Religious Education for Confirmation

[Uknowhoo]

Hi everyone

So I’m 17 (almost 18!) and i haven’t done my confirmation
I was wondering whether I’ll have to wait till fall to enroll in CCD/religious education, or if I can just start going. I live near one Catholic Church and I called them. They said I’d have to wait until Fall, when they start enrolling people. Do all Churches do this? Are there exceptions?

Thanks & God bless!

 

[quiet52]

Hi everyone

So I’m 17 (almost 18!) and i haven’t done my confirmation
I was wondering whether I’ll have to wait till fall to enroll in CCD/religious education, or if I can just start going. I live near one Catholic Church and I called them. They said I’d have to wait until Fall, when they start enrolling people. Do all Churches do this? Are there exceptions?

Thanks & God bless!

The reality is that you must be adequately catechized and prepared to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, and most parishes cannot customize the process of preparation for each person. What various parishes within the Church offer may differ, according to the needs (large group vs. small, well-catechized participants vs. poorly-catechized) and the availability of resources (catechists). Get involved in your parish now – volunteer as an aide in the children’s RE program. Sing in the choir. Help with the collections and ushering. These acts of service will help you prepare your heart, in readying yourself for Confirmation. It’s more than gaining head knowledge about the faith – your preparation involves continuing conversion of mind, heart, will and action, as you encounter our Lord more intently. Are you attending Sunday Masses? Is there a youth group in your parish? Bible study group? God bless you too.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi everyone

So I’m 17 (almost 18!) and i haven’t done my confirmation
I was wondering whether I’ll have to wait till fall to enroll in CCD/religious education, or if I can just start going. I live near one Catholic Church and I called them. They said I’d have to wait until Fall, when they start enrolling people. Do all Churches do this? Are there exceptions?

Thanks & God bless!

Of course you do not have to wait until fall to strat learning about your Catholic Faith. You have the ability to go and purchase a Catechism and many other good materials. You could call the parish back and ask to speak with the pastor. Tell him that you do not wish to wait until Fall and would like to start studying on your own, and ask him for some suggestions. (fully intending to sign up in the Fall).

 

[Joannm]

Of course you do not have to wait until fall to strat learning about your Catholic Faith. You have the ability to go and purchase a Catechism and many other good materials. You could call the parish back and ask to speak with the pastor. Tell him that you do not wish to wait until Fall and would like to start studying on your own, and ask him for some suggestions. (fully intending to sign up in the Fall).

If the parish has year round RCIA (it should, but most don’t) you can begin anytime.

 

[puzzleannie]

If the parish has year round RCIA (it should, but most don’t) you can begin anytime.

baptized Catholics do not participate in RCIA, although they may be catechized with RCIA candidates.

a 17 yr old should be attending HS CCD with his peers
depending on how the parish structures its program, usually according to the school year, there might be only a few weeks left this year.

there are some parishes that have year-round programs, only way to find out is to enquire at parishes around you

it this initiative is coming from you, rather than being forced by parents or others, that is very promising, and makes it most likely that you will succeed and get more out of the preparation than your friends who are less motivated.

if you must wait until September to begin a formal program, you can double up the pace by attending Mass every Sunday, look out for retreats advertised for youth and young adults in your diocese, begin praying the rosary every day (newadvent.com has a how-to page), and read. Catholicism for Dummies is a great place to start.

wish I have a whole classful of people like you

 

[Kielbasi]

Hi everyone

So I’m 17 (almost 18!) and i haven’t done my confirmation
I was wondering whether I’ll have to wait till fall to enroll in CCD/religious education, or if I can just start going. I live near one Catholic Church and I called them. They said I’d have to wait until Fall, when they start enrolling people. Do all Churches do this? Are there exceptions?

Thanks & God bless!

Ordinarily, the vast majority of confirmation candidates are those enrolled in classes, either in CCD, in school or with RCIA or other adult classes. The actual requirement is that your parish priest has to judge that you are properly catechised and prepared for the sacrament.

