Question about making confirmation in the RC Church.

LordSutch

Is there a given day when children make their confirmation in the RC Church? Like any day of the week, or is it just on a Sunday during the church service? I am referring to when the children turn eleven years of age.

looksee

It tends to be a particular day when children from one or more schools are confirmed together.

LordSutch

So not necessarily on a Sunday?

vicwatson

Ours is a thursday

looksee

I rather think it is usually not on a Sunday, but maybe different areas do different things and it is a while since I had any involvement.

LordSutch

Thanks for that, the reason I ask is because (regarding a friends family) there seems to be a clash between a confirmation on a Friday with a theatre performance. My immediate reaction was why & how could they be having a Mass confirmation on a Friday (instead of a Sunday)

But it seems like it is possible, which is a shame.

To my way of thinking Sunday seems like such an obvious day to have such religious events.

uck51js9zml2yt

From listening to people in my locale, some schools are moving back to having it on a Sunday as part of the general mass.

IIRC, I made mine on a Saturday afternoon many years ago.

uck51js9zml2yt

From listening to people in my locale, some schools are moving back to having it on a Sunday as part of the general mass.

IIRC, I made mine on a