Confirmation procession

[Joannm]

We have Confirmation this week and we seem to have a disagreement about the Entrance Procession and we can’t find an answer. Doing a web search we have found different answers on Diocesan web sites. In the procession of the Confirmandi, do they enter before the cross and candles or after? We have always done it where the Confimandi enter to instrumental music and once they are in their place the cross and candles lead the ministers as the Entrance song is sung. We do this with Graduation mass as well. Our new priest says the cross goes first. We can’t find a definitive answer either way. Anyone have any answers or is it just up to the individual parish to decide how they are going to do it? i seem to recall reading that only those with a specific ministry at the mass follow the cross, but then again at funerals, the cross goes before the casket and family, but also in a funeral the priests process before the casket.

 

[twopekinguys]

We have Confirmation this week and we seem to have a disagreement about the Entrance Procession and we can’t find an answer. Doing a web search we have found different answers on Diocesan web sites. In the procession of the Confirmandi, do they enter before the cross and candles or after? We have always done it where the Confimandi enter to instrumental music and once they are in their place the cross and candles lead the ministers as the Entrance song is sung. We do this with Graduation mass as well. Our new priest says the cross goes first. We can’t find a definitive answer either way. Anyone have any answers or is it just up to the individual parish to decide how they are going to do it? i seem to recall reading that only those with a specific ministry at the mass follow the cross, but then again at funerals, the cross goes before the casket and family, but also in a funeral the priests process before the casket.

I have to agree with you. In our parish, the confirmands would go before the cross. Our pastor agrees that those with some sort of ministry that would require them to be in the sanctuary space follow the cross.

As far as funerals, I think that is more a matter of logistics. Meaning that way the priests don’t have to make their way around the casket when they arrive at the foot of the altar.

Our parish is on the same page as you.

 

[benedictgal]

There is one caveat to this. At our Cathedral, we have had the bridal party process in after the cross. It’s the cross, then the groom with his parents, the attendants, the children (if necessary, like the flower girl and the ring bearer), the bride and her parents and the celebrant. Even at the Red Mass, we have used this kind of a lineup with the judicial folks processing in behind the cross. It’s also been used for diaconate ordinations.

 

[Phemie]

Usually we have everyone follow the cross, candles & book of Gospels with the priest at the end.

OTOH, the Rite of Marriage calls for the bride & groom and their parents and witnesses to follow the priest, IOW come in last.

 

[tee_eff_em]

OTOH, the Rite of Marriage calls for the bride & groom and their parents and witnesses to follow the priest, IOW come in last.

[aside]Which is proper, because they are the ministers of the sacrament.[/aside]


tee

 

[CatholicZ09]

When I had my First Holy Communion (did not have a Confirmation procession), the First Communicants processed in with instrumental organ music playing while everyone was standing. Once the communicants all were standing in their pews, the procession began and “Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today” was sung as the ministers processed in.

Don’t know how I remembered the opening hymn of that day!

 

[jmcrae]

[aside]Which is proper, because they are the ministers of the sacrament.[/aside]


tee

That was my understanding, as well.

So, (getting back to the original question) it is, then, proper to have the Confirmandi process in ahead of the Cross? I was also curious about this.

 

[tijeras]

when I was a coordinator of youth ministry, the largest aspect of which job was the Confirmation program, we had the kids and their sponsors “process” in and be seated during the prelude. Then there would be a very short “welcome” type thing: “welcome, turn off your phones, our presider is Bishop_____, our entrance hymn is on page blah blah blah”. Then the entrance processional as normal. This helped ensure there was no confusion as to who goes before or after the Cross - the candidates and their sponsors were just being seated during normal “seating time”, but in a more formal manner. Of course, we had a very large group (usually 130 candidates or so, so about 260 people including sponsors).

Hope this helps: God bless you for working with the teens and I hope you love it as much as I did!

 

[jmcrae]

when I was a coordinator of youth ministry, the largest aspect of which job was the Confirmation program, we had the kids and their sponsors “process” in and be seated during the prelude. Then there would be a very short “welcome” type thing: “welcome, turn off your phones, our presider is Bishop_____, our entrance hymn is on page blah blah blah”. Then the entrance processional as normal. This helped ensure there was no confusion as to who goes before or after the Cross - the candidates and their sponsors were just being seated during normal “seating time”, but in a more formal manner. Of course, we had a very large group (usually 130 candidates or so, so about 260 people including sponsors).

Suddenly, it all makes sense. Thanks for this!!

 

[benedictgal]

Usually we have everyone follow the cross, candles & book of Gospels with the priest at the end.

OTOH, the Rite of Marriage calls for the bride & groom and their parents and witnesses to follow the priest, IOW come in last.

However, at the Cathedral, the processions were becoming style shows, almost as though the entire bridal party was walking the runway and the catwalk. It was pretty bad. The rector was tired of the flash bulbs and the long gingerly walks and decided to walk behind them to move things along.

When my cousin got married, I marshalled the troops and only allowed them a four-pew separation as they were walking. It helped things go along much better.