Confirmation & First Communion Together

[PAX777]

The Diocese of Phoenix is rolling out that the Sacrament of Confirmation & First communion will now be held together for 3 graders and older.

The full program will be rolled out from the Bishop in this week Catholic Sun. catholicsun.org/

Please note some of the details may not be completely accurate but are paraphrase from this week Homily.

There are 2 - Roll out Models those parishes can adopt.

First is the 3 year model:

oFirst year all High School

oSecond year all Middle school

oThird year will be all Elementary 3rd grade and higher

Second is a Family Model

oAll Children 3rd grade and higher & adults that have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation will learn together.

NOTE: Our parish is adopting the second Model but I do not know all the logistics…

The Bishops Reasoning;

oFrom Church history, The Sacrament was ministered earlier in the formation of young Catholics. Going back to those roots.

o40-60% of Catholic Youth are not receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

oChanging the concept that Confirmation is a “Graduation” & the presumption that the Sacrament is a Rite of Initiation. The Sacrament is a Gift of the Holy Sprit.

oFocusing on the Formation of Catholics as a life long process, as a Family & community with all the Sacramental Gifts.

I do not know how this will all work out but my prayer and the Holy Sprit will be with us all the Way.

 

[kmktexas]

I recently heard of a similar initiative here in the Galveston-Houston diocese. For parishes that have a RCIC program, the children receive First Communion and Confirmation the same year (and Baptism, if not already Baptised). Not all parishes have enough kids who are converts to have such a program. Our parish has about the same number of second graders and 3rd + graders making First Communion each year but they aren’t as a rule converts so they go through regular Sacrament prep.

Since the “regular” age for Confirmation is still 10th and 11th grade, this makes for some interesting situations. My son has a classmate who in 3rd grade was Baptised, Confirmed and made first Communion but his 5th grade sister, who received her other two Sacraments “on schedule” won’t be confirmed for at least another 5 years.

This is one (of many) area where I have little knowledge although a few other posters here have mentioned the historical reasons and putting the Sacraments into a different order.

 

[ImperialPhoenix]

PAX777:

o40-60% of Catholic Youth are not receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

I know I would fit into that statistic .

 

[Hesychios]

Personally I think that this is a good move, although it will raise some difficulties for people in the interim.

Restoring the practice of having baptism, confirmation and communion for the first time in one ceremonial event would be the ideal. I just don’t see that happening soon because of the cultural need to have a “coming of age” event which the first Communion and Confirmation events usually supply.

Nevertheless this is a move in the right direction.

+T+
Michael

 

[KCT]

Hesychios:

Personally I think that this is a good move, although it will raise some difficulties for people in the interim.Michael

I’ve heard people speak against it, but I think sometimes it stems from a lack of understanding of the sacrament. If we persist in the notion that it means teen agers “Confirming their faith”, or deciding for themselves to be Catholic, we’re missing the boat. Maybe if kids were confirmed younger, and had the grace of the sacrament, they would stay in church!

It’s a tough call because we’ve gotten used to Confirmation in jr high or high school. Change can be hard. --KCT

 

[Hesychios]

KCT:

Maybe if kids were confirmed younger, and had the grace of the sacrament, they would stay in church!

Possibly, but who knows? Our culture has undergone a sea-change. There are no certainties.

I do believe that the late confirmation has had the effect of being thought of as a “graduation” of sorts. People think that once they Confirm, they’ve made it! They have arrived! No more goals! No more challenges!

No need to study the Faith any more, no reason to take it seriously. Once they reach confirmation stage they no longer grow in Faith and whatever they have learned up to that point is what they start to forget.

I always thought that the learning mode is for life, and now five decades later I am still learning the Faith. There is no way I as a layperson would have learned it all by the time I was a college graduate. Some adult Catholics have the equivalent of a third-grade education in religion, and the more time passes, the less they can know with any certainty.

I do not mean to say that everyone is like that, but a significant number.

…Change can be hard. --KCT

You bet!

+T+
Michael

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

The bishops have discussed this and the result was that each bishop can set the guidelines in his own diocese. They are not in agreement. So, it depends where you are as to what you will see.

