Is easter vigil the only time someone be confirmed?

[dawgman206]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

 

[Phemie]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

You can be confirmed anytime the bishop comes to town for the children’s confirmations. Or your pastor might even get permission to confirm you himself. You should talk to him; he might be willing to allow you to study on your own and be ready for confirmation sooner rather than later.

 

[diggerdomer]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

If you are baptized Catholic, it’s often preferred that you not be confirmed at Easter. RCIA is for non-Catholics. Your diocese should have guidance on when and where Confirmation is celebrated for baptized Catholics.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

You might want to check around to see about your options.

In my parish we separate those adults who need confirmation only (already baptized and received their First Eucharist) and offer an adult confirmation program for them. The bishop comes to confirm them.

Adults who need both First Eucharist and confirmation go through our RCIA program for preparation. They receive the sacraments when they’re ready. The only time we wouldn’t schedule them is at the Easter Vigil. Our cardinal has asked that the Easter Vigil be reserved for those being baptized as well as the other sacraments.

 

[reginacaeli]

To answer your original question, no, you don’t need to be confirmed, strictly speaking, at Easter.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

That is the first thing that is off base a Baptized Catholic seeking Confirmation should not be in RCIA, but in an Adult Sacramental Preparation process. Of course most parishes don’t have one! But to answer your question, no, an adult should take generally 6 to 8 maybe 10 weeks of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Sacrament should them be celebrated the next time the Bishop is near-by, even at another parish if necessary. Your pastor can request permission to Confirm you in place of the Bishop, or you could travel to the Bishop. The Easter Vigil Is NOT the place for Adult Catholic Confirmations.

 

[Tracy24]

As others have said, no you do not have to wait until Easter. I was actually just Baptized and Confirmed this past Friday but our Priest handles the RCIA program and he doesn’t make anyone wait to begin instruction so it is a year round program for our parish.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

I had a adult in my RICA class that only recieved confirmation, and yes they make you go for so long and most of the time they really enjoy it. But they don’t have to go through breaking open of the word. ( at sunday masses) she received her sacrament of confirmation after easter, and so did I. RICA isn’t just for non catholics, its also for anyone who needs there confirmation ( in adults) or just want to learn what the converts learn. We encourage all cradle catholics in our parish to go so they can learn what we know.

Peace and good luck. Halos

 

[Phemie]

I had a adult in my RICA class that only recieved confirmation, and yes they make you go for so long and most of the time they really enjoy it. But they don’t have to go through breaking open of the word. ( at sunday masses) she received her sacrament of confirmation after easter, and so did I. RICA isn’t just for non catholics, its also for anyone who needs there confirmation ( in adults) or just want to learn what the converts learn. We encourage all cradle catholics in our parish to go so they can learn what we know.

Peace and good luck. Halos

While it’s true that many parishes use RCIA as a catch-all for everyone it’s not the ideal way to deal with Catholics who only need to complete their initiation, particularly if they’ve already received Communion. Unfortunately it’s often difficult to set up the proper processes for the different groups.

 

[Joannm]

We have a 10 week confirmation prep class during Lent. In our diocese all priests are granted the faculty to confirm Catholic adults on Pentecost but can apply for the faculty for other times as well. Our bishop doesn’t really go for tacking adults on the end of the line at kids confirmation.

 

[cswalters]

Only a priest can confirm someone on Easter Vigil, unless they have permission by the Bishop, So I would talk to your parish priest and see what can be done about this, the answer to this is probably easier than it seems. Also a Bishop can confirm on any date, I believe.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As others have said, no you do not have to wait until Easter. I was actually just Baptized and Confirmed this past Friday but our Priest handles the RCIA program and he doesn’t make anyone wait to begin instruction so it is a year round program for our parish.

