Should the Confirmation age be lowered?

[jmcrae]

That is sort of unfair that the religious choice is taken away from people.

If a person believes that Catholicism is false, the penalties for leaving the Church probably wouldn’t mean much to him anyway. The only way it would make any difference is if he tried to come back to the Church later on.

 

[catholictiger]

giving this some thought I wanted to add something to this discussion. While I know the age someone makes confirmation makes a difference I think changing the age won’t do much to fix a problem I believe we have currently in the Church when it comes to Confirmation. No matter if a child is confirmed at 8 12 16 or 18 i’ve heard in some diocese that there is an issue not having a successful confirmation program. What I mean by this is that confirmation is like a graduation from non-mass religious practices. I’ve gone into parishes for confirmation retreats which said confirmation is not graduation. The fact that people have to say this is an issue. A big problem I’ve seen (hopefully this is just isolated but I doubt it) is that when kids get confirmed they only do it because Mom or Dad insist that they do it. They are not engaged in the confirmation retreat they just want to get it done.

There is no doubt why thousands of college catholics leave their faith when they reach college. I know this isn’t everything but if we were to give high school kids (or middle school) a very good confirmation program we would see less people leave the faith.

I understand that calling people back ot the Church is a huge issue and confirmation isn’t everything but having a better confirmation program should help.

If you think this isn’t a major problem please let me know and tell me success stories. Once i’m a priest, God willing, knowing this may help my priesthood.

 

[Hopey]

Catholic tiger, I will give you my thoughts.
First, don’t measure success but look to do what is necessary for your people/parish. Do what is necessary for the youth to receive this sacrament(s) with growing in holiness for all as you goal.
Your Bishop will decide what age he wants confirmation to normally take place.

Do not make those who request it earlier as an outsider - disobeying. Affirm their desires, listen, pray and walk w them.

I personally think restoring it to traditional order would do away w a lot of the faulty, errounous, beliefs that are being taught. I also am not measuring sucess by smiling happy kids necessarily but what is needed.

I pray for your vocation. God speed you!

 

[catholictiger]

Catholic tiger, I will give you my thoughts.
First, don’t measure success but look to do what is necessary for your people/parish. Do what is necessary for the youth to receive this sacrament(s) with growing in holiness for all as you goal.
Your Bishop will decide what age he wants confirmation to normally take place.

Do not make those who request it earlier as an outsider - disobeying. Affirm their desires, listen, pray and walk w them.

I personally think restoring it to traditional order would do away w a lot of the faulty, errounous, beliefs that are being taught. I also am not measuring sucess by smiling happy kids necessarily but what is needed.

I pray for your vocation. God speed you!

I NEVER said to change teh age if you see earlier I said the age should be up to the bishop. What I’m saying is the programs at-least for me locally are lacking I was posting it mainly to see if it goes beyond my diocese or if it is just isolated.

I don’t know about you but if the kids become absent at a parish after they are confirmed then there is an issue going on that needs to be addressed. While the confirmation changes their ontological nature, there is no nature for the grace to build on that will lead this person falling into a relationship with Christ meaning after they get confirmed they stop going to Church.

Again maybe its isolated but after working on a retreat team before entering seminary I saw disinterested teenagers who just went on a retreat because their parents told them to do it and as soon as they finished or got out of the control of their parents they stop going to Church.

But again let me please make this clear because apparently my post made it look like I would maybe disobey my bishop or something.

I trust the wisdom of the bishop I would hope through God’s grace that I wouldn’t ever disobey him. Personally I think I would almost always obey the bishop, but I’m human so I may make some mistakes one day. But right now I don’t even consider disobeying my bishop in any way.

let me repeat what I saw in kids is that the majority of teens I worked with on retreat where only there to get something done and that was it. You would only run into a small handful of kids who actually were interested in their faith and wanted to get confirmed. Its not this kids are not smiling so I don’t think that confirmation is successful. I see kids not going to Church after confirmation, only if things have changed since I’ve entered seminary something needs to change.

but I’m approaching boundaries I don’t want to cross

so I end my discussion here

God bless.

