year on Sunday, October 22, 2003 from 11:00am-4:00pm at the Stokes Athletic Center in St. Francis University, Loretto, PA. The theme this year is: Do ALL things out of LOVE. Our parish students will be taken to this event by bus, meeting at OLVCS parking lot no later than 9:30am. Chaperones are needed. This event needs to be completed one time over the course of grades 9-11. A form of completion must be filled out: Form of Completion signed by a parent and returned to the DRE; Anne Bord. Registrations forms will be at the church office for pickup. They will also be handed out during all CCD classes. Registration forms are due back to Ms. Bord NO LATER than Friday, Sept. 29th for those wishing to participate. This year's Keynote Speaker is TBD.
Adoration with our Diocesan Bishop: Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak: This requirement needs to be completed one time over the course of grades 9-11. It will occur several times throughout this year; 2023. One of the times will be at Our Lady of Victory this year on Nov. 11th from 10:00am-11:30am. A form of completion must be filled out: Form of Completion signed by a parent and returned to the DRE; Anne Bord.
Grade Level Retreats: There will be in-person grade level retreats on Saturday, Feb. 3 of 2024 here at OLV in the Activity Center Social Hall:
9th Grade: Baptism, 8:30am-12:30pm
10th Grade: Gifts of the Holy Spirit & Parables: 10:45am-4:45pm
Commitment Sunday: 9th & 10th Graders (SCAHS, St. Joseph's Catholic Academy & Homeschool Students) will host the 11:30 mass on Sunday; Feb 4th, 2023. Mark your calendars please!
25 Hrs. Total of Community Service
Community Service ALL three years; 9-11, 25 hr/year, will get you involved in your parish and in our local community. Hours documented for HS may overlap. Any questions can go to the DRE: directorccd@ourlady of victory.com
Get involved with parish life to continue your journey after you are Confirmed as an adult in our church!
15 hours of individual community service
a. Serve mass. Older altar servers are great models to help train the younger students.
b. Be a lector, commentator or usher at mass. Please contact the Parish office at 814-237-7832 if interested.
Lectors proclaim the Scriptures during the celebration of the Mass. They must be Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist and regularly receive the Sacraments. Lectors prepare the readings with prayerful reflection and are skilled in speaking clearly and confidently. Lectors are prepared for this ministry by a parishioner appointed by the Pastor.
Commentators read the General Intercessions in the absence of a deacon. They may also make announcements before Mass or following the Prayer after Communion. Commentators are trained with the Lectors.
c. Serve as a volunteer for the Jared Box Project: Mrs. Cindy Kolarik needs volunteers for data entry work
regarding contacts across the country for the Jared Box Project: https://thejaredbox.org/. This is great for those
who need flexible volunteer hours. Please contact her if you are interested: cindy@thejaredbox.org.
d. Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: https://www.stvincentstatecollege.org/
10 hours of group service projects
Community Service Hours Form This includes a description of what you did and a brief reflection regarding how you felt about serving others. This form must be signed by a parent. Hours do not have to be in addition to required hours for school.
a. Participate in the Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by OLV CCD Confirmation Track Students; 01/20/24.
Sign up here to participate as a volunteer the day of the Blood Drive: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BADAF2FA7FFC52-46237560-confirmation
Canvas our area to enlist people in signing up to donate:
For an appointment, please visit RedCrossBlood.org
Search for: OLVconfirmation
Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
b. Serve as a volunteer for Vacation Bible School & Earn 15-20 service hours for the year by volunteering for that week.
c. Volunteer at the Parish Bazaar the first Saturday every November.
d. Serve as a volunteer for parish parties, such as the All Saints & St. Nicholas Parties.
e. Sing with the church choir. Are you in choir or band at school? You can earn your community service hours using your talents as a volunteer for our parish music ministry. Be a cantor, sing with the choir, play your instrument at one of our masses with or without the choir. Contact our music director, Joe Malafarina: joem@ourladyofvictory.com if you are willing to volunteer.
f. Participate in Living Stations during the months before Easter. Earn ALL your service hours for the year! Contact the coordinator, Mrs. Sue Clement, for more information: sueseitzclement@hotmail.com
*Non-Speaking Actor
*State Crew
*Narrator
g. Volunteer with the Knights of Columbus at Penn State Home Football Game Concession Stands. Monies earned fund K of C projects which benefit our parish. If you are interested and available please email: koc.volunteers@gmail.com Here are some things to consider when thinking about volunteering:
Students must be at least 16 years of age.