God bless,
Deacon tony

 

[puzzleannie]

I have stated my opinion on several similar threads, based on over 15 years as a sacramental catechist, 5 yrs as DRE, and involvement with RCIA for over 10 yrs as sponsor, catechist and coordinator. The catechetical documents of the Church prescribe basing all catechesis on the catechumenal model. This means in part restoring the original order of the sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist. I believe the practice of the Eastern Rite Churches is correct, conforms more closely to early Church practice, and is more pastoral: administer all three sacraments of initiation at the same time to infants and to all older persons entering the Church. Catechisis and faith formation for all, children and adults, should be provided throughout life by the parish.

The current system based on “readiness” (usually defined by DREs) has the practical effect of denying the sacraments to a large proportion of Catholics. This is especially true of Confirmation, a sacrament sorely needed by youth in this day and age.

 

[rcn]

The “Catholic Sun” web site has really fallen into disrepair, unfortunately. I received the print edition yesterday, with several pages of discussion on this matter.

Of course we owe allegiance and obedience to our bishops. But I must say that the explanation for this change is totally unconvincing to me. Of course 40 to 60% of teens are un-confirmed, when Confirmation is offered to 16, 17 and 18 year olds. That’s just basic math. The threat will become very real that for most kids, their religious education will now end at age 9 instead of age 16. (Not that Confirmation classes were ever a “challenge” anyway.) The Bishop doesn’t believe it, he seems to expect that families will somehow magically take over? I don’t believe it, not for a minute.

 

[malcolm_davies]

In australia we have confirmation + 1st communion together at age 9 and this is my preferred model.

The previous practice of 1st communion at age 9 and confirmation at age 12 had little meaning becuase we all have to make decisions for the faith throughout our life and picking on age 12 to make an ‘adult’ decision was only relevant for a few young people.

 

[Hesychios]

rcn:

Of course we owe allegiance and obedience to our bishops. But I must say that the explanation for this change is totally unconvincing to me. Of course 40 to 60% of teens are un-confirmed, when Confirmation is offered to 16, 17 and 18 year olds. That’s just basic math. The threat will become very real that for most kids, their religious education will now end at age 9 instead of age 16. (Not that Confirmation classes were ever a “challenge” anyway.) The Bishop doesn’t believe it, he seems to expect that families will somehow magically take over? I don’t believe it, not for a minute.

I understand your concern, I think that part of the problem is that people are looking at the confirmation as a sort of end-point, like a final graduation. Surely in that case advancing the confirmation age will only abbreviate the spiritual formation even further.

In those churches where the confirmation is done at the time of baptism, there is no mental association between confirmation and “finishing up”. All of the catechesis of the young is done after confirmation, and yes, the parents need to really care about this.

I feel that it allows for a stronger bond between the believers and the parish because the commitment to study and grow in faith is open-ended, with no pre-concieved end in sight.

Delaying confirmation to a later age is not in keeping with the earliest tradition of the church either, so aside from the practical advantages or disadvantages I think it is worthwhile to consider this as an ancient and venerable practice of the early church.

+T+
Michael

 

[m134e5]

Why the obscession with finding “early Christian practices” and imitating them? What’s wrong with the way things were done in the Latin Rite for the majority of it’s existance? Don’t change what isn’t broken!

 

[puzzleannie]

m134e5:

Why the obscession with finding “early Christian practices” and imitating them? What’s wrong with the way things were done in the Latin Rite for the majority of it’s existance? Don’t change what isn’t broken!

actually it has only been for about 100 years that First Communion came at age 7 or 8 and Confirmation later, so it is not a custom that has existed throughout the centuries hallowed by time. In Bernadette’s day Confirmation and First Communion came together at about age 12-14, or the end of formal schooling in industrialized countries. Hers was delayed because she was considered too stupid and slow in learning her catechism. A lesson for all catechists and DREs here.

 

[Hesychios]

m134e5:

Why the obscession with finding “early Christian practices” and imitating them? What’s wrong with the way things were done in the Latin Rite for the majority of it’s existance? Don’t change what isn’t broken!

Look around, it’s broken.

 

[Angels_Watchin]

Till this point in the thread, NO ONE has mentioned the Sacrament of Confession! Boy, let’s not leave THAT one out!

As long as that one’s in there (at the age of reason) let’s give those kids the ‘grace of the sacrament’ as early as is customary (as early as baptism, as late as ‘age of reason’)

If you don’t have a decent program in your diocese (get the text, talk with the DRE and the teacher and other truly Catholic parents whose children have been thru the program.If it’s not Catholic (with a capital ‘C’) get your own!

