March 22, 2023

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

While conducting a confirmation retreat in the parish, the Department of Faith Formation discovered a vibrant confirmation program being run in an innovative way at the parishes of St. Augustine and St. Mary’s of Brushton.
After trying various confirmation program models at parishes where he’s served over the years, Father Raymond J. Moreau, pastor of St. Augustine’s in North Bangor and St. Mary’s in Brushton, says he feels his current model of delivery has been the most successful.

“He puts the onus on the students to complete all necessary requirements in order to receive the sacrament,” Soltero said.

Father Moreau currently runs the program with Deacon Lee Trudeau, director of Religious Formation for the parishes in North Bangor and Brushton, and three other instructors.

The program is divided into eight topics – God and Jesus Christ, Liturgy and the Sacraments, Belonging and Church, Scripture, Morality, Christian Vocation, Social Justice, and Holy Spirit and Confirmation – spread over two years. Each topic is covered in two classes, each two hours long. Classes are held only in the months of September, October, November and December.

“(Students) can choose to do it over time,” Soltero explained. “They are required to complete all eight topics. If they miss a topic, they can make it up when it comes around again.”

This year, the classes were held on Sunday afternoons, a time Father Moreau set after consulting with the participating students and families in a meeting before the start of the 2022-23 program.

Participants are also required to attend Mass weekly and sign in upon arrival or exit. If students and their families attend Mass in another parish, they are asked to obtain a copy of that parish’s bulletin and have it signed by the celebrant of the Mass.

“In addition to the Confirmation Retreat, (students) are also required to participate in the parish’s Lenten mission for two years,” Soltero said. “There is a service requirement and interview with the pastor.”

Soltero said the format of the program made it easier to recruit instructors.

“The other benefit to running four topics each year the way (Father Moreau) does is that he is able to obtain four teachers who each teach only one topic, two sessions, each year. The ministry is spread over four individuals who each give two Sundays.”

Soltero said it may seem at first glance like the program is too abbreviated to be effective, but she said her experience working with the students from the parish program convinced her otherwise.

“Based on my experience of this group, hearing the answers they gave to questions and what they said in the discussions, they are very well prepared and have a solid knowledge of their faith,” Soltero said. “They not only have knowledge, but they also have an ownership as well, which is something we rarely see in this age group. It’s what we strive for.”

Soltero also noted that Father Moreau attends nearly every class and is actively involved with the students’ preparation for the sacrament.

“When I left the retreat after Mass on Saturday, March 11, my heart was full of joy because of these young people who are faith filled and joyful about it,” Soltero said. “So many of our young people have turned away from the faith or have been driven away by societal pressures, but not this group. It is possible to foster great faith in young people, and we can see it in this group. At the end of the day, I felt very strongly that Father Ray’s students are certainly not done with God yet! Praise God!”