To reach Confirmation

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cw8189

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Hi, im 16 years old…( i dont kno if im in the right place to write this) but i am 16 and i was baptised catholic. But i never went for my communion. so this also mean i dont have my confirmation. I would really like to get this taken care of. So where do i go and who do i talk to? does anyone know anything about thee adult classes?
 
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cw8189:
Hi, im 16 years old…( i dont kno if im in the right place to write this) but i am 16 and i was baptised catholic. But i never went for my communion. so this also mean i dont have my confirmation. I would really like to get this taken care of. So where do i go and who do i talk to? does anyone know anything about thee adult classes?
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Have you talked to your priest? Just call the parish office and explain your situation. They will help you.

Seems you haven’t been going to Church. Never mind: you can start now. Just show up Sunday mornings. Do not receive Communion but participate in every other way. The Lord is offering you a very great grace in putting this in your heart.

Here are some basic tips if you haven’t been to church in a while (don’t be insulted if these seem too basic; you would be surprised how many “regulars” don’t know how to act in church).
  • The church is a sacred place. Always show respect for God and the church.
  • Do not talk before or during the Mass or other service; use the time for private prayer to prepare for worship; your silence allows others to pray before the service.
  • Turn off your cell phone.
  • Do not put your feet on the seats, on the back of the pew in front of you or on the kneelers.
  • Take your bulletin or other papers with you after the service.
  • Do not eat food or candy, chew gum, or take anything to drink into church.
 
CW, my advise is this. If you are sincere about becoming active in the Faith of your Baptism, then do as Mercygate suggested. Also, you should go to your pastor or a priest of your parish that you feel comfortable in discussing this, talk it over with him and perhaps enroll in your parish’s RCIA program. Remember, Baptism is only one Rite (Sacrament) in the Rite of Christian Initiation that includes Confirmation and the Eucharist as well.
 
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cw8189:
Hi, im 16 years old…( i dont kno if im in the right place to write this) but i am 16 and i was baptised catholic. But i never went for my communion. so this also mean i dont have my confirmation. I would really like to get this taken care of. So where do i go and who do i talk to? does anyone know anything about thee adult classes?
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Since you apparently have not received any, or at least little, education in the Faith the RCIA would probably be the best route. Many parishes have a special RCIA group for teens. If your parish doesn’t have one maybe a nearby parish does.
 
I applaud your interest in becoming more active in your faith. The previous advice is accurate; contact your parish and they should be able to connect you with the appropriate program and classes.

However, I know from experience that the quality of education one receives can vary greatly depending upon who is teaching. (I went through a CCD program as a child that taught me very little.) While most likely this will not be the case, it is possible that whoever ends up responsible for your education may not properly convey the Catholic Faith to you. I would take it as a good sign if whatever program you are directed to issues you a copy of “The Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

If they don’t, I would certainly purchase one, since it provides a good explanation of the Church’s teachings, and is an excellent reference when you want to see why the Church holds a certain position that is contrary to society or your intuition. (With handy references to where many of those teachings come from in the Bible.) The most important factor, though, is that unlike whatever I may say to you, or one of your friends, or the apologists on this website, or even a priest, you can be certain that whatever is written in the Catechism is what the Church believes.

P.S. Don’t plan on reading the Catechism from cover to cover right away. While it might be nice to eventually read through it, the book is quite dense. At first, it will be more valuable to have it available as a definitive reference that you can consult with whatever questions you most immediately need answers to.
 