Parents are welcome to volunteer.
Transportation costs (such as the Game Day Shuttle) will be reimbursed.
Students will receive no less than six (6) Service Hours! Yeah!
Game dates/times:
2 Sep 7:30pm
9 Sep 12:00pm
23 Sep 7:30pm
14 Oct 3:30pm
28 Oct TBD
11 Nov 12:00pm
18 Nov TBD
9th & 10th grade contact; Anne Bord: directorccd@ourladyofvictory.com
Q: Why are there all these requirements for my child to be Confirmed?
A: The idea is to get your child involved in parish ministry and life of the church. If they do this when they are young, and it becomes part of their life, they are more likely to continue to serve their parish and our church, wherever they live in the future. Our kids are the future of our church. They need to serve the church as the church will need to minister to them. A relationship takes work from both groups; the church and its people. Our goal is to prepare Confirmation Track students to be an active parishioners the rest of their lives. We want them to feel welcome and see the spiritual and social benefits of being involved in parish ministry. Self-giving is an important lesson that needs to be taught early. Confirmation is not graduation from the Catholic Church. It should be the beginning of life as an adult within our church!
11th Grade Confirmation Preparation
09/10 (Mandatory meeting for ALL parents & Confirmandi)
*All 11th graders preparing for Confirmation*
(SCAHS, St. Joseph Catholic Academy & Homeschooled Students)
are required to attend an opening class on Sept. 10th, 2023 from 1:15pm-2:30pm in the church.
Eleventh grade students CCD students will meet with Deacon David Lapinski, according to his schedule for two Sundays each month: 09/24, 10/08 (Eucharistic Procession is in lieu of class), 10/15,10/29, 11/12, 11/19, no class in December, 01/07, 01/21, 02/04, 02/18, 03/10, 04/14 & 04/28 (1:15pm-2:30pm at the Activity Center or Church). ALL Eleventh grade students are who are in the OLV religious education program are required to attend these classes. St. Joseph's Catholic Academy & Homeschool students are welcome to join.
11th Grade (SCAHS, St. Joseph Catholic Academy & Homeschooled Students) Grade Confirmation program required components:
Parent/Youth Meeting for all students: 09/10/23, 1:15pm-2:30pm
11th Grade Retreat: Discipleship ZOOM Retreat through Bethany Retreat Services. Please see Deacon Dave to sign your child up if you have not already. The dates for this series of online retreats are: 12/03, 12/06, 12/10, 12/13, 12/17 (If a Confirmandi does not have a sponsor yet at the time of this retreat, a parent must attend this ZOOM retreat with their child.)
Day long retreat in the Spring: TBA - Cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. The only retreat requirement is to complete the Zoom retreat hosted by Sister Suzanne of the Bethany Retreat Center. See #2
SHYCON (Senior High Youth Conference) This event will be held this year on Sunday, October 22, 2003 from 11:00am-4:00pm at the Stokes Athletic Center in St. Francis University, Loretto, PA. The theme this year is: Do ALL things out of LOVE. Our parish students will be taken to this event by bus, meeting at OLVCS parking lot no later than 9:30am. Chaperones are needed. This event needs to be completed one time over the course of grades 9-11. A form of completion must be filled out: Form of Completion signed by a parent and returned to the DRE; Anne Bord. Registrations forms will be at the church office for pickup. They will also be handed out during all CCD classes. Registration forms are due back to Ms. Bord NO LATER than Friday, Sept. 29th for those wishing to participate. This year's Keynote Speaker is TBD.
Adoration with our Diocesan Bishop: Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak: This requirement needs to be completed one time over the course of grades 9-11. It will occur several times throughout this year; 2023. One of the times will be at Our Lady of Victory this year on Nov. 11th from 10:00am-11:30am. A form of completion must be filled out: Form of Completion signed by a parent and returned to the DRE; Anne Bord.
25 Hrs. Total of Community Service
Community Service ALL three years; 9-11, 25 hr/year, will get you involved in your parish and in our local community. Hours documented for HS may overlap. Any questions can go to the DRE: directorccd@ourlady of victory.com
Get involved with parish life to continue your journey after you are Confirmed as an adult in our church!
