Confirmation for Older Brother and Father?

[Ianjo99]

I found out not too long ago that both my older brother (34) and my father (59) were never confirmed.

My brother wasn’t confirmed because of some requirement that he couldn’t fufill (he’s mentally retarded). I’m not sure why my father never was, but I don’t think it was necessarily a concious decision of his.

Regardless of the reason, both are practicing Catholics. I was wondering what would be required of them before they could recieve Confirmation. Would they need to do it with the RCIA group during Easter, or would a priest be able to easily obtain a dispension from the Bishop to do it in a private situation?

Thanks!

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Ianjo99:

I found out not too long ago that both my older brother (34) and my father (59) were never confirmed.

My brother wasn’t confirmed because of some requirement that he couldn’t fufill (he’s mentally retarded). I’m not sure why my father never was, but I don’t think it was necessarily a concious decision of his.

Regardless of the reason, both are practicing Catholics. I was wondering what would be required of them before they could recieve Confirmation. Would they need to do it with the RCIA group during Easter, or would a priest be able to easily obtain a dispension from the Bishop to do it in a private situation?

Thanks!

Depending on their knowledge, they will may have to go through part of the RCIA process. I was baptized Catholic, but my family fell away from the Church soon after I was baptized. When I came back to the Church in college, I had to go through with the converts. Although I did this through my hometown parish, I had most of my instruction from a Benedictine monk at the college I was going to.

PF

 

[StCsDavid]

It will probably depend on your parish and how they handle such cases. Some have the folks go through RCIA; while others have an adult confirmation class; still others have the priest work with the individual. They’re not alone. In our parish we did a little review of the records and discovered over 800 adults in our parish who have been baptised, but never confirmed. We’re a very large parish, but still that represents about 20% of the adults.

 

[Fidelis]

StCsDavid:

It will probably depend on your parish and how they handle such cases. Some have the folks go through RCIA; while others have an adult confirmation class; still others have the priest work with the individual. They’re not alone. In our parish we did a little review of the records and discovered over 800 adults in our parish who have been baptised, but never confirmed. We’re a very large parish, but still that represents about 20% of the adults.

As was stated, it depends on your parish. I help teach the Adult Confirmation class in our parish, which is for 20 year olds and above. Younger than that, they have to go through the teen confimation process.

Your brother being mentally retarted should not be an impediment. My 17 year old son is learning disabled, but they are allowing him to go through the teen confirmation process. As a baptized Catholic, he has a right to the sacrament if there are no other impediments. Discuss his situation with your pastor or DRE. I’m sure you can work something out.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Your dad: Have him talk to his priest and see if he can’t get instruction that way. Not everyone is obliged to go through RCIA or do it through the medium of the RCIA. What is required is the priest be sure the candidate knows the whys and wherefores of the Faith, as the parish pastor is “signing off” on his canidates being ready to receive the sacrament. In our parish, Confirmation is offered not only through the process of RCIA, but also when the bishop shows up every other year. In fact, several bulletin announcements are made months ahead to try to line up as many non-confirmed Catholics as possible, to get them ready for the Big Day.

Your brother: This might help. I remembered the Archdiocese of St. Louis as having an extensive special education department for this very purpose, and I was right:

http://www.special-educationstl.org/releduc.html

 

[Ruthie]

My understanding of developmentally impaired Catholics, which I garnered from AAA, is that they can be confirmed if they are capable of discerning that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood, as opposed to a cracker and a sip of wine.

Also, the “age of reason” is set at 7 years, so if your brother is 7 or older in his comprehension, he should be able to be confirmed.

Note that my memory is not the best. I may be wrong, so I suggest search the AAA for “developmentally disabled” and/or “retarded.”

 

[SMHW]

As far as what your father and your brother would need to do to be confirmed… others have already said. It depends on your parish. It’s possible that they might need to attend classes with an RCIA group if that’s the way your parish does things.

As far as when they could be confirmed… Confirmation is normally administered by a bishop. The bishop probably visits your parish once every year or two. With the bishop’s permission a priest can administer confirmation. I believe this permission is usually just given for the Easter Vigil.

It is possible that your father and/or your brother could have private instructions for confirmation (if your parish provides it but I have never heard of a case where someone was privately confirmed.

 

[puzzleannie]

Adult Catholics who need confirmation DO NOT attend RCIA, that is for the unbaptized. However, if parish resources are limited, they may study for a time in the same class with RCIA, or they may be offered other options, depending on their background. An older gentleman who has been a faithful practicing Catholic and knows the fundamentals of the faith should need very little instruction and preparation. I would make an appointment to discuss this with the pastor.

As for a develomentally disabled person, it is the duty of the pastor to see that the sacraments are never denied, especially if the disorder is such that life expectency may be shortened. Since it is possible for infants to be confirmed in certain circumstances, knowledge and understanding of the sacrament and its effects is not an absolute requirement, as it is for penance and first communion. If your brother was deemed able to receive first communion he should have been confirmed at the appropriate age. simply speak to the pastor about this. Neither one of these good, faithful Catholics should be denied the extraordinary graces and gifts of this sacrament.

Adult Catholics are not normally confirmed at the Easter Vigil, but at the date set by the diocese, usually Pentecost, or at the date set for confirmation of the youth of the parish, so it may be necessary to wait for that time, even if preparation is facilitated.