KEEP THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES IN MIND.
St. Margaret Mary Parish
Confirmation Program Guidelines
(Taken from: Sacramental
Guidelines for the Archdiocese of Hartford)
PARENTS
a)
The
initiation of children into the sacramental life is for the most part the
responsibility and concern of Christian parents. They are to form and
gradually increase a spirit of faith in the children and, with the help of
catechetical institutions, prepare them for the fruitful reception of the
sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist.
b)
Suitable
parental instruction is to precede the celebration of the sacrament.
c)
Where
the faith of the parents is manifestly weak, the Confirmation of their children
provides a teachable moment for spiritual renewal. However, the event should
be viewed as an occasion for affirmation and hope, not challenge and
confrontation.
CANDIDATES FOR CONFIRMATION
a)
The
call to confirmation comes as a result of inner maturity and commitment of
faith in Jesus. This factor should prevail over mere social custom.
b)
The
age of Confirmation will vary depending upon the psychological level of
development in the faith. In the future, the ninth grade will be the expected
minimum. However, it is preferable to confirm in the tenth grade rather than
earlier.
c)
The
immediate program in preparation for Confirmation should be gradually raised to
an increasingly higher age of maturity. A gradual process will insure an
orderly transition.
d)
Where
a candidate is manifestly unprepared for Confirmation because of negative
motivation or total neglect of the Eucharist, the sacrament is to be postponed.
e)
A
personal interview should be conducted between each candidate and parish
leadership in order to ascertain a readiness for effective reception of the
sacrament.
f)
In
some parishes Confirmation candidates are assigned spiritual advisors taken
from active members of the Christian Community, including younger members
themselves recently confirmed, who will provide a spiritual model for the
candidates. This has met with some measure of success.
g)
A
post-Confirmation youth program, directed by a youth minister, should be the
goal of every active parish.
CATECHESIS/INSTRUCTION
Each parish is to have at least a two year
Confirmation program encompassing the following dimensions:
• Confirmation as
celebrating the Paschal Mystery
• Confirmation as sign of
initiation into adult faith
• Confirmation as gift of hope and challenge to
believers and community.
• Confirmation as sign of messianic community
expressed in service and mission.
• Confirmation as
affirmation of faith-community.
