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Evangelizing
Catechesis in
Sacramental
Formation
JC Moreno, MA
Associate Director, Office of Evangelization
And Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

2.
Confirmation for Adults
Transforming the preparation process from a checklist of
requirements to an encounter with Christ
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• Meet them were they
are
• Catechumenal Model
• Evangelizing Catechesis
• Incarnational Catechesis
• Mystagogy
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Principles
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Resources available at:
•http://bit.ly/2017ND
•Tag-Confirmation for Adults
•Password: holy spirit
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History of Confirmations
for Adults in Galveston-
Houston
Adult Confirmations first celebrated
on Pentecost 1996 as a “one time”
Jubilee in preparation for Jubilee
Year 2000
Initial preparation guideline called
for six sessions – assumption of a
well-formed, active & practicing
Catholic candidate

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Confirmation-A
Sacrament in Crisis
‘Over the past decade, 85 percent of
young Catholics have stopped
practicing their faith within ten
years of being confirmed. For
generations we have said, “They will
come back!” But they have stopped
coming back. An increasing number
are not coming back to get married
or to baptize their children.’
Matthew Kelly, Dynamic Catholic
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This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely
the Messiah’s, but was to be communicated to the
whole messianic people. On several occasions
Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a
promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday,
and then, more strikingly, at Pentecost … Those
who believed in the apostolic preaching, and were
baptized, received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their
turn … Confirmation … in a certain way perpetuates
the grace of Pentecost in the Church. (CCC 1287-
1288)
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Effects of Confirmation
• It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which
makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”
• It unites us more firmly to Christ;
• It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;
• It renders our bond with the Church more perfect;
• It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to
spread and defend the faith, by word and action,
as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of
Christ, boldly, and never to be ashamed of the
Cross (CCC 1303)
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Issues
What are some of the catechetical problems
typically associated with Confirmation of
adults?
10 min. discussion
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Issues
• Variety of formation offerings
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Issues
• Different level of formation and
preparation of candidates
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Issues
• Disposition
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Issues
• Placement
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What would an ideal
process of formation
look like?
• Discuss
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Outline of Process
Candidate discerns with Pastor or his
delegate to determine appropriate
placement. (Not your everyday
interview).

17.
Outline of Process
Discernment
Interview
RCIA Proximate Immediate

18.
Discernment / INTERVIEW
 Any canonical impediments are identified and addressed
before entering the process.
 Candidate is interviewed in their home parish in sufficient
time prior to the start of the Proximate Catechesis classes.
This interview discerns readiness in the areas of:
 Knowledge of Faith
 Practice of Faith
 Participation in sacramental life, particularly the
Eucharist
 Prayer life
 Discipleship
 Questions are based on the content from proximate lessons

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Outline of Process
• Candidate participates in a
Retreat/Day of Reflection
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Outline of Process
• Service Opportunities
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A closer look
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Every lesson follows same didactical sequence:
1. Opening Prayer
2. Engage
3. Explore
4. Explain and Debrief
5. Connect
6. Extend and Enrich
7. Evaluate/Self Reflection
8. Closing Prayer
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Results
• Better engagement
• Deeper learning
• Ability to schedule process multiple times a year
• Catechumenal Model built in the lessons
• Proximate prep aims at evangelization
• Focus on adult formation
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Keep in touch
jcmoreno@archgh.org
Facebook.com/jcmoreno77
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