Ministry Resources
Sacramental Preparation

The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. Our Catholic faith expects us to be fully knowledgeable and prepared before receiving a sacrament and by its graces moving on to the next stage of spiritual life.

Presently, the Press publishes programs that respond to needs of people receiving Confirmation or Marriage. We also have many individual titles, for both children and adults, lay and ordained, on every one of the sacraments.

Confirmation

A best-selling Confirmation program, I Have Chosen You, written by widely known catechist Joseph Moore, helps young people prepare spiritually—through the use of shared experiences, story telling, celebration, action, and reflection—to be fully initiated into the Catholic faith, and to belong more fully to Christ and his Church. Modeled on RCIA, this program fits well into one academic year if meetings are weekly, or two academic years if meetings are monthly. Included are discussion questions, prayers, and instructions for retreats.

For Confirmation Class Catechists — The I Have Chosen You program includes a Leader’s Guide, with detailed, ready-to-use lessons plans for twenty-four sessions, divided under three headings: Precatechumenate, Catechumenate, and Period of Purification and Enlightenment. It covers such diverse topics as the basics of a Christian lifestyle, a review of fundamental Roman Catholic doctrine, and a deeper look at faith as a young Catholic emerges into adulthood. Prayers and discussion questions for each session are also included.

For Confirmation Candidates — There is also a Candidate’s Journal for personal writing by the young person as an essential part of the Confirmation preparation process. The journal invites Confirmation candidates to take an active yet reflective role in becoming mature members of their faith. The journal includes exercises for all group sessions and retreat materials.

For Confirmation Sponsors — What does it mean to be a Confirmation sponsor? What does a sponsor do? This brief, to-the-point book — Please Walk Beside Me: A Guide for Confirmation Sponsors — tells sponsors exactly what they need to know in one easy-to-read volume: what the sacrament is, what makes a good sponsor, what roles are played by service and prayer in the program, and how to deal with a candidate’s doubts. The book also goes step-by-step through what a typical Confirmation rite is like. Designed to compliment the I Have Chosen You program, this book is the perfect tool for the would-be Confirmation sponsor.

Matrimony

The sacrament of Matrimony is a reflection of the holy union of Christ and the Church. Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is essential that each couple considering this vocation be adequately prepared to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love. Saying I Do is an affordable marriage preparation program that covers a wide range of contemporary topics. The facilitators are usually married couples themselves, who bring their rich experience to the preparation process.

The program is adaptable to almost any time-schedule: weekend programs, weekly sessions, individual couple mentoring, and correspondence or e-learning. It offers couples guidance on communication, finances, conflict resolution, sexuality, intimacy, family, and spirituality. It also addresses such tough questions as living together before marriage, and interfaith or interchurch marriages. Besides being preparation for this specific sacrament, it also helps individuals to reconnect with their faith.

For Couples — The Couple’s Book offers readings and exercises to initiate discussions that in turn will give participants a greater understanding of themselves, their partner, and their relationship. They will have the opportunity to begin their marriage journey armed with the tools that will help them face the challenges of married life and celebrate the blessings and joy that marriage gives.

For Facilitators — The Facilitator’s Guide employs a step-by-step approach to help married couples direct the sessions with confidence. Included are instructional materials, exercises, sure-fire discussion starters, and more. The facilitator is provided with clear explanations on how to prepare for each session, lists any supplies needed, and describes hoped-for session outcomes.

For Would-Be Facilitators — Are you nervous about being a facilitator? Or having difficulty recruiting people for the job? Yes, I Can is a brief guide for those who are considering becoming part of this ministry. It tells exactly what is involved, the time commitment, how to prepare material, how to work with a group, and why even couples who have never done this before are qualified to be facilitators.

Paulist Press also has a number of individual titles on marriage enrichment that can be viewed on the Paulist Press site. Enter marriage into the search box.