Not Confirmed, but Baptised

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shewis

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Hi,

I have a friend who was raised in the Catholic Church. He has been Baptised, but he stopped going to church before he was confirmed. He is interested in going to church again and my question is what does he need to do to get confirmed in the church? I’m assuming he has to contact a local priest and go to confession. Does he have to take the RCIA classes? Are the classes only offered before Easter or can one get confirmed anytime? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for any info you might have!

shew
 
Hello and welcome to the forum!

Your friend needs to contact the priest and discuss the situation with him. If your friend were to attend our parish, he would have to go through the RCIA program. At other parishes, the person would meet one-on-one with the priest or another Catechist. Yet at other parishes, there will be a separate group for those already baptized. Another important factor often to be considered is if your friend made his First Holy Communion and had any continuing religious education. Get him in touch with the priest!👍

Best wishes to you and your friend!
 
Thank you for the quick response. I will let him know. Have a great day!

shew
 
According to the Code of Canon Law, canon 889 §2: “Apart from danger of death, to receive confirmation lawfully a person who has the use of reason must be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises.”
(The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X. Also available at vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM ).

If he has not received First Communion, the RCIA classes are likely. From the book “Rite of Christian Initation of Adults”:
“376 The following pastoral guidelines concern adults who were baptised as infants but did not receive further catechetical formation nor, consequently, the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist. …
377. … A programme of training, catechesis suited to their needs, contact with the community of the faithful, and participation in certain liturgical rites are needed in order to strengthen them in the Christian life.
378 For the most part the plan of catechesis corresponds to the one laid down for catechumens (see no. 75,1). But in the process of catechesis the priest, deacon, or catechist should take into account that these adults have a special status because they are already baptised.”
(In the USA edition, the above paragraphs are in n. 400-402).

More from this book is available at catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA . Download the PDF and go to section 4 PREPARATION OF UNCATECHIZED ADULTS FOR CONFIRMATION AND EUCHARIST, page 39 of 44.
 
Thank you so much, I will pass this information onto my friend. Have a great day!

shew
 
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