Adult Confirmation for Practicing Catholic

[CalledByHim]

Hi. I had missed my Confirmation as I was in a public (non-Catholic) school in high school. I did spend my elementary years in a private Catholic school. As I registered my child for Confirmation last year, I was reminded that I had not been confirmed.

I had spoken to my parish priest about it and he said they will try to offer classes. As it turned out, there wasn’t any adult needing confirmation, but only the Spanish people in our parish, so they had their classes (I suppose in Spanish). Pentecost came and went, my child got confirmed, and I resumed my inquiries at the parish office. I left a message with the Secretary with my details to pass to the parish priest. No response. After a couple of weeks, I called the parish priest and left a message on his voice mail about my issue and my availability for an interview but he never called back. A month later, a new parish priest took over.

Inquiries with other parishes would always categorize me into someone needing RCIA instruction. It seems to be a standard answer when they hear the word “adult”. I am not a convert. I am a baptized Catholic, never lapsed in my faith and practice, am attending monthly recollections with a Catholic group, have frequent (once a week or every two weeks) Confession, even more frequent Holy Communion, and am receiving spiritual direction. I practice norms of piety as often as I can…plus daily rosary with my kids, and First Friday masses. In the near future I plan to be able to attend daily mass.

I don’t think I need to be treated like someone just opening my eyes to the faith for the first time, with RCIA. I do not understand why it’s easier for the converts to get baptized AND confirmed at the same time while I get ignored requests in my parish office. My parish church’s indifference is very discouraging. Other churches’ standard replies are not much help either. It’s starting to hurt me and make me very anxious. I don’t need a fancy affair to be confirmed, and maybe just have it with my family and the priest or Bishop (and a sponsor if needed). I just need this Sacrament to complete me.

Please advise. Should I write to the Bishop?

Thanks in advance for your replies and may God bless you.

 

[JerryZ]

well maybe you should try to write to him explaining your situation

I hope you will get a positive response soon, in the mean time do not be discouraged, keep the faith up.

 

[eva77]

hi, am in the same shoes,i havn’t been confirmed either,but sadly i havn’t even made any effort to get confirmed am also a practising catholic,born and baptised in the church.
When i asked a friend about it she told me she had the same problem,but finally got confirmed the easter before her wedding,and she didn’t take classes because her work schedule wouldn’t allow it,but had a sorta 1 week crash programme. I guess it was the parish’s decision though. I don’t know about you, but where am from before the marriage spot in your baptism card is filled the prior spots have to be, my mum was a converted catholic her baptism,holy communion and confirmation were taken care of at the same time as marriage. I suggest you look further,talk to a receptive and understanding priest who’ll help out.

Wish you the best anyway.

 

[MaryT777]

RCIA is the norm here for any adult needing anything. It’s frustrating for people in your circumstance. People talk to the Priest, he says talk to the RCIA director.
I don’t know if their are official rules but once I had been told RCIA was not for baptized,
Catholics practicing the Faith.

Maybe that’s just what they now feel is needed.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Ideally adult confirmation classes are available, either in a parish or in a diocese. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Many parishes use RCIA as a kind of catch-all for adults needing sacraments of initiation.

You might check with your diocese to see if an adult confirmation program is offered somewhere in the diocese. You might also check with other parishes in your area to see if they offer confirmation classes for adults. (We usually end up with people from other parishes in our program, which we allow as long as they have the permission of their pastors.) If neither of those options is available, check with your parish about whether you could attend RCIA sessions as a way of preparing for the sacrament.

One way or another, the sacrament should be available to you.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Please advise. Should I write to the Bishop?

Thanks in advance for your replies and may God bless you.

Not before you speak to the new parish priest. He may have a completely different approach. Talk to him about your circumstances and see what he says.

 

[WaitingForJesus]

Not before you speak to the new parish priest. He may have a completely different approach. Talk to him about your circumstances and see what he says.