Speak to your own parish priest, he’ll tell you what the standard procedure is where you are at.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I am guessing that the reason they are asking you to wait is that there is a program of instruction that follows a particular sequence — with a beginning, middle, and end (although learning about our faith should be a lifelong process, so the end of preparation for Confirmation is not really the end!). They are probably pretty far along in the process with this year’s group, and many parishes don’t have enough catechists to start different groups at different times of the year.

But certainly do get a head start by doing some good reading from reliable sources — the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or the “shorter” version called the Compendium), the Bible, etc., and by regularly attending Mass, going to confession/receiving Communion (assuming you have already prepared for and received these sacraments), and praying daily.

God bless your efforts and your desire to pursue this!

 

[Joannm]

baptized Catholics do not participate in RCIA, although they may be catechized with RCIA candidates.

a 17 yr old should be attending HS CCD with his peers
depending on how the parish structures its program, usually according to the school year, there might be only a few weeks left this year.

there are some parishes that have year-round programs, only way to find out is to enquire at parishes around you

it this initiative is coming from you, rather than being forced by parents or others, that is very promising, and makes it most likely that you will succeed and get more out of the preparation than your friends who are less motivated.

if you must wait until September to begin a formal program, you can double up the pace by attending Mass every Sunday, look out for retreats advertised for youth and young adults in your diocese, begin praying the rosary every day (newadvent.com has a how-to page), and read. Catholicism for Dummies is a great place to start.

wish I have a whole classful of people like you

I realize that RCIA is for the unbaptized but many parishes do not have the manpower for seperate process, and not all parishes have HS programs for CCD. So the best choice would be to go to RCIA. Also, perhaps in the OP’s parish confirmation is at an earlier age. In our parish it is in 7th grade. So to have him sit in class with 13 year olds could be embarassing for him. RCIA would be the best choice unless the priest or someone on staff is willing to give private instruction.

 

[puzzleannie]

I realize that RCIA is for the unbaptized but many parishes do not have the manpower for seperate process, and not all parishes have HS programs for CCD. So the best choice would be to go to RCIA. Also, perhaps in the OP’s parish confirmation is at an earlier age. In our parish it is in 7th grade. So to have him sit in class with 13 year olds could be embarassing for him. RCIA would be the best choice unless the priest or someone on staff is willing to give private instruction.

no matter who he studies with he will not be in RCIA

the best solution now is for him to join whatever HS program is ongoing now with his peers, if for no other reason than to make friends with shared values and beliefs. Peer support is extremely important at this age and those who are already confirmed can act as sponsors and mentors for him. Then when the next formal prep for adult confirmation begins (if there is no teen class) he can join that.

 

[Joannm]

no matter who he studies with he will not be in RCIA

the best solution now is for him to join whatever HS program is ongoing now with his peers, if for no other reason than to make friends with shared values and beliefs. Peer support is extremely important at this age and those who are already confirmed can act as sponsors and mentors for him. Then when the next formal prep for adult confirmation begins (if there is no teen class) he can join that.

Many parishes allow people who are not in RCIA to sit in on the catechetical sessions. This has worked well in quite a few places I know.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

We have a program for adults preparing for confirmation, but one must be 18 to participate. I have often accepted adults from other parishes into the program since it is not crowded. [The sisters who handle our RE, serve many of the surrounding parishes, and priests get reassigned; so I get some advertising.]

Because of the protection of children programs, one cannot accept those under 18 into an adult program, atleast in my diocese. However, some parish around you might have a program for teens.

Before we started the adult program, adults went through RCIA for confirmation for lack of any other program. Again, it was adults only.

 

[puzzleannie]

we have to be very careful accepting youth under 18 in programs intended for adults because of the child safety regulations.

we also have to take special care to meet the needs of both Confirmation candidates and catechumens who come to us as Seniors in high school because the preparation for youth is supposed to be at least 2 years, and there is a high likelihood we will lose them after graduation if they go to college, military etc.

so it is a judgement call involving the pastor, DRE and individual.

repeat, yes, it makes sense on a lot of levels to combine a class with those who are uncatechized Catholics preparing for Confirmation, baptized Christians preparing for full Communion, and the unbaptized in the catechumenate, but the fact remains, the first category are NOT participating in RCIA.