1st Communion & Confirmation

[podger]

HI my 8 year old will be receiving 1st Communion & Confirmation
with his sisters this Sunday.
I tryed all week to find out when Father was going to give them Confession.
Finally today I get a hold of Father and I had to make a special appointment for them with another priest who just so happens to be saying mass on Friday morning here in town.
I don’t understand this? shouldn’t there have been a day set aside for ALL the children going to 1st communion & confirmation to have confession before hand?
I’m very dissapointed that Father does’t seem to place any importantance on being in a state of grace before receiving these sacraments.:banghead:
What next?

God Bless; Kathy

 

[puzzleannie]

typically this would have been done several weeks ago if there was a plan for the whole class, perhaps with a communal penance service. Maybe there was an announcement at the time that you missed? Other parishes also hold meetings to help parents prepare the children for confession, but expect them to take them to confess at the regularly scheduled times of the parish, when the parents go.

 

[podger]

typically this would have been done several weeks ago if there was a plan for the whole class, perhaps with a communal penance service. Maybe there was an announcement at the time that you missed? Other parishes also hold meetings to help parents prepare the children for confession, but expect them to take them to confess at the regularly scheduled times of the parish, when the parents go.

There were meetings and such but no communal penance service.
My 8 year had his first confession but that was aprox half a year ago and father cut him of and wouldn’t let him finish and this happened to the girls also.

God Bless; Kathy

 

[EasterJoy]

typically this would have been done several weeks ago if there was a plan for the whole class, perhaps with a communal penance service. Maybe there was an announcement at the time that you missed? Other parishes also hold meetings to help parents prepare the children for confession, but expect them to take them to confess at the regularly scheduled times of the parish, when the parents go.

There were meetings and such but no communal penance service.
My 8 year had his first confession but that was aprox half a year ago and father cut him of and wouldn’t let him finish and this happened to the girls also.

God Bless; Kathy

At our parish, once your child has made his or her First Confession, then you, the parent, would be strongly encouraged to take them with you regularly thereafter. (In our case, in homily after homily, to be exact.) It is presumed that no one is more concerned with the state of your child’s soul nor more responsible for seeing to his or her regular care than you are. As far as confirmation: again, it is encouraged and hoped that these young adults will have established a habit of regular confession by then.

It is very difficult to assess someone else’s penance experience, since you obviously don’t and can’t know exactly what happened firsthand, but only have one side. Still, your child’s perceptions are probably the most vital part of the reality. You could talk to your pastor about this in very general terms.

Since you’ve probably had experience with him as a confessor, you might be as good as anyone to judge if he’s a good choice for your child. If he’s not going to be the right one, you might look to a different local parish for a regular confessor for your children.

Good luck!

 

[puzzleannie]

There were meetings and such but no communal penance service.
My 8 year had his first confession but that was aprox half a year ago and father cut him of and wouldn’t let him finish and this happened to the girls also.

God Bless; Kathy

once they have made their first confession, it is the parent’s responsibility to take the children to confession on a regular basis (or of course immediately if they indicate they want to go). In this diocese children prepare for and make first confession in 2nd grade, and first communion in 3rd grade, so obviously some time will elapse between 1st conf. adn 1st comm. We encourage parents to take them to confession several times in between, esp. shortly before 1st comm, but can’t make them. It is the parent’s responsibility.

you can take them to any priest or any parish, esp. a priest whom you have found to be a good confessor, if you think that would be better than your parish priest.