call you parish, ask for an appointment with the person who takes care of sacramental preparation, tell your story and go from there. In our diocese 16 is the usual age for Confirmation, and those who have not make first communion are prepared for both sacraments and receive at the same time. We also have classes for adults, both in the parish and on the college campus nearby. For someone who is baptized but has had very little religious education, we find they are more comfortable in a class with others in a similar situation, as we are all learning together. Welcome home. You will NOT be in RCIA–that is for the unbaptized–but you may be in a class with some of these people, and you support each other in your journey.
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cw8189:
Hi, im 16 years old…( i dont kno if im in the right place to write this) but i am 16 and i was baptised catholic. But i never went for my communion. so this also mean i dont have my confirmation. I would really like to get this taken care of. So where do i go and who do i talk to? does anyone know anything about thee adult classes?
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puzzleannie:
call you parish, ask for an appointment with the person who takes care of sacramental preparation, tell your story and go from there. In our diocese 16 is the usual age for Confirmation, and those who have not make first communion are prepared for both sacraments and receive at the same time. We also have classes for adults, both in the parish and on the college campus nearby. For someone who is baptized but has had very little religious education, we find they are more comfortable in a class with others in a similar situation, as we are all learning together. Welcome home. You will NOT be in RCIA–that is for the unbaptized–but you may be in a class with some of these people, and you support each other in your journey.
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I don’t know, puzzleannie, I’m in RCIA and all I need is confirmation. I had baptism/communion/confession, the whole nine. I think some churches do it this way. (probably shouldn’t, but do.) But now that I re-read your post - do you mean she might attend the RCIA classes but just not be a part of RCIA? (sorry, a little confused)
 
your parish probably calls it RCIA as a kind of shorthand for all sacramental preparation for adults. As I say, perhaps you class includes adult Catholics who need confirmation and/or 1st communion, adult baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and unbaptized adults seeking baptism and full initiation in the Catholic Church.

Adult Catholics do not participate in the Rites of Christian Initiation, other than of course the sacrament of Confirmation itself. They are in a class with other adults for convenience–since for all intents and purposes, you all are studying the same things on the same timetable. But the loose use of the term RCIA does cause confusion. They definitely should NOT be dismissed after the Gospel with the unbaptized, because they are required to assist at Mass, the entire Mass. What you can do is be present for the others in the class when they do celebrate the various rites.
 
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puzzleannie:
your parish probably calls it RCIA as a kind of shorthand for all sacramental preparation for adults. As I say, perhaps you class includes adult Catholics who need confirmation and/or 1st communion, adult baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and unbaptized adults seeking baptism and full initiation in the Catholic Church.

Adult Catholics do not participate in the Rites of Christian Initiation, other than of course the sacrament of Confirmation itself. They are in a class with other adults for convenience–since for all intents and purposes, you all are studying the same things on the same timetable. But the loose use of the term RCIA does cause confusion. They definitely should NOT be dismissed after the Gospel with the unbaptized, because they are required to assist at Mass, the entire Mass. What you can do is be present for the others in the class when they do celebrate the various rites.
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Ok, now I get it 🙂 Thanks. Yeah, I don’t leave after the gospel or anything because I need to take communion. I know what you mean now.
 
another problem arises when “RCIA” includes baptized adults, and that is when a non-Catholic baptized Christian seeks full communion with the Church and is preparing for Confirmation and 1st communion, quite often he may be very well instructed in basic Christian doctrine and scripture. He needs education of course in Catholic practice, sacraments etc., but may have had very good spiritual formation.

Others in the class are undergoing initial conversion from a life that is anything but Christian, and whether baptized or not, may have had little or no religious instruction, have never heard the Gospel proclamation. This applies sadly even to some baptized Catholics.

It presents quite a challenge for the parish and those directing sacramental preparation to meet the varying needs of everyone in the group. Also, for true RCIA, it can take several years for a person to arrive at the point where they are finally ready to ask for full initiation. Other baptized adults may be fully prepared for Confirmation in a year or less. It is hard to explain, “How come he is making his first communion but I have to wait?”

For anyone in this situation let me advise patience, and not to compare your progress with that of others in the class. You do not necessarily know all the details of their situation. Everybody starts out from a different point, has arrived here from a different place, and makes the journey at their own pace. Please be willing to work with your director who is doing his best to meet your needs.
 
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