Communion Query

[CharlesRyder]

Hi All,

So I grew up and was baptised and recieved my first communion within the RC Church. However, I was never confirmed and spent a few years drifting about before coming back to Christianity within an Anglo-Catholic Church of a high church persuasion though definitely not RC. For the past few months I have felt the tug of home grow ever stronger and wish to reconcile myself with the holy mother church.

So about a month ago, I went to confession at a parish a good bit away from my own and in addition to other sins confessed my apostasy. I was told by the priest there that I would have to register with my parish before being received back into the church and I assume make confirmation. All is well and good, but I was curious about when/if I would be permitted to take holy communion again. I intend on attending Maundy Thursday services as well as confession again beforehand, this time in a parish where I actually live.

So when or if is it appropriate for me to partake of the sacrament again?

Thanks for any answers and have a blessed Triduum

 

[Maximilian75]

@FrDavid96
@(name removed by moderator)
@buc_fan33

Ask your pastor. I can’t see why not, if you aren’t in a state of sin, but i’m also a lay person, soo…

 

[Irishmom2]

Since you have been to confession, I don’t see why you couldn’t receive communion. Children receive communion that have not yet made their confirmation.
But please wait for a more official answer.

Welcome home!

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I was told by the priest there that I would have to register with my parish before being received back into the church and I assume make confirmation.

This part seems rather strange to me. If you were baptized and received your first Communion in a Catholic Church, and you’ve been to Confession, you should be good to go - Confirmation should be an objective to discuss with your pastor, but registration (while nice) shouldn’t be a prerequisite.

 

[KatyCatholic]

In my opinion, from reading your description, your description of apostasy is not truly apostasy. It takes a formal and public declaration against the church, I’d imagine some paperwork as well.

Agree with the registration … that’s just a conventional way to keep track of parishoners.

As a baptized catholic, you are bound by canon law, simple enough. So, once a catholic, always a catholic, pretty much, unless you make that formal and public declaration that you reject the Church. Even then, a simple profession of faith could get you back in, but that’s not the topic!

For confirmation, yes, go to your local parish, registration will help ensure that you are in their system, and sign up for Confirmation Sacrament Preparation. I’m sure it’s way too late for sacrament prep classes for this year, but this fall, you can sign up and at Pentecost next year, you can have a bishop lay his hands on you just like the Apostles laid hands on those they confirmed!

Best of luck, sure the Spirit will guide you without fail.

 

[KatyCatholic]

If you have discerned the body (know it’s the real presence and you have no known mortal sins), you’ve been through first communion, you’ve obviously practiced the wonderful sacrament of reconciliation (that was nice, huh?), just go to Mass, participate, go get the Eucharist!

Any catholic can go to any catholic mass, participate, and receive the Eucharist without being a “registered parishoner” … as long as the standard conditions are in place (fasting, sinning, believing … etc.)

 

[1ke]

I was told by the priest there that I would have to register with my parish before being received back into the church

This is categorically not true.

You have been to confession and received absolution. You may receive communion as long as you are in a state of grace.

You are a member of the parish in whose boundaries you live. Registration is not required but certainly helpful for keeping track of people and having contact information.

Talk to your pastor about being confirmed.

Welcome home.

 

[Augustinian]

For confirmation, yes, go to your local parish, registration will help ensure that you are in their system, and sign up for Confirmation Sacrament Preparation. I’m sure it’s way too late for sacrament prep classes for this year, but this fall, you can sign up and at Pentecost next year, you can have a bishop lay his hands on you just like the Apostles laid hands on those they confirmed!

Not every diocese and every parish has the same Confirmation Sacrament Preparation schedule. It might be fine to move it along for this individual on an expedited basis, and be confirmed within a relatively short period of time. Of course that depends on how informed the OP already is, and the policy of the parish in question.

 

[FrDavid96]

Hi All,

So I grew up and was baptised and recieved my first communion within the RC Church. However, I was never confirmed and spent a few years drifting about before coming back to Christianity within an Anglo-Catholic Church of a high church persuasion though definitely not RC. For the past few months I have felt the tug of home grow ever stronger and wish to reconcile myself with the holy mother church.

So about a month ago, I went to confession at a parish a good bit away from my own and in addition to other sins confessed my apostasy. I was told by the priest there that I would have to register with my parish before being received back into the church and I assume make confirmation. All is well and good, but I was curious about when/if I would be permitted to take holy communion again. I intend on attending Maundy Thursday services as well as confession again beforehand, this time in a parish where I actually live.

So when or if is it appropriate for me to partake of the sacrament again?

Thanks for any answers and have a blessed Triduum

Once you are a Catholic who receives First Communion, you are eligible to continue receiving Communion again for the rest of your life. Of course, mortal sin makes one temporarily ineligible to receive until being absolved in Confession (that’s what is relevant for your question). So, there’s nothing preventing you from resuming receiving Holy Communion at any Catholic Church.

Registering a a member of a parish has no relevance in canon law. Catholics (otherwise not impeded) have a right to receive the Sacraments. Nothing about being un-registered stands in the way of that right. No priest should ever tell anyone that. On the other hand, suggesting parish registration is fine.

Confirmation is a different sacrament. While you should talk (as soon as possible) to your own pastor about Confirmation, likewise, the fact that you haven’t been confirmed has nothing to do with being eligible to receive Communion.

By now (late Holy Thursday), you’ve probably been to Confession again (as you posted) and hopefully the priest gave you better information.