We are respectfully requesting that our children receive the Sacrament of Confirmation prior to graduating from St Paul's Beach, starting with the current 7th grade(Class of 2024).

Comments

#2

With daily religion classes and weekly Mass being an integral part of our children’s education, I would like an explanation as to why a school who prides themselves on providing an excellent Catholic school education requires our children to return after graduating from St. Paul’s to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation? Are we to assume that our children are not receiving the level of religious education that other students in our Diocese are receiving (since they are all confirmed upon leaving their schools)?
WE ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE WHO DOES NOT CONFIRM PRIOR TO EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATION (OUT OF 25 SCHOOLS).
I would like to know the reasons for returning in ninth grade as I am sure other parents want to know as well.
How can we open this up for discussion?

Susan Lewos-Schuh (Jacksonville, 2023-01-04)

#3

I have a daughter that was never confirmed. After all her years at St. Paul’s and she now continues with her Catholic education at Bishop Kenny but because of all of her extracurricular activities in high school, she couldn’t make the extra classes. My last daughter, now in 7th grade is following her sisters same path and it will be very upsetting for both not to be confirmed after all of their years in a Catholic school.

Robin Snyder (Jacksonville , 2023-01-04)

#14

I support this change

Sheila Carr (Jacksonville , 2023-01-04)

#19

This will insure our children follow through with the program. Once they move on to the 9th grade they will have other obligations and should not have to come back and do this when it should be (and is currently) being done throughout the diocese starting in the 7the grade.

William Dorazio (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-04)

#26

I would love the 8th graders to have the opportunity for confirmation

Jennifer Murphy (Atlantic Beach, 2023-01-05)

#27

I believe that like all Jacksonville and st Augustine diocese catholic schools our children Should recI eve the education and requirements needed to complete there confirmation during there eighth grade year. I have a prior graduate of st Pauls beach and I asked both father Kelly and Mimi to help us make a change. We as a community should gather together and support the way of our beliefs by providing the opportunity while our children are in school to make there sacrament. The argument I feel that has been made is not taking into consideration that our children will grown -and providing them the sacrament now allows them to take the next steps in our community. helping them feel welcome to return if they stray because they can return when they are ready to marry. I love our church and I want to see us indoctrinate as many children now while there families have sacrificed or choose to have there children here and now in our faith. Also the most important year of high school is there freshman year. We take away there focus by adding one more thing to do- when all other schools do not. We should make this happen for all the reasons I have shared. I pray that you hear us all and you agree and allow our children the same path all the other children receive in our Diocese.

Kerri Monahan (Jacksonvile , 2023-01-05)

#34

Our kids should be able to receive this sacrament as part of their religious education.

Haley McCown (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#37

I want my son to receive the sacrament of confirmation in his 8th grade year.

Amanda Valdez (Atlantic Beach, 2023-01-05)

#52

I believe it is in the best interest of our children to be confirmed in 8th similar to all other schools in the diocese.

Jill Gardere (Jacksonville , 2023-01-05)

#54

I fully agree with this petition. We have engaged our children in this Catholic school and would fully expect the normal Catholic Sacraments for this age to be included as part of their schooling and development in their faith, one of the main reason we’ve sent our children there! It
makes absolutely no sense that we are the only school in the diocese that does not complete this sacrament in 8th grade. Why would we not take advantage of their religious education in school to help them along?

Theresa Gonzalez (Ponte Vedra Beach, 2023-01-05)

#58

My kids should be confirmed at school with their peers in 8th grade as I was

Elizabeth Cummins (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-05)

#62

I am signing this because I am Catholic and I pay to send my child to Catholic education so that they can prepare and receive reconciliation m, communion AND confirmation while at elementary school!

Sharon Nazemi (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#71

I wish my current 8th grader had the opportunity to receive this sacrament with her class after attending St Paul’s for the last 10years!

Stephanie Huntley (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#74

I have two children attending St Paul’s and share the same feelings regarding confirmation.

Cathleen Southall (Jacksonville beach, 2023-01-05)

#79

I would like my child to receive confirmation as part of his education at at. Paul’s.

Jeff Mccrone (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-05)

#86

Changing back to 8th grade confirmation fosters greater community amongst parish and school families. There is greater risk of losing students being confirmed in 9th due to new schooling environment and less access to community faith resources.

Louise Eiber (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#87

I have a 7th grader, 5th grader and 2nd grader and feel it’s of the utmost importance to have my children confirmed in 8th grade. I am a graduate of St. Paul’s & BKHS and was confirmed in 8th grade at St. Paul’s. St. Paul’s confirmation numbers have been on the decline since confirmation was moved to 9th grade and I am eager to see this number turned around so that our children can be sealed in their Catholic faith and have the gifts of the Holy Spirit fully bestowed upon them as they embark on their new journey into high school, just like every other church in the diocese.

Alexis Gamel (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-05)

#90

I’m signing because I would like to see both my kids receive the sacrament of confirmation in 8th grade prior to graduating from St Paul’s. I also received this sacrament in 8th grade when I was at St Matthews and hope our family can enjoy this sacrament at the same time our other local families in this diocese celebrate.

Thao DeBelen (Atlantic Beach, 2023-01-05)

#92

I’m signing because I fully believe the reasons given above and want my children to receive this Sacrament while attending St Paul’s.

