Teen Confirmation?

[alliehilky]

I am a teenager in a small town in Arizona.
I was baptized in the Catholic church, and took my Communion and Confessional but I was never confirmed. My family stopped attending church because our family grew, and soon there was no more time, but I do go to our FCS meetings at school, read the Bible, and pray all the time.
I would like to be confirmed, but I am very confused on how to do so.
It is of course too late to begin the Confirmation class at my church because they began in January. The problem is what I should do next year.
By the time I would be confirmed next year I would be 18, so should I wait until after I am 18 to begin the RCIA class as an adult and be confirmed in that way? I really want to be confirmed but in the spring (when the teenager confirmation classes are) I am very busy with athletics and family, and I will also have major college decisions and planning to make etcetera.
Would it be wiser to wait for my senior year to end and then take an RCIA class over the summer?

 

[YoungTradCath]

If you foresee having any problems at all with family issues or something, I would certainly wait until after graduating.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I am a teenager in a small town in Arizona.
I was baptized in the Catholic church, and took my Communion and Confessional but I was never confirmed. My family stopped attending church because our family grew, and soon there was no more time, but I do go to our FCS meetings at school, read the Bible, and pray all the time.
I would like to be confirmed, but I am very confused on how to do so.
It is of course too late to begin the Confirmation class at my church because they began in January. The problem is what I should do next year.
By the time I would be confirmed next year I would be 18, so should I wait until after I am 18 to begin the RCIA class as an adult and be confirmed in that way? I really want to be confirmed but in the spring (when the teenager confirmation classes are) I am very busy with athletics and family, and I will also have major college decisions and planning to make etcetera.
Would it be wiser to wait for my senior year to end and then take an RCIA class over the summer?

Speak to your priest. Usually there is a program for Catholics who have missed receiving a sacrament at the normal time on that diocese. Have you been attending Mass recently? Can you get to church on your own? If you want to be confirmed, you will need to make weekly Mass and your confirmation preparation a priority. If you are not ready to do that, then perhaps you are not ready to be confirmed. But call and speak to your priest and see what the requirements are first.

 

[Allegra]

You should call your rectory. Your parish could have any policy. I got confirmed as a college student and I called the rectory and they had me meet with a lady who gave me a workbook. I had to read the book, write my answers, and discuss them with her at several meetings. She then determined that I was ready to recieve the sacrament and I was confirmed at a ceremony with fifty or so other adult candidates from around the diocese. Now, keep in mind, I don’t know what might have happened if I hadn’t answered the questions in my workbook satisfactorily. Also, the parish I attended was a Jesuit parish on a college campus and we all know what they’re like.

 

[1ke]

I am a teenager in a small town in Arizona.
I was baptized in the Catholic church, and took my Communion and Confessional but I was never confirmed. My family stopped attending church because our family grew, and soon there was no more time, but I do go to our FCS meetings at school, read the Bible, and pray all the time.
I would like to be confirmed, but I am very confused on how to do so.
It is of course too late to begin the Confirmation class at my church because they began in January. The problem is what I should do next year.
By the time I would be confirmed next year I would be 18, so should I wait until after I am 18 to begin the RCIA class as an adult and be confirmed in that way? I really want to be confirmed but in the spring (when the teenager confirmation classes are) I am very busy with athletics and family, and I will also have major college decisions and planning to make etcetera.
Would it be wiser to wait for my senior year to end and then take an RCIA class over the summer?

RCIA is for non-Catholics. You are a Catholic. Call the parish and ask if you can join in the confirmation class that began in January. Each diocese typically has classes for adults who need confirmation. Simply ask your priest.

 

[Vico]

I am a teenager in a small town in Arizona.
I was baptized in the Catholic church, and took my Communion and Confessional but I was never confirmed. My family stopped attending church because our family grew, and soon there was no more time, but I do go to our FCS meetings at school, read the Bible, and pray all the time.
I would like to be confirmed, but I am very confused on how to do so.
It is of course too late to begin the Confirmation class at my church because they began in January. The problem is what I should do next year.
By the time I would be confirmed next year I would be 18, so should I wait until after I am 18 to begin the RCIA class as an adult and be confirmed in that way? I really want to be confirmed but in the spring (when the teenager confirmation classes are) I am very busy with athletics and family, and I will also have major college decisions and planning to make etcetera.
Would it be wiser to wait for my senior year to end and then take an RCIA class over the summer?

I would act immediately, and speak to the pastor. You should be able to get help from your baptismal sponsors also, if your parents are not helping.

That puts you in one of four dioceses: Gallup, Las Cruces, Phoenix, Tuscon. I think they have Life Teen classes for two consecutive years there for those under 18, else RCIA program.

I would start immediately rather than wait. Strike when the metal is hot! At some parishes it is a two year program for those under 18, but this could vary.

Since you are not getting support from your parents, it seems, remember that you do have sponsers from your baptism that should help you.

The Pope has indicated that confirmation should be given prior to first communion, but it will take many years, I believe, before parishes adopt their non-RCIA sacramental programs.

 

[Castello]

If we really understood the grace of the Sacraments we would not let anything keep us from them. Do not delay. The sacrament is more important than things of this world.