 

[Hopey]

Ok. I didn’t mean to imply that you would disobey your bishop. No need to leave unless you wish too. I was setting up parameters and giving you what I have seen and experienced.
I think ours was successful if you mean that they are still practicing/going tO mass. We hOmeschooled tho and not allowed to participate in Youth Group.
I see what you are speaking of and I think if it were switched to traditional order, and high school became a place to leArn apologetics it would help equip them to defen their faith.
I have nothing to back that up, personally, other than my children.
God bless you.

 

[catholictiger]

Ok. I didn’t mean to imply that you would disobey your bishop. No need to leave unless you wish too. I was setting up parameters and giving you what I have seen and experienced.
I think ours was successful if you mean that they are still practicing/going tO mass. We hOmeschooled tho and not allowed to participate in Youth Group.
I see what you are speaking of and I think if it were switched to traditional order, and high school became a place to leArn apologetics it would help equip them to defen their faith.
I have nothing to back that up, personally, other than my children.
God bless you.

that is ok I probably over reacted alittle.

It is just something that concerns me when I see lots and lots of people looking like they leave the faith.

But this isn’t something for me to be concerned with now I’ll heal with that when God Willing I become a priest.

have a blessed Sunday

God Bless.

 

[jmcrae]

giving this some thought I wanted to add something to this discussion. While I know the age someone makes confirmation makes a difference I think changing the age won’t do much to fix a problem I believe we have currently in the Church when it comes to Confirmation. No matter if a child is confirmed at 8 12 16 or 18 i’ve heard in some diocese that there is an issue not having a successful confirmation program. What I mean by this is that confirmation is like a graduation from non-mass religious practices. I’ve gone into parishes for confirmation retreats which said confirmation is not graduation. The fact that people have to say this is an issue. A big problem I’ve seen (hopefully this is just isolated but I doubt it) is that when kids get confirmed they only do it because Mom or Dad insist that they do it. They are not engaged in the confirmation retreat they just want to get it done.

There is no doubt why thousands of college catholics leave their faith when they reach college. I know this isn’t everything but if we were to give high school kids (or middle school) a very good confirmation program we would see less people leave the faith.

I understand that calling people back ot the Church is a huge issue and confirmation isn’t everything but having a better confirmation program should help.

If you think this isn’t a major problem please let me know and tell me success stories. Once i’m a priest, God willing, knowing this may help my priesthood.

In addition to giving solid instruction in the Confirmation classes, encourage the youth to be active in their Youth Group, and to participate as Altar Servers, readers, and in music ministry. Get them involved on an equal footing with the adults when it comes to service projects - or even let the young people take the lead. Let them feel that they are doing ministry, as well as being ministered to. Let them take an active part in what they do, rather than just being spoon-fed.

Maybe even give them opportunities to give presentations to each other or even to the adults on topics that they like. Most of all, don’t treat them like “kids.” Treat them like human beings who are simply a bit less experienced than the rest of us.

 

[catholictiger]

In addition to giving solid instruction in the Confirmation classes, encourage the youth to be active in their Youth Group, and to participate as Altar Servers, readers, and in music ministry. Get them involved on an equal footing with the adults when it comes to service projects - or even let the young people take the lead. Let them feel that they are doing ministry, as well as being ministered to. Let them take an active part in what they do, rather than just being spoon-fed.

Maybe even give them opportunities to give presentations to each other or even to the adults on topics that they like. Most of all, don’t treat them like “kids.” Treat them like human beings who are simply a bit less experienced than the rest of us.

thanks this is good advice

 

[smichhertz]

Did you actually “change rites” by doing the paperwork through your Ukrainian bishop? It is extremely rare for the Holy See to allow an Eastern Catholic to transfer into the Latin Rite.

Yes, it was a lengthy process that took years. My whole family moved together and my parents handled it, so I’m not sure of the details, but it was done through our Ukrainian bishop.

 

[Come_HolySpirit]

I feel that at the age of 12, most children have a firm grasp of the faith and would willingly become a defender of the faith. Sometimes, by age 14, they are into another stage, and I feel their participation/commitment to be defenders is not as strong. The Sacrament is still bestowing that grace on them but I have felt the Holy Spirit could really light a fire if the children were at age 12 or so.