RCIA for children, timing of sacraments

[puzzleannie]

RCIA class for older children and youth has many children who have not been baptized but also those in middle school and above who are baptized but have not received first communion. Most are families where some siblings are baptized, some are not. They are in classes grouped by grade level. I have gotten several varied and conflicting answers to this question from DREs, office of Catechetics, and RCIA directors, and at NAFC workshops. Is there a provision for confirming baptized children at the Easter Vigil before the normal confirmation age set for the diocese?

In this diocese age for Confirmation is normally 10th grade or age 16. The RCIA rites clearly state that unbaptized children of catechetical age after suitable preparation should receive baptism, confirmation and first communion at the Easter Vigil. It also provides for preparing baptized (undatechized) and unbaptized children of the same age together in the same class for peer support. My question is, can all those in the class, or at least all those in the same family, be confirmed at the Easter Vigil?

If not, then we have families where younger, unbaptized children will be confirmed, where the older (baptized) children will receive first communion, but continue for a couple more years of CCD before the normal age for confirmation. On the other hand, how do you explain to parents that although the children have studied exactly the same material together, that some children will be confirmed this year and some will not. Would be very grateful for (name removed by moderator)ut on how this is handled in your parish or diocese.

 

[Catholic2003]

From the NCCB National Statutes for the Catechumenate :

CHILDREN OF CATECHETICAL AGE

1. Since children who have reached the use of reason are considered, for purposes of Christian initiation, to be adults (canon 852: 1), their formation should follow the general pattern of the ordinary catechumenate as far as possible, with the appropriate adaptations permitted by the ritual. They should receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, together with the older catechumens.

1. Some elements of the ordinary catechetical instruction of baptized children before their reception of the sacraments of confirmation and eucharist may be appropriately shared with catechumens of catechetical age. Their condition and status as catechumens, however, should not be compromised or confused, nor should they receive the sacraments of initiation in any sequence other than that determined in the ritual of Christian initiation.

 

[puzzleannie]

thank you for posting this at the start of this discussion, I have it before me now. this is regarding the catechumens (unbaptized). In fact, the diocese is trying to implement proper practice among all RCIA programs in parishes to insure the proper order of the sacraments is observed, because the practice now in many parishes is to baptize the younger children and give them first communion, but to delay confirmation until high school. This is clearly not the intent of the Catechumenate norms.

My question has to do with baptized but uncatechized older children and youth who are studying in the same class with the catechumens, and receive first communion with them, but are not confirmed. I have heard many arguements on both sides, and exhaustively studied the norms and ritual book, but cannot get a definitive answer, even from my own diocese.

 

[Catholic2003]

puzzleannie:

My question has to do with baptized but uncatechized older children and youth

Baptized in the Catholic faith, or baptized in another Christian denomination?

 

[puzzleannie]

Catholic2003:

Baptized in the Catholic faith, or baptized in another Christian denomination?

well, that is another good question
according the the norms it seems very clear that those baptized in other Christian denominations seeking full communion with the Catholic church (children and adults) make a profession of faith, are confirmed and receive first communion (after sacrament of penance) at the Easter Vigil. What about children (or adults) in the same class who are baptized Catholic, uncatechized, but have not celebration first communion or confirmation? For the adults it probably does not matter whether they are confirmed at Easter in the parish, or at Pentecost in the cathedral, or on the date for high school confirmations.

but what about several children in the same Catholic family, some baptized, some not, sharing the same preparation class. According to the norms, some will receive all 3 sacraments, but those already baptized will get first communion, and wait until high school for confirmation. I will accept any authoritative pronouncement on proper procedure (if I could get one) but I still need help in explaining it pastorally to the parents and the children themselves.

 

[Catholic2003]

A good book for the canon law aspects of this is The Catechumenate and the Law: A Pastoral and Canonical Commentary for the Church of the United States by John M. Huels, J.C.D.

As to ideas for explaining this to those involved, maybe you could focus on the difference between infant (i.e., under 7 years old) and adult (i.e., 7 years old and older) Catholic baptism. In infant baptism, it is the parent who decides to baptize the child, thus it is the parent who promises to raise the child in the Catholic faith. When the parent keeps this promise, then as the child grows up, he or she goes through the various sacraments at ages determined by the diocese. If the parent lags or falters in keeping this promise, but later comes back to a closer relationship with the Church, then a child who has missed some of the catechesis and sacramental initiation must make up for what has been missed, and try to get “back on track”. (Thus, it is the child who suffers for the sin of the parent.)

However, the Church feels that once a person has reached the age of reason (typically at 7 years old), it is no longer appropriate for any other person, even a parent, to make the crucial decision as to whether or not to join the Church by baptism. Thus, the unbaptized 7 year old (or older) child who is being baptized is doing this of his or her own free will. This difference is reflected in a different “sacramental track”, which is more appropriate for someone joining the Church of their own decision.

 

[puzzleannie]

all very true, but the book you cite does not offer a canon law answer to my question. Under canon law the age for Confirmation in the Latin rite is any time after the age of discretion, generally considered as 7. Each bishop is free to set the age for confirmation and communion in his diocese. My question is really dealing with the age for confirmation, and the disparity of usage among dioceses, and within a single diocese when applied to the children’s catechumenate and to confirmation of youth. Your explanation is fine as far as it goes, but does not deal with what appears to parents (and to catechists and DREs) as the arbitrary nature, not backed up by the theology of the sacrament, for determining the age for confirmation.

 

[Catholic2003]

Father Huels also has another book, Disputed Questions in the Liturgy Today, that has an essay on the age for confirmation. (Warning: Unlike the previous book on catechumens, this frequently crosses the line with respect to Church teachings. Take it with a grain or two of salt.)