This is a great answer. I know how terribly frustrating this must be. But, fortunately you have a new priest and another opportunity. Here they would just have you go through RCIA with the unbaptized and Protestant converts. There is still much to learn even if you have been Catholic your whole life.

 

[Nicea325]

Hi. I had missed my Confirmation as I was in a public (non-Catholic) school in high school. I did spend my elementary years in a private Catholic school. As I registered my child for Confirmation last year, I was reminded that I had not been confirmed.

I had spoken to my parish priest about it and he said they will try to offer classes. As it turned out, there wasn’t any adult needing confirmation, but only the Spanish people in our parish, so they had their classes (I suppose in Spanish). Pentecost came and went, my child got confirmed, and I resumed my inquiries at the parish office. I left a message with the Secretary with my details to pass to the parish priest. No response. After a couple of weeks, I called the parish priest and left a message on his voice mail about my issue and my availability for an interview but he never called back. A month later, a new parish priest took over.

Inquiries with other parishes would always categorize me into someone needing RCIA instruction. It seems to be a standard answer when they hear the word “adult”. I am not a convert. I am a baptized Catholic, never lapsed in my faith and practice, am attending monthly recollections with a Catholic group, have frequent (once a week or every two weeks) Confession, even more frequent Holy Communion, and am receiving spiritual direction. I practice norms of piety as often as I can…plus daily rosary with my kids, and First Friday masses. In the near future I plan to be able to attend daily mass.

I don’t think I need to be treated like someone just opening my eyes to the faith for the first time, with RCIA. I do not understand why it’s easier for the converts to get baptized AND confirmed at the same time while I get ignored requests in my parish office. My parish church’s indifference is very discouraging. Other churches’ standard replies are not much help either. It’s starting to hurt me and make me very anxious. I don’t need a fancy affair to be confirmed, and maybe just have it with my family and the priest or Bishop (and a sponsor if needed). I just need this Sacrament to complete me.

Please advise. Should I write to the Bishop?

Thanks in advance for your replies and may God bless you.

God Bless! I am a Director of Catechetical Ministry at a local parish in So.Cal. Unfortunately, please understand every parish has different issues, needs and circumstances. Some parishes are so small in terms of registered familes, there office of Catechetical Ministry are volunteers, not paid staff. Nonetheless, if your local parish is not cutting it for you, then go seek advice at another local parish. I admire you are seeking Confirmation and you should,but do not get frustrated. This might hurt,but if you have waited all these years, waiting a bit more will not harm you.

As for RCIA? RCIA strictly speaking is for catechumens (unbaptized) not for Catholics who were baptized as Catholics. Yes some parishes place baptized Catholics in the RCIA process,no big harm,but it is not the preferred method. You need to be placed in Adult Confirmation/Sacrament preparation classes. Again, go speak to the new pastor and if no answers get answered or resolved, go somewhere else. It will happen…peace.

 

[TylerJordan]

Yeah talk to the new priest.

 

[Lancer]

I really applaud you for answering the Holy Spirit’s inspiration…to be Confirmed. FYI…hope the following is helpful.

Here is an example–St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Meredith, NH–of what most Dioceses or Parishes do (usually its run by the diocese to consolidate the candidates/instructors…in one or two locations…much more efficient/practical unless a specific parish has a class size number seeking Adult Confirmation)…so, what you need is an…Adult Confirmation Program…Saint Charles’ is 5 weeks long(1 night/2 hr class/per week)…and targeted to be completed to coincide with a scheduled Confirmation Liturgy celebrated by the Bishop. RCIA is not really the designed course of instruction for your Faith status.

Due to current pastor’s/priests’ “workloads”…many parishes just “lump” folks like you…into the RCIA group because the diocese does not take an active leadership role to set anything up for practicing adult Catholics who still need Sacrament of Confirmation. It is understandable in a practical sense…but really a pastoral disservice. You will get so much more out of a specifically designed Adult Confirmation Program for practicing Catholics…your classmates and you will have excellent comments and questions that will really enhance the Faith formation experience for everyone…including the instructor…“more bang for the buck”…so to speak.

