Barbara+Blanco+Article

= Capstone ARTICLE Page = Due Date: December 5, 2014
 * 1)  Write an article for publication [2] that tells the story of your final project so that others can learn and apply what you did to their own parish or school setting.
 * 2) This Article should be in enough detail that a reader could replicate your project
 * 3) Include a bibliography section if needed, in compliance with fair use and copyright guidelines.
 * 4) Although we do not require you to publish this article, we encourage you to submit it for publication to a journal, blog or newsletter.

//* Article Follows *****//

Are you called or chosen? By Barb Blanco

Engaging teenagers in this digital age can be daunting challenge. Add to that, the task of exciting and prepping them for their Confirmation journey. Presenting the sacrament to sophomore students in a language they can understand, and quite frankly, in a way they would buy into it was my challenge. Brand new in my position, in the midst of yearly planning and reviewing the bland and boring Confirmation materials currently in place gave way to the urgency of my predicament. My options were: A) Play it safe, take no risks and continue using what’s in place or, B) go with your gut and make the changes so desperately needed from get go. Option B was the only way I could go or I’d risk losing my own religion in the process! I reviewed several new options in the market, but my aim was high. I needed a product that would capture and engage students immediately, three minutes or less is my window of opportunity; I knew that much. And let’s not forget parents, I needed to reignite and peak their interest anew. Videos, modern music, great sights and sounds and young presenters were a must, or I’d surely have teenage dozers, and adults no doubt. I wanted my students to recognize what a call from God sounded like, looked like and even tasted like, so they would take seriously the idea of truly being **chosen** by God for a magnanimous task. High demands and standards, I know, but Ascension Press producers of the Chosen Confirmation program, was up to the challenge and delivered a product that met all the requirements. My search was over, my timelines would be met, and students wouldn’t have nap-time during religion class. Most importantly, they would be excited about their faith, because they understand it.

Do yourself, your students and for that matter everyone, a favor. Update your Confirmation program! Don’t bore your audience to death. I remember sitting through several mind-numbing sacramental preparation meetings thinking, “There has got to be a more exciting way to present our faith, and, seriously has no new material entered the catechetical world?” I was right on both counts, but we can’t be afraid to search, find and put new programs in place. The livelihood of our faith depends on it. If you’re looking for a fresh exciting way to engage your Confirmation students, give the Chosen Program and look-see. The program call teens to a personal encounter with Christ, equips them well to receive the sacrament, offers visually striking, fast-paced videos, features well known youth experts who explain our faith in unexpected exciting ways, is faithful to the Magisterium, offer catechist user friendly guides and all guides and tools necessary for a youth Retreat and Penance Service. In addition, they offer tons of free materials on-line, including videos.

Visit your one stop shop for Confirmation program materials. Ascension Press, //Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation:// []. Reignite the fires and don’t allow your students to miss their rightful Chosen place in the church.

Works Cited "Catholic Faith Formation Materials - Ascension Press." //Catholic Faith Formation Materials - Ascension Press//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. "Catholic Faith Formation for Teens - Chosen: A Catholic Confirmation Program." //Chosen A Catholic Confirmation Program//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.