15 hours of individual community service
a. Serve mass. Older altar servers are great models to help train the younger students.
b. Be a lector, commentator or usher at mass. Please contact the Parish office at 814-237-7832 if interested.
Lectors proclaim the Scriptures during the celebration of the Mass. They must be Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist and regularly receive the Sacraments. Lectors prepare the readings with prayerful reflection and are skilled in speaking clearly and confidently. Lectors are prepared for this ministry by a parishioner appointed by the Pastor.
Commentators read the General Intercessions in the absence of a deacon. They may also make announcements before Mass or following the Prayer after Communion. Commentators are trained with the Lectors.
c. Serve as a volunteer for the Jared Box Project: Mrs. Cindy Kolarik needs volunteers for data entry work
regarding contacts across the country for the Jared Box Project: https://thejaredbox.org/. This is great for those
who need flexible volunteer hours. Please contact her if you are interested: cindy@thejaredbox.org.
d. Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: https://www.stvincentstatecollege.org/
10 hours of group service projects
Community Service Hours Form This includes a description of what you did and a brief reflection regarding how you felt about serving others. This form must be signed by a parent. Hours do not have to be in addition to required hours for school.
a. Participate in the Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by OLV CCD Confirmation Track Students; 01/20/24.
Sign up here to participate as a volunteer the day of the Blood Drive: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BADAF2FA7FFC52-46237560-confirmation
Canvas our area to enlist people in signing up to donate:
For an appointment, please visit RedCrossBlood.org
Search for: OLVconfirmation
Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
b. Serve as a volunteer for Vacation Bible School & Earn 15-20 service hours for the year by volunteering for that week.
c. Volunteer at the Parish Bazaar the first Saturday every November.
d. Serve as a volunteer for parish parties, such as the All Saints & St. Nicholas Parties.
e. Sing with the church choir. Are you in choir or band at school? You can earn your community service hours using your talents as a volunteer for our parish music ministry. Be a cantor, sing with the choir, play your instrument at one of our masses with or without the choir. Contact our music director, Joe Malafarina: joem@ourladyofvictory.com if you are willing to volunteer.
f. Participate in Living Stations during the months before Easter. Earn ALL your service hours for the year! Contact the coordinator, Mrs. Sue Clement, for more information: sueseitzclement@hotmail.com
*Non-Speaking Actor
*State Crew
*Narrator
g. Volunteer with the Knights of Columbus at Penn State Home Football Game Concession Stands. Monies earned fund K of C projects which benefit our parish. If you are interested and available please email: koc.volunteers@gmail.com Here are some things to consider when thinking about volunteering:
Students must be at least 16 years of age.
Parents are welcome to volunteer.
Transportation costs (such as the Game Day Shuttle) will be reimbursed.
Students will receive no less than six (6) Service Hours! Yeah!
Game dates/times:
2 Sep 7:30pm
9 Sep 12:00pm
23 Sep 7:30pm
14 Oct 3:30pm
28 Oct TBD
11 Nov 12:00pm
18 Nov TBD
9. Rite of Sending Forth
11th grade contact; Deacon David Lapinski: deaconl@ourladyofvictory.com
Confirmation Rehearsal: 05/08/24 @ 6:30pm Our Lady of Victory Church
Confirmation Date: 05/13/24 @ 6:00pm Our Lady of Victory Church
Q: Why are there all these requirements for my child to be Confirmed?
A: The idea is to get your child involved in parish ministry and life of the church. If they do this when they are young, and it becomes part of their life, they are more likely to continue to serve their parish and our church, wherever they live in the future. Our kids are the future of our church. They need to serve the church as the church will need to minister to them. A relationship takes work from both groups; the church and its people. Our goal is to prepare Confirmation Track students to be an active parishioners the rest of their lives. We want them to feel welcome and see the spiritual and social benefits of being involved in parish ministry. Self-giving is an important lesson that needs to be taught early. Confirmation is not graduation from the Catholic Church. It should be the beginning of life as an adult within our church!
Confirmation Service Hours Form
15 individual hrs./yr. are required & 10 group hrs./yr. are required
Confirmation-Service-Hours.docx - Google Docs.pdfConfirmation Sponsor Form
Confirmation Sponsor Certificate Form
sponsor Confirmation form.pdf