So, I would speak to the new pastor…give him some time to get “his pastoral feet on the ground”…but remember…your bishop is singularly responsible by Canon Law for shepherding your soul to God…assisted by many as it has to be…and should be…but ultimately its the Bishop’s episcopal duty…so I would not give the pastor a pass on the Adult Program…if he does not take action on your behalf…soon!..“stick to your guns!”

Lastly, before you speak to the new pastor…you might check with the Chancery offices of the Bishop…and see if by chance their is an Adult Confirmation Program…somewhere in the diocese…and your out-going pastor is just not aware. See what Sacrament of Confirmation dates are on the bishop’s published calendar…that might be the best clue.

Pax Christi

Adult Confirmation Classes & Celebration
Adult Catholics (ages 18 and older) who have been** baptized, received First Eucharist and are practicing their faith but have not celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation** are invited to participate in a preparation program.

Interested adults must inform the pastor or a member of the parish staff in their home parish that they wish to prepare for the sacraments. They will then be advised of the process for this preparation and what is required of the candidate.

Preparation program schedules differ, but most involve six to eight sessions. They may take place weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, and may be offered by the parish, or several parishes collaborating on Adult Confirmation preparation. You will be advised of the options in your area. For questions about Adult Confirmation, please contact the Office of the Catechumenate at (603) 663-0173.

Class Schedule

Confirmation Classes at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Meredith, NH - 3/4/13 - 4/15/13

March 4th
Jesus’Promise of the Holy Spirit

March 11th
The Coming of the Holy Spirit

March 18th
The Action of the Holy Spirit in the Church

April 1st
Preparing to Live a New Commitment

April 8th
**Celebrating the Holy Spirit in Our Lives
**
April 15th
Living What We Have Celebrated

Confirmation Celebration will be Sunday, April 28, 2013 @ St. Joseph Cathedral, Manchester ,NH – 3:00 PM

catholicnh.org/faith/confirmation/#classes

 

[Cathhsmom]

My RCIA class had baptized Catholics. Some where there because they missed their confirmation. Others were there because they never got their 1st communion or confirmation. There were also unbaptized people as well as baptized members from other faiths who were converting. Don’t look at RCIA as a punishment or a bad thing. Those Catholic member who went to class with me were an inspiration and very helpful to this unbaptized person as I tried to figure out what Catholicism taught and why. It was helpful to hear it from regular people in the pews, and to see their determination to finish their sacraments of initiation. You may learn something new in RCIA, or help someone else on their walk. Heck, you may even find that by going through RCIA that you might want to help the church with this great ministry.

If you truly feel led to avoid RCIA, then call and make an appointment with the new priest. Just say that it is a personal matter if asked.

 

[CalledByHim]

Thank you all for the very helpful responses. I appreciate them very much.

I will talk to the new parish priest and see what he says. I agree with those who say RCIA is not the program for my situation. It is for the unbaptized, or baptized but uncatechized. Really, in my case it’s like teaching a middle school student the ABCs. I can use my time better for learning about the faith in a more “age- and experience-appropriate” Catholic doctrine sessions offered to me by another group in the Catholic Church.

I live in Toronto, by the way.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Really, in my case it’s like teaching a middle school student the ABCs. I can use my time better for learning about the faith in a more “age- and experience-appropriate” Catholic doctrine sessions offered to me by another group in the Catholic Church.

Don’t forget that in addition to what you might learn in RCIA – and you’ll probably learn more than you expect – as a practicing Catholic you have things to teach to other folks in RCIA. They’ll be able to see what it’s like to be Catholic not only from their catechists and sponsors, but from a real live Catholic who cares enough about her faith to seek out a sacrament she hasn’t received.