Sarah Longenecker (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-05)

#95

I agree that our students should receive the sacrament of Confirmation during the eighth-grade year. Each year fewer and fewer students are getting confirmed while attending ninth grade.

Ceri Gamel (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#98

It’s very special to do their confirmation with their 8th grade class. We are loosing some children in faith after leaving St. Paul’s, less than 50% go to Catholic High Schools and are able to continue Catholic education. We have to leave them ready to continue their faith after St. Paul’s.

Rosa Perez (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#104

I have 8 grandchildren at St. Paul’s Catholic School.

Emily Murphy (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-05)

#105

I feel that St Paul’s Jax Beach should follow the same protocols as other Catholic grade schools in the area I addition to all family members to include myself, parents, sister sister and all of my extended family having received the sacrament before completing grade school.

Ashley Cooney (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#109

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation prior to graduation is extremely important to me. I remember receiving Confirmation at San Jose Catholic and would like my son to have the same experience.

Colleen Utley (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#118

As a former Catechist who worked during the years of this change to 9th grade at St Paul’s and as an Aunt to several nieces and nephews currently in the school, I strongly feel returning to 8th grade Confirmation is by far the best for the youth of our parish. I will be praying for this change to take effect sooner than later. The youth of today need those graces now! Becky Jarboe

Rebecca Jarboe (Jacksonville, 2023-01-05)

#119

I know several students who attended SPB and are currently in 10th grade and up who have been unable to receive their sacrament of Confirmation due to conflict from the demands and of high school academics and commitment to high school activities.

Laura Meehan (Jacksonville , 2023-01-05)

#125

I Agree!!

Patrick Snyder (Jacksonville , 2023-01-06)

#128

I received the sacrament of Confirmation in 6th grade. If you think that is too young, I understand. But they should be receiving the sacrament by 8th grade!

Autumn Konrad (Jacksonville, 2023-01-06)

#132

The current plan does not accomplish the goal of keeping our children in the faith and is counterproductive.

Arthur Watson (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-06)

#134

I was confirmed in 8th Grade at St. Paul’s and it provided me a pathway to Catholicism as an adult and a father/husband.

Spencer Murphy (Jacksonville , 2023-01-06)

#139

It’s time to change

Brian Meehan (Jacksonville, 2023-01-07)

#140

I have not heard an explanation for why our parish should approach confirmation differently from all other parishes in the diocese. There is no reason that prior decisions on this subject shouldn’t be revisited in light of this petition.

Jason Marques (Atlantic Beach, 2023-01-07)

#142

My Godchild

Kristien daron (Jacksonville, 2023-01-07)

#145

My son, who also has received all his sacraments at St. Paul’s is also not confirmed because of similar circumstances.

Elizabeth Birch (Jacksonville, 2023-01-07)

#160

I was the second class to get confirmed in ninth grade and feel a lot of my class did not attend

Maggie Bolena (Jacksonville , 2023-01-09)

#161

My children had to wait until 9th grade and they resisted due to scheduling conflicts. Please allow St Paul's Beach to begin Confirmation as part of their 8th grade religion curriculum.

Paige Beach (Atlantic Beach, FL, 2023-01-10)

#168

my daughter has had several conflicts with high school commitments that is making confirmation very narrowly possible! it was such a special year when I was in 8th grade and graduation and confirmation were combined.

Shannon Delegal (atlantic beach , 2023-01-13)

#169

When you are trying to adjust to high school being the only kids who did not receive confirmation makes it even harder to assimilate. It makes you different when you are trying to blend in with the population A large percentage of kids change school after 9th grade because of the adjustment to high school and having this added pressure of these mandatory and threatening confirmation attendence classes makes adjusting to life's changes that much more stressful when suicide rates are already high.
Grades and college take precedent and then these kids miss out on confirmation that others already received. You think this this is fabulous to come back to the church. But, you are loosing people who may never receive that opportunity to receive this sacrament. When the church is unable to capture different generations of the future you are actually hindering your growth opportunities, the opposite of your goal These children who mostly attended and participated in catholic school environment for 9 years are being denied the opportunity of receiving a sacrament that has historically been accepted at this age. Children are missing out on their religious opportunity given in other schools and parishes. It's sad to be given so much at St Paul's and to have this experience taken away.

Leslie Moore (Jacksonville , 2023-01-13)

#172

I had to miss a Bishop Kenny Soccer Tournament my freshman year of high school because of the retreat. Me and my two other teammates/friends were told miss the retreat and go to soccer and not get confirmed or miss soccer and come to the retreat and get confirmed.

Isabella MacDonald (Jacksonville Beach, 2023-01-13)

#182

I am signing this petition because I believe the tradition of Confirmation in 8th grade does prepare and strengthen their faith as a Catholic youth, before the challenges they will encounter in high school.

Deborah Saggau (Neptune Beach, 2023-01-16)

#184

I’m signing because my child should receive the sacrament of Confirmation prior to graduating from St Paul’s. It is unreasonable to ask families to come back on multiple weekends for religious education when my child has been at St Paul’s since VPK. We should be in line with other other schools in our Diocese.

Jason Schuh (Jacksonville, 2023-01-17)

#185

They will get more value of the experience being immersed in it as an 8th grader at St Pauls.

Mark Boleky (Jacksonville, 2023-01-17)

#186

I support this

Michael Lewos (Jacksonville , 2023-01-22)



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