Registration begins in August for 2025-26. We are using the Chosen program again this year. Sessions will be offered weekly to be completed at home, with a Sunday monthly gathering at the parish center, 10:30 am-noon (schedule below). The best way to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and hear the Word of God at Mass each Sunday with family and community. First in-person gathering is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28th.
Registration will be under Faith Formation tab; nothing to print, just fill out and submit! You can stop by during regular office hours M-W & F 9:30 am – 4:00 pm also. Completed forms and payment are expected before sessions begin. Payment can be made via on line giving, checks are to be made out to: Good Shepherd Parish, or pay with cash. A new medical information/student release form & electronic release form have to be filled out each year, and please upload or bring a copy of the child’s sacrament certificates: if he/she wasn’t baptized here on Martha’s Vineyard, and/or First Communion, if celebrated off island.
2025-26 Registration fees:$100/child or $200/family maximum. Additional sacramental fee of $50 will be paid in the spring to cover the cost of additional expenses and robe rentals.
Contact the parish office 508-693-0342 for more information. Sue Pagliccia and Esther Teves are the faith formation leaders.
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Sunday Mass attendance is mandatory. God’s Third Commandment is to keep holy the Lord’s Day. The sign-in book will be at the Church main entrances beginning Sept 6/7 for students who will then also give responses to 3 questions about the weekly Gospel and Father’s homily via website at https://goodshepherdmv.com/student-sunday-mass-questions/. If families are off island, the student is expected to bring a bulletin signed by the priest at the off-island Church with doing the Mass Questions. Students (ideally with his/her family) will be expected to come to the Sacrament of Confession at a minimum during Advent/Lent, Stations of the Cross at least once, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration and give some time in service to the parish and/or community. Video links and workbooks will be provided at our first session.
Confirmation is currently celebrated in ninth grade. The diocesan requirement is 2 years of preparation prior to receiving the Sacrament, which is typically in the spring of freshman year; otherwise Confirmation will be delayed until obligations are met. If a ninth grader or older is seeking the Sacrament, without completing faith formation in 8th grade, he/she will do the Great Adventure series the first year, and Chosen in the following, 2nd year along with other above-listed expectations. In addition to completing the weekly videos/workbook and attending monthly gatherings. Date and Location for Sacrament of Confirmation TBD.
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Join us in congratulating our parish high school students who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation, Sunday, April 6, 2025 anointed by our pastor, Rev. Paul C. Fedak at St. Augustine’s Church, VH: Hollis Oliver, Daniel Garcia, Peter Williamson, and Matt MacMillan.
Confirmation Prep: CHOSEN Schedule 2025-26
In-Person: 10:30 am-noon Parish Center, or time as noted when at St. Augustine’s
Sunday Date: Weekly Lessons
2025
9/28/2025 Lesson 1: “Why am I here?” (An Introduction to Chosen)
10/ 5/2025 Lesson 2: “What makes me happy?” (Discovering God as the Source)
10/12/2025 Lesson 3: “What’s your story, God?” (A Look at Salvation History)
10/19/2025 Lesson 4: “How do I know God is real?” (Understanding Divine Revelation)
10/26/2025 Lesson 5: “Who is Jesus?” (The Person and Mission of Christ)
11/ 2/2025 Lesson 6: “Why be Catholic?” (Discovering the Church Jesus Founded)
11/ 9/2025 Lesson 7: “Where am I going?” (A Look at the Last Four Things)
11/16/2025 Lesson 8: “How do I get there?” (The Power and Purpose of the Sacraments); test lessons 1-8
11/23/2025 Lesson 9: “When did my journey begin?” (Baptism, Your Initiation into God’s Family)
11/30/2025 Thanksgiving Break – no session
12/ 7/2025 Lesson 10: “Why tell my sins to a priest?” (The Healing Power of Confession)
12/ 8/2025 at St. A’s: 6-7PM Mass for Immaculate Conception, Holy Day of Obligation; Adoration & Confession
12/14/2025 Lesson 11: “How does God help when it hurts?” (Anointing of the Sick and Redemptive Suffering)
12/21/2025 Lesson 12: “Who is the Holy Spirit?” (Meeting the Third Person of the Trinity)
12/27/2025 Christmas Break – no session
2026
1/ 4/2026 Lesson 13: “What does the Holy Spirit do for me?” (Gifts for the Journey)
1/11/2026 Lesson 14: “Why have I been Chosen?” (Sealed and Sent in Confirmation)
1/18/2026 Lesson 15: “Why do I have to go to Mass?” (Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist)
1/25/2026 Lesson 16: “What does it mean to say, I do?” (Marriage, a Sign of God’s Love)
2/ 1/2026 Lesson 17: “Who’s calling?” (Holy Orders and Vocational Discernment); test lessons 9-16
2/ 8/2026 Lesson 18: “Are you talking to me?” (Getting to Know God Through Prayer)
2/15/2026 at St. A’s: 10AM-Noon Adoration of Blessed Sacrament & the Rosary; SET Lesson: Modesty/Humility
Lesson 19: “Who is Mary?” (Meeting the Mother of God–and Your Heavenly Family)
2/22/2026 Winter Break – no session
3/ 1/2026 Lesson 20: “What would Jesus do?” (The Beatitudes as a Path to True Happiness)
3/ 3/2026 at St. A’s Tues. 6-7 PM — Stations of the Cross and Confession
3/ 8/2026 Lesson 21: “Do I have what it takes?” (Building Virtue–Your Spiritual Workout)
3/15/2026 Lesson 22: “Why wait?” (God’s Plan for Love and Sex)
3/22/2026 Lesson 23: “How do I build the kingdom?” (Saying “Yes” to the Mission of Christ and His Church)
3/29/2026 at St. A’s: 10AM-Noon—PALM SUNDAY begin with practice for Rite of Confirmation.
Lesson 24: “Where do I go from here?” (The Journey Continues) and final test lessons 17-24
Date for Sacrament of Confirmation: TBD
Lessons must be completed each week, both videos & workbooks.
Sunday Mass attendance is mandatory. Sign in at the main entrance at either St. Augustine’s or St. Elizabeth’s every week. Remember to fill out the 3 Questions form online, regarding that Mass, https://goodshepherdmv.com/student-sunday-mass-questions/ and submit to Ms. Sue by Tuesday of same week. If off-island, bring in a Church bulletin, signed by the priest there & answer the Q’s. Answer also if watched remotely, or missed.
Sacrament of Confession mandatory at least one time during both Advent and Lent. (regular times, or as scheduled)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, outside of Sunday Mass is mandatory, minimum of 2x as scheduled.
Stations of the Cross mandatory at least one time during Lent, as scheduled.
Community Service mandatory whether through our parish, or out in wider island community. 10-20 hours
