DASH 3 (typically 8th grade) Students

The purpose of DASH 3 is to focus on the meaning of faith and discipleship by:

  • Spending ample time on one’s prayer life and personal relationship with Jesus
  • Discussing the Holy Spirit and how to live out the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
  • Diving deeper into tenants of the faith in the Nicene Creed
  • Relooking at the awesome gift of the Eucharist
  • Learning more about our Catholic faith and Mass

OPPORTUNITES to ENGAGE in LEARNING

2025-2026 year students are asked to commit to one of two options. Due to the different curriculum, students are unable to flip flop between days.

Option 1:  Sunday 5 – 7pm  Youth Ministry approach to learning
This happens approximately 18x a year. There is not pattern to the days but we avoid meeting on a Sunday when students don’t have class on Monday. 2025-2026 DASH Calendar

  • The Sunday session format offers large group lessons, interactive games, small group discussion, and special prayer experiences. It’s important that a teen does not miss sessions as it is difficult to replicate for make-up work.
  • Students are allowed to miss 1 session per semester without makework. If a second absence is needed, make-up work will be required. This work cannot cover what we did in person but will cover 2 hours of learning.

Option 2: Monday 6-7:15pm Textbook/video based model
This happens every Monday that the younger students are in class.  Note that arriving on time at 6pm and staying the whole time is needed.
2025-2026 DASH Calendar

  • The Monday class is a more traditional approach to learning utilizing a well-known Confirmation program called Chosen from Ascension Press. It incorporates videos and conversation each session.
  • The Monday group may also include a Bible Study on the Acts of the Apostles and a few other Epistles in the New Testament.
  • Though the weekday options will not have the same variety or prayer experiences or large group activities, the level of content shared and forming trust in group dynamics requires that a student be present for every session.
  • Since students meet weekly for about 1 hour, students on Monday can miss 2 classes per semester, without make-up content unless it is an extra important lesson.  If, due to illnesss, there are more absences, make-up work will be required.

As stated on the Confirmation page, Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation (CCC #1309)  is aimed at: a person’s understanding of Church teaching, PRACTICE OF PRAYER (having a more intimate union with Christ and familiarity with the Holy Spirit)  through SERVICE (part of a responsibility of Christian life)  so that they have a strong foundation to know how to first LIVE and  then defend their faith.

 

THUS, there are ADDITIONAL (required) COMPONENTS for DASH 3/Confirmation for D3 ALL students.

  • Confirmation Meeting with Sponsor, Teen & Parent:
    attendance required meeting on: Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 PM 
  • Starting after sponsor meeting, “talk time topics” with Sponsors
    (Sponsors will be given initial topics at the meeting, and future topics will be emailed to them. It is up to the sponsor to initiate this task to engage in deeper conversation.)
  • Prayer Experiences (new term for your Faithboosters)
    • Each month, October – April, you are asked to create the habit, or become stronger in prayer if you already have a prayer habit, by spending time in prayer – via new experiences – every day for at least 15minutes.**Prayer Experience options are given in the Prayer Material that will be posted in a student’s Google Classroom.
    • These experiences are tried and true methods that teens (and adults) have used to discover their personal spirituality (best way to engage with God) and thus work on their prayer life and conversation with Jesus.
    • At the beginning of each month, a Prayer Experience reflection will be posted in Google Classroom to complete for the prior month.
  • Discipleship Project
      • Stock the Shelves Sunday – required D3 Large Group Service Project
        This is a large scale food drive throughout many Oswego neighborhoods. One weekend you put out door hangers on homes, and the following week you go back through the neighborhood to pickup any food they leave out and bring it back to St. Anne for us to sort and prepare to go to KCCFP.
        Sunday, April 12, 2026  – you choose time, but it will take about 1 hour.
        Sunday, April 19, 2026 – approximately 12:30 – 4:3opm

        • Students are ALSO required to choose their own project (options will be found in Google Classroom Material) that helps them affirm others faithfully by living out Works of Mercy or a Catholic Social Teaching.  Choose something (or a few items) that equal close to 10 hours.
        • At the end of the year, a Discipleship Project Reflection form will be assigned via Google Classroom about everything you did.
  • Attendance at #iNfUSed Confirmation retreat, presently on August 15, 2026
  • Final letter requesting Confirmation OR conversation with the Director of Confirmation