(At least one page per topic below, preferably with a photograph)
·Photograph
·My Profile
·The Sacraments
·My Baptism
·My First Communion
1.What is a Christian?
A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ.
2.What sacrament makes us Christians?
The sacrament of Baptism makes us Christians and followers of God.
3.Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit to his followers?
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers to give them courage and strength in their preaching of God to others.
4.What is the name of the day the Holy Spirit came? What does it mean?
The Holy Spirit came to his followers on Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is the Greek for fifty. Pentecost Sunday occurred exactly fifty days after The Last Supper.
5.How did the coming of the Holy Spirit change the apostles?
The Holy Spirit gave the apostles strength and courage and helped the apostles to preach the word of God.
6.Tell the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit from the Acts of the Apostles.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, on Pentecost Sunday the apostles were transformed when a mighty wind filled the room. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and gave them courage to speak the word of God. They immediately opened the doors and went out onto the streets preaching the word of God to passers by. On Pentecost Sunday the apostles urged others to become followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit, which appeared as flames of fire helped the apostles to be understood in different languages as they preached the Word of God.
7.How did the coming of the Holy Spirit change the apostles?
The Holy Spirit gave the apostles a renewed strength and courage to help them preach the word of God.
8.What does the Holy Spirit, which we receive in Confirmation, do for us?
The Holy Spirit, which we receive in Confirmation, gives us the courage to continue attending mass, continue saying our prayers and strengthens our belief in God as we grow older.
9.What did the apostles tell those who wanted to become followers of Jesus what they had to do?
Those who wanted to become followers of Jesus had to be baptised.
10.How many became followers of Jesus on Pentecost Sunday?
About three thousand became followers of Jesus on Pentecost Sunday.
11.What is a witness? a) How did the new converts give witness to Jesus? b) How do we give witness to him?
A witness is someone who sees an act or an event and acts on it.
a) Those who were converted gave witness to God by selling their property and possessions and giving it to those who needed it the most.
b) They broke bread together and praised God openly. We give witness to God by showing love to one another, helping one another and living Christian lives.
12.My Community, My Parish and My Diocese
Community and parish to be researched and written at home. Topics to include:
·Churches
·Priests
·Community groups
13.(a) What is a diocese? (b) What diocese do you belong to? c) What counties does it cover? (d) Name the patron saint of Meath
A diocese is an area or a group of counties governed by one Bishop.
We belong to the diocese of Meath.
The diocese includes some of Offaly, Meath, Westmeath, some of Longford, Dublin, and Cavan.
The patron saint of the Diocese is St. Finian.
14.Name the BISHOP of the Diocese of Meath? (b) Where does he live?
The Bishop of our diocese is Bishop Michael Smith.
He lives in Mullingar in Co. Westmeath.
Draw Map of Meath Dioceses (optional)
15.Why do we receive the Holy Spirit in Confirmation?
We receive the Holy Spirit in Confirmation to help us as we embark on a new journey in our lives and leave primary school progressing to secondary school. The Holy Spirit is given to us in Confirmation to give us the courage to continue our relationship with God throughout the new challenges we may face.
16.How did the Holy Spirit help Christians throughout history?
The Holy Spirit helped various people throughout the history of the church to live lives committed to loving God eg. Volunteers who work with organisations such as Concern or Goal helping people who live in poorer communities and also priests who work with various missions in developing countries. All of these people are guided by the Holy Spirit.
17. How did the Holy Spirit help Christians throughout history?
The Holy Spirit helped many different people throughout the history of the Church to go out and, with the help of others, to live lives committed to loving God. People who work with voluntary organisations such as Goal and Concern help people who live in poorer communities. Many of the priests who work with the Missions in developing countries are also guided by the Holy Spirit.
18. What is a symbol? Why are symbols used to represent the Holy Spirit?
A symbol is something that can have a special meaning because of the memory it holds for us or because of what it represents.
Illustration: Symbols in my life (Football club symbols, personal mementoes etc)
We cannot see the Holy Spirit but we know it exists. Symbols such as the mighty wind coming down upon the apostles on Pentecost Sunday were used by the Gospel writers because they wanted to describe it in some way and to make it clearer to those who believe.
The dove has become another symbol of the Holy Spirit because in the story of the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit appeared unto Jesus in the form of a dove.
Illustration: Symbols of the Holy Spirit
19. How did the apostles help those who wanted to become Christians after Pentecost? How many were baptised on the first Pentecost Sunday?
After Pentecost, whenever people were converted and baptised, the apostles visited them, laid their hands on them and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
Three thousand were baptised on the first Pentecost Sunday.
20. When did the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus?
The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus when he was being baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
21. Learn the prayer the bishop says asking God to send the Holy Spirit on those to be confirmed.
THE BISHOP’S PRAYER
Send your Holy Spirit upon us to be our helper and guide.
Give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding,
The Spirit of Right Judgement and Courage,
The Spirit of Knowledge and Reverence.
Fill us with the Spirit of Wonder and Awe in your presence.
22. Name the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Why are these gifts given to us?
Illustrations are used for each gift
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are
·Wisdom,
·Understanding,
·Right judgement,
·Courage,
·Knowledge,
·Reverence
·Wonder and awe in God’s presence.
These gifts of the Holy Spirit are given as gifts to help us in our lives right now and to help us live as followers of Jesus.
23. If we live by the gifts of the Holy Spirit they bear what are called ‘fruits’ in our lives. Name the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
·LOVE
·JOY
·PEACE
·PATIENCE
·KINDNESS
·GOODNESS
·GENTLENESS
·FAITHFUL NESS
·SELF-CONTROL
Ways that I can live a Spirit-live life (To be researched at home)
One illustration for each fruit
24. By renewing your Baptismal Promises (the promises made for you by your parents when you were baptised) what obligation do you undertake?
When we renew our Baptismal Promises at Confirmation we promise to love and follow the Christian way of life.
25. What does the Laying on of Hands by the bishop over you in Confirmation signify?
The Laying on of Hands by the bishop at Confirmation is a sign that the strength and love of God is being communicated to us. It is a sign that the Gift of the Holy Spirit is being given to us.
26. What are the words the bishop says when he anoints you in Confirmation with the Oil of Chrism?
In Confirmation the bishop anoints us with the oil of Chrism and says
‘Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit’.
27. What was olive oil used for in Jesus’ time and why is it used in Confirmation?
In ancient times olive oil was used for food and as fuel for lighting lamps. It was also used as a medicine and to soften and clean. The olive branch was the first vegetation seen by Noah after the Great Flood.
28. What is the olive branch seen as a symbol of today?
Today the olive branch is seen as a symbol of peace.
29. Preparing for Confirmation: How are you preparing for Confirmation at home, at school and in the parish?
To be researched at home
30. At Confirmation the bishop calls us by our new confirmation name. Why are our names very very special? Does God know us by our name?
What does he say to us?
Our names are very special. Everybody knows us by our name. God knows us by our name. He says
‘I have called you by your name, you are mine’.
31. What kind of people choose a new name when they are setting out on a new way of life?
People who are setting out on a new way of life often choose a new name, for example singers and writers.
In the Old Testament God sometimes changed people’s names when they took on a special job e.g. Sarai – Sarah, Simon – Peter.
When we choose a new name at Confirmation it is a sign that we are ready to begin living in a new way. We are ready to start working for the Kingdom of God on earth.
Often people choose the name of a saint for their Confirmation name because it reminds them of the example that saint offers us of how to live the life of a Christian today.
32. What saint’s name have you chosen for confirmation? What country was he/she from and what was he/she famous for or patron of?
To be researched at home – Description of saint and if possible a picture
33. Name the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity?
The three persons of the Blessed Trinity are, “The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit”.
34. How did St. Patrick represent it?
St. Patrick used a Shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. All the leaves come from the same stem and each leaf represents a different person of the Holy Trinity.
35. What does “the Incarnation” mean?
“The Incarnation” means Jesus died and rose from the dead.
36. What is a sponsor?
A sponsor is someone who helps us prepare for confirmation. A sponsor is a witness, sometimes a parent or a godparent, who introduced us to the Christian way of life and a person who gives us support throughout our lives.
37. Why do people or organisations look for sponsorship?
Often people give sponsorship e.g. Financial Sponsorship to support a football team. In return, such teams are able to keep their organisation up and running with the sponsor receiving advertisement.
38. What qualities make a good sponsor?
A sponsor is someone who is caring, generous and supportive towards us. It is usually someone who we can ask for advice and someone we trust and look up to.
39. Who did you choose for your sponsor?
To be researched at home - Photograph and description
40. What happens at “the consecration” in the mass when the priest says the words:
“TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT: THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
Over the bread, and these words over the wine:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT:
THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT.
IT WLL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.”
At the consecration in mass the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
41. Name the Ten Commandments.
42. Reflection:
How do I show that I am a Christian? (possibly illustrations)
Who is God for me?
I am looking to receiving the Holy Spirit because....