If you want your kids to learn the faith, TEACH IT TO THEM!
Anything from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd edition (make sure it has an Imprimater!); any St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism; anything from Fr. Hardon, Marian Catechists; anything from Ignatius Press; anything from Tan Books - that’s enough to keep anybody busy for decades!!

Study with a good program and then present the child to the parish for the sacraments. If they refuse because you ‘didn’t go thru the program’ , give them canon law. They can test the child (with you present!) but they can’t refuse the sacrament to any one who is prepared to receive them. They are the MINISTERS of the Sacraments. That’s what they get paid to do!

God bless,
Angel

 

[Hesychios]

One thing that I have noticed about a lot of adults of all backgrounds: Most people are unfamiliar with the practice of daily examination of conscience. Most of my friends are Protestants but I can say this about Catholics I know as well.

Very young children can be eased into this gently, as early as when they learn their first bedtime prayers. Over time the process can become more detailed, with the aid of the helps adults might use (lists and such). Parents could teach younger children the basics of making a good confession without them actually being aware of it.

The key I think, is to make a nightly review of the days events, with a resolve to do better. As parents teach and discuss these things with the children they could point out how our thoughts and actions relate to the beliefs and values we all hold dear, and recite prayers together.

Just as there comes a time when parents no longer read to the children, there will be a time when they will have incorporated the examination of conscience into their lives and the parents will not be present.

Families can make a routine practice of reading the Bible, reading selections of the Catechism and discussion of the Faith over dinner, or in place of some TV shows.

I know that this sounds a bit much for most modern families, but the church is unraveling and the problem begins in the home more than anywhere else.

I would propose a family event like the celebration for first Holy Communion, but related to the first formal confession. This is how it is done in some places.

The regular examination of conscience and the sacrament of Reconciliation are essential to Christian life.

+T+
Michael

 

[PAX777]

I would propose a family event like the celebration for first Holy Communion, but related to the first formal confession. This is how it is done in some places.

The regular examination of conscience and the sacrament of Reconciliation are essential to Christian life.

:yup:

Great Point.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not stressed enough.

My post was more info & Looking at a Change. I remember going through Confirmation as a Senor in High school. It was a Big part of my Spirituality. I have taught Confirmation for the Past 3 years & have been apart of the Youth Ministry for over 20… Youth ministry is very important part of the Catholic Formation process & we need to make sure we do not leave a Gap in that process. I know I won’t.
Now, I have 4 children that will be going through this new process & our Family with the Holy Spirit will continue on a new Journey of Faith. One day at a Time…

A man on a Humble path…

 

[KCT]

puzzleannie:

The current system based on “readiness” (usually defined by DREs) has the practical effect of denying the sacraments to a large proportion of Catholics. This is especially true of Confirmation, a sacrament sorely needed by youth in this day and age.

What I’ve always found interesting is that most kids are deemed “ready” for 1st Communion, but lots of excuses are made for putting off penance and Confirmation. (at least around here) I don’t get how we can understand transubstantiation but not forgiveness! —KCT

 

[ames61]

ImperialPhoenix:

Originally Posted by PAX777
o40-60% of Catholic Youth are not receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

I know I would fit into that statistic .

Have you talked to your pastor about this? In our parish, unconfirmed adults go through RCIA with catechumens and candidates. Each of them are thoroughly enriched by the process. Sometimes they are adults who were baptized Catholic and that was pretty much it, others actually went through all or part of the confirmation process, then just didn’t feel “ready”. They’ve all been grateful for the opportunity to go through the process of RCIA in preparation for confirmation. Even if you are not sure you want to be confirmed in the Church at this point, RCIA is a great exploration vehicle. There is no commitment on your part to receive confirmation, only a desire to learn. Good luck and God bless.

 

[ames61]

KCT:

What I’ve always found interesting is that most kids are deemed “ready” for 1st Communion, but lots of excuses are made for putting off penance and Confirmation. (at least around here) I don’t get how we can understand transubstantiation but not forgiveness! —KCT

Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.CCC 1457

Can. 914 It is primarily the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason are prepared properly and,** after they have made sacramental confession, ** are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible. It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion. ***Code of Canon Law ***

How would they reconcile putting off the sacrament of penance with the above? My sister in law’s parish does this, so as a result her kids have been receiving for years and have never received the sacrament of reconciliation. Arghh.