The instruction process is to be year round Adult Baptism is the one specific case where the Church say that Adults seeking Baptism are only suppose to be Baptized, Confirmed and receive Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil! Except in certain serious and emergency cases. So technically you should have had to wait until the Easter Vigil. (unless there is something special thst you did not post)

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have just started going back to church after a long time away. I was baptized and received my first Eucharist. but some time between moving from one parent to another I wasn’t confirmed. I signed up in my churches RICA program. my job requires me to leave the area at any time with very little notice. the program coordinator said I can make up any classes I miss. but I didn’t think of so didn’t ask what if they make me leave the area during Easter vigil? I talked to my bosses and they don’t see a problem but can’t promise anything. if I have to miss Easter is there another time one can be confirmed or wait till next year?

I really do not know what needs to be done to fix this. We have in this thread an adult Baptized CATHOLIC who seek Confirmation and is told they won’t be confirmed until the Easter Vigil and another pastor who Baptizes Adults year round with no sense of the purpose of the Easter Vigil Rites? What a real mess we have with these processes and Rites.

 

[Phemie]

Only a priest can confirm someone on Easter Vigil, unless they have permission by the Bishop, So I would talk to your parish priest and see what can be done about this, the answer to this is probably easier than it seems. Also a Bishop can confirm on any date, I believe.

I think you meant that a priest can only confirm someone at the Easter Vigil. Even then, that’s limited to those who are being baptized then or brought into full Communion. He’d still need permission to confirm Catholics who are completing their Sacraments of Initiation which is why that’s not the proper time for them.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I had a adult in my RICA class that only recieved confirmation, and yes they make you go for so long and most of the time they really enjoy it. But they don’t have to go through breaking open of the word. ( at sunday masses) she received her sacrament of confirmation after easter, and so did I. RICA isn’t just for non catholics, its also for anyone who needs there confirmation ( in adults) or just want to learn what the converts learn. We encourage all cradle catholics in our parish to go so they can learn what we know.

Peace and good luck. Halos

Technically RCIA is for non-Baptized Adults seeking to become Christian through the Rites of Initiation. Also Adults who were Baptized Catholic or otherwise as infants but never catechized, never received First Holy Communion, or Confirmation.

It is NOT for those who want to learn more about the Catholic Faith, it is not for Catholics seeking Confirmation, Technically it is not for Baptized non-Catholics seeking full union with the Catholic Church although it does accommodate that.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

This depends on the diocese I think. At one time our Bishop allowed Confirmation only in the period of Easter to Pentecost.

Uncatechized Catholics are usually included in RCIA. We define that as any one baptized in the Catholic Church but has never made their First Communion. Most of those who have made their First Communion are given a shorter [3 month] course and Confirmed at the Pentecost mass. A typical exception is where one spouse is in RCIA and the other needs only Confirmation. They will usually both attend RCIA and the Catholic spouse will be confirmed at Easter Vigil. [This requires the bishop’s permission, but he has never refused.]

 

[Tracy24]

The instruction process is to be year round Adult Baptism is the one specific case where the Church say that Adults seeking Baptism are only suppose to be Baptized, Confirmed and receive Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil! Except in certain serious and emergency cases. So technically you should have had to wait until the Easter Vigil. (unless there is something special thst you did not post)

Nothing special that I left out. Now I am confused, the Sacraments are valid though right?

 

[diggerdomer]

Nothing special that I left out. Now I am confused, the Sacraments are valid though right?

It seems to be unusual that you would be initiated (baptism, confirmation, eucharist) as an adult at a time other than the Easter Vigil, that’s an exception to the norms of RCIA, but validity should be presumed unless there’s legitimate reason to consider otherwise.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Nothing special that I left out. Now I am confused, the Sacraments are valid though right?

Yes the Sacraments would be valid. It’s just your pastor decided to do things his way not the way the Church requires.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Only a priest can confirm someone on Easter Vigil, unless they have permission by the Bishop, So I would talk to your parish priest and see what can be done about this, the answer to this is probably easier than it seems. Also a Bishop can confirm on any date, I believe.

A priest is granted by Canon Law the ability to Confirm an adult that they just Baptized. Depending on the Bishop a priest may be given permission to Confirm all the Candidates in RCIA at the Easter Vigil or any time during the Easter season. Or if that blanket permission is not granted by your Bishop. He must request permission for each individual he wants to Confirm from the Bishop.