What is a Confirmation/Baptism Mass like?

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What is the Mass like when you have a family entering? Like if it’s two parents and their baby entering all together? In my case, me and my wife are validly baptized Protestants joining the Catholic Church and we will have a son we want baptized when we come in as well. What would that Mass look like? Like what would the order of the Mass be and what would we do?
 
There isn’t such a thing as a Confirmation Mass or a Baptism Mass. A Mass is a Mass.

For the situation you describe you and your wife would join RCIA and come in during the Easter Vigil which is the ordinary time new Catholics come into the Church. Your baby would normally be baptized some time after that.

There will be many who will strongly disagree with my answer to your question as you both appear to be validly baptized and will be candidates rather than catechumens. However most US parishes today do not have the resources to separate the two and will do the preparation of both during RCIA, with the catechumens receiving all three sacraments of initiation at the Vigil and candidates receiving the Eucharist and confirmation after making a profession of faith.

Your first step is to speak to the RCIA director in your parish to determine the next step. RCIA is starting in the next few weeks in many parishes so I wouldn’t wait to long.
 
I have been to a couple of Masses like that recently, although the vigil is the norm sometimes it is done at other Masses. There’s always a good reason, not just personal preference.

The Mass is as normal until after the homily when any baptisms are performed, followed by the confirmations.
For the confirmations the candidates request confirmatio, pprofess their faith and then go forward to the Bishop, or in certain circumstances a priest who is given special permission from the Bishop, for the laying on of hands. The Mass then proceeds as normal until communion when those being received go up first.

There is typically a rehearsal or preparation session just before the day and there will be order of service booklets in the church on the day, saying what to do and when, as well as reminders during the Mass itself.

The best person to talk to is your priest, if you haven’t already. He is the one who knows exactly how it is done in your parish, there can be variations. And of course he needs to arrange your preparation for the sacraments.

It is wonderful to hear that you are coming home, I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers.
 
Horton said:
There isn’t such a thing as a Confirmation Mass or a Baptism Mass. A Mass is a Mass.
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Well, yes and no.

There is a Rite of Baptism and. Rite of Confirmation. And ritual masses for these.
 
That’s what I what meant, rite of baptism in mass /rite of confirmation in mass
 
It would be a regular Mass and after the homily you would make your Profession of Faith, be confirmed, and then your baby would be baptized. Then Mass would continue as usual.
 
There are rites within a Mass such as the rite of confirmation but it isn’t a “confirmation Mass”. We rarely see the rite of baptism during a Mass in my area. Baptisms are almost always done outside Mass.

But regardless, a Mass is always a Mass.
 
Horton said:
There are rites within a Mass such as the rite of confirmation but it isn’t a “confirmation Mass”. We rarely see the rite of baptism during a Mass in my area. Baptisms are almost always done outside Mass.

But regardless, a Mass is always a Mass.
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While Confirmation can be celebrated within a regular Mass, there is, nonetheless, such a thing as a ritual Confirmation Mass, just like there is a Nuptial Mass.
 
@1ke makes a good point (I’m sure everyone is shocked! < end sarcasm>) If a Baptism takes place during Mass, the order of Mass is altered during the introductory rites and at the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word. For Confirmation only, not so much alteration occurs, but outside of the (pre)teens have those normally.

The Easter Vigil itself is in many ways a regular Mass, but the introductory rites and Liturgy of the Word are substantially altered there (with or without the reception of catechumens and/or candidates). And so it goes for any and every sacrament celebrated within Mass - it’s still a Mass, but there are altered portions of the order.
 
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When the rite of confirmation is removed, it still remains just a Mass. I set these up every year, working with the diociocen office of liturgy. There is the liturgy of the word, then the confirmation rite, and then the liturgy of the Eucharist. Skip the rite and there is the Mass.
 
Yes, it’s still the Mass, but there are specific Collects, Readings, and Intercessions proper to a Confirmation Mass, just as there are to a Nuptial Mass, an Ordination Mass, a Funeral Mass, etc.
 
TiberSwimmer90 said:
What is the Mass like when you have a family entering? Like if it’s two parents and their baby entering all together? In my case, me and my wife are validly baptized Protestants joining the Catholic Church and we will have a son we want baptized when we come in as well. What would that Mass look like? Like what would the order of the Mass be and what would we do?
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There are several ways this might be arranged. The most likely imo is that the parents would be received into full communion after the homily, basically in coordination with the profession of faith. You will, with the congregation, recite the Creed or reaffirm your baptismal promises. Then the candidates will read a brief statement of faith. The priest will then anoint your forehead with Chrism consecrated by the bishop during Holy Week. Then he will offer a sign of peace/welcome. You will then participate in the Eucharist with us, including receiving Holy Communion, which is the aim and completion of the initiation process.

A baby’s baptism can be paired with this in several ways. Usually baptism would precede confirmations, but it might be better to receive the parents first, perhaps at a different ceremony. That will be decided by priest and others involved in setting up the ceremonies.

You might be able to arrange being received/ confirme at a more private ceremony without mass. Baptism of an infant could follow, with everything completed at the next mass you attend with the reception of Communion.
 
My Parish often has an infant baptism during Mass. Confirmation usually takes place in a special Mass with the Bishop as principal celebrant.

Normally, adults joining the Catholic Church would do so at the Easter Vigil Celebration as part of the RCIA procedure. If there are special circumstances, the Bishop may allow the sacraments of initiation to take place at another Mass, but this would be unusual. If this is the case and it is a formal Mass, the family may be invited to join the entrance procession and take a front pew. In place of the Penitential Rite, there is a short rite involving you, your sponsors and your child expressing a wish to join the Catholic Church. The main Rites of Baptism and Confirmation would follow immediately after the Homily, with the Prayers of the Faithful and Baptismal Promises forming part of the Rite. Mass then continues with the Offertory.

You can expect a rehearsal, either with your RCIA team or with the priest.
 
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Just to clarify.

Uncatechized baptized adults are received into full communion at the Easter Vigil alongside the unbaptized.

Catechized adults should be received when they are ready. They may need some instruction, or spiritual preparation, or other help, but not the full catechesis needed for the uncatechized.

Different parishes may treat these differently. One may decide that any non-Catholic needs extensive catechesis, so all are received at the Easter Vigil. Others may recognize a non-Catholic’s experience with Christ as an adequate catechesis, and receive at any Sunday mass. Or even privately.
 
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