Confirmation GIFT (Gathered in Faith Together) Meetings

As part of their preparation for Confirmation, the eighth grade students from the RE Program and St. Philip the Apostle School and their parents or sponsors attended four GIFT (Gathered in Faith Together) meetings. At the first meeting on October 2, the students and their parents met in the church to hear a presentation from Bill Johnson, youth minister at Marmion Academy in Aurora. They also received their Confirmation packet, which contained all of the necessary materials for them to complete required projects during the months ahead. The second GIFT meeting, which both students and parents were asked to attend, was held on Wednesday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. The third GIFT meeting for students and their parents was held on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym with Vince Zaprzal as the presenter. The fourth GIFT meeting on January 15 was from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and was for the students and their sponsors. Each student presented his/her sponsor with a poster explaining why they chose them as a sponsor. Sponsors and candidates also practiced that evening for the Confirmation service. The Confirmation liturgy was held on Sunday, January 19, at 3:00 p.m. with Abbot Austin Murphy, OSB as the presider. Below are pictures from the GIFT IV meeting on January 15.

GIFT IV Candidate & Sponsor Meeting