Service/Faith in Action Is Required in Conprep Yr 1 & 2
Confirmation Prep
Service Opportunities & Guidelines
Service/Faith in Action is required in ConPrep Yr 1 & 2
within your parish and with the greater community
Service, helping others, is a selfless sacrifice done from the heart for others. Sacrifice means it does not always “fit” into our schedule and we sacrifice our time in service for others.
- Within the St. James Community
Each year, Confirmation Prep Students in Yr. 1 & Yr. 2 are asked to choose ways to help their St. James community. Some of the options below are a substantial commitment; others are small, one-time events. Students are asked to choose either one large commitment or 2 - 3 small commitments per year within the St. James Community.
Childcare & Teacher’s Aides (LARGE COMMITMENT)
- When: Sunday morning, 9:20 – 11:15AM; once per month; September through April
What: Childcare for siblings of children in the Sacramental Prep Program for 2nd grade
Where: Room 5
Childcare room is all set up with toys, games, and plenty of movies. Snacks are provided. We need a team of at least 3-4 students. An adult is present in the room at all times.
- When: Sunday morning, 9:20 – 11:15AM; once per month; September through April
What: Teacher’s aide for Sacramental Prep classes (1x per mo.)
Where: Rooms 1 – 4
You will assist the teacher with crafts, set up and clean-up of classroom. Also, accompany children to the bathroom. We need at least two teams of 4 students each
Contact RE office if interested
Teacher Aide (LARGE COMMITMENT)
- When: August 8 - 19; 9 - noon
Who: Summer RE classes
Where: Family Center
We need a few students to aid in the classrooms or help Mrs. Lucash with the breakout session. You can volunteer for a few days, one week or both weeks.
WE HAVE 3 POSITIONS TO FILL FOR SUMMER SESSION 2017
- When: Monday evening; 6:15 – 7:30PM, weekly; September through April
Who: RE classes; grades 3, 4 and 5
Where: Family Center
We need a few students to aid the teachers in the classroom; accompany children to the bathroom or the office.
WE NEED 6 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS ON MONDAY EVENINGS.
- When: Sunday mornings, 9:20 – 11AM. Twice per month; September through April
Who: The first grade classes (2x per mo.)
Where: Rooms 1 – 4
You will assist the teacher with crafts, set up and clean-up of classroom. Also, accompany children to the bathroom. We need at least two teams of 4 students each
WE NEED 4 – 6 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS
Contact RE office if interested
Host Refreshments after Mass with your parent (SMALL COMMITMENT)
When: Any Mass during the year (sign up for 4 minimum) September – mid June
What: Serving all parishioners who attend the Mass
Where: Gathering Area
All refreshments are provided. You need to be accompanied by a parent. Set up before Mass: put snacks on trays, put out paper goods. After Communion: put out food & drinks. After Mass: host and replenish refreshment table as needed. Clean up after parishioners leave.
Particular help is needed at our First Communion Masses the weekends of: May 7/8 & 14/15!!
Contact Joann Held at for more details and to sign up
THIS IS A FUN AND EASY WAY TO HELP BUILD PARISH COMMUNITY. CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING WITH A PARENT FOR A FEW MASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. Instructions are provided.
Junior Lector (SMALL COMMITMENT)
When: Training and proclaiming for the Sunday evening Confirmation Prep Masses
Where: St. James Sunday evening Confirmation Prep Masses at 5PM (4 per year)
This is an opportunity for you to become involved in the Mass. If you love to read aloud and would like to be trained to proclaim the Word at Mass this is a great opportunity to get trained. You will become a “trained” lector once you are confirmed and this will qualify you to lector at future Masses. Contact Joann Held at for more details and training
Choir; Youth or CRASH (LARGE COMMITMENT, if on a regular schedule)
When: during the scheduled Masses for the choir you decide to join
Where: St. James Masses, including Confirmation Prep Masses at 5pm on scheduled Sundays
If you are already a member of a choir or chorus outside of St. James, we need your voice! This is a great way to participate in the Mass.
Contact Mr. Fred Proulx, our Music Director at
Usher (LARGE COMMITMENT, if on a regular schedule)
When: various times throughout the year
Where: St. James Masses
If you don’t like to read in front of a crowd (lector) and you don’t want to be an altar server, this is a great opportunity to help our Masses run smoothly. You will be trained and work with an adult usher at Masses, greeting, collecting money, and handing out bulletins.
Contact Mr. Erick Kelly, coordinator of Ushers at
Altar Server (LARGE COMMITMENT)
When: varies; sign up for Masses through coordinator (flexible schedule, usually 1x per month)
Where: St. James Masses during the year
This is a great way to participate at Mass and learn more about the Mass. Training is provided. We have a special need for older servers (over age 10). This could be a great way to serve the parish for the two years you are preparing for Confirmation. If you are already an altar server, great! That counts!
Contact Rafael Aviles at for more details and training
ALTAR SERVERS ARE GREATLY NEEDED. WE LOST MANY OF OUR SERVERS WHO GRADUATED AND ARE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE.
SCHEDULE IS FLEXIBLE
First Communion Retreat (SMALL COMMITMENT)
When: Saturday, April 14th; 9 – noon
Who: First Communion Families
Where: Family Center
This is a fun morning that has a variety of jobs that need to be filled. We will need about 8 volunteers to help make this event successful.
Contact the RE office if interested
WE NEED SEVERAL STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Palm Sunday Procession (SMALL COMMITMENT)
When: March 25th, 9:45 Mass
Who: first graders
Where: church
Help the liturgy team guide the First Graders in the Opening Procession and accompany them to CLOW to hear the Gospel, lead them back for the remainder of the Mass and sit with them.
Contact the RE office if interested
WE ONLY NEED 3 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Loaves & Fishes (SMALL COMMITMENT)
When: Saturday, March 17th (Tentative)
Where: St. James and St. Mary’s
Various ways you can help our parish prepare and serve our guests at St. Mary’s in Trenton on this special day. Sign-ups will be in the Gathering Area after Masses the two weekends prior to the event. This is a parish wide event that needs all your help!
YOU MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT IF GOING TO ST. MARY’S
Throughout the year there will be other opportunities that come up within the parish. You will need to watch the bulletin and emails from me to find out about them.
Confirmation Prep Service
with the greater community
- Outside of St. James
Service outside the parish, with the greater community, is also required. This can be service you are doing on your own or service you participate in with St. James to help the community at large.
Stay tuned for announcements throughout the year for opportunities coordinated through the RE office.
- Blanket making for Cancer Patients at RWJ
When: Monday, 11/20; 1 – 4PM OR Monday, 2/5; 1 – 4PM (1/2 days for HoVal Schools)
Where: St. James 12 students per session.
- MLK Day of Service
When: Monday, 1/15
Where: St. Ann’s Church in Lawrenceville. Details will follow
- Service Opportunities with CRASH
Yr 2 students (8th grade) are invited to join CRASH in any service event they host.
Contact Mary Ranbom at
Please be reminded:
Confirmation service is about helping PEOPLE.
Although it is wonderful community service to help with animals, this will NOT count toward Confirmation service.
Faith-in-Action
Reflection
Confirmation Prep
Guidelines for completing:
You are required to type a reflection describing all of the service you have completed. In writing your reflection, consider these questions as a guide. Hand this in or email to the Religious Ed Office on or before the due date below.
Describe my faith in action, what did I do?
How did this service help others?
Did I get anything out of doing this?
How did my actions help me better understand the needs of others?
How have I changed as a result of doing this faith in action?
Yr. 2 ONLY – Include an explanation of your choice of your Saint Confirmation Name.
DUE DATE:
ConPrep Yr 1 - March 25, 2018
ConPrep Yr 2 – March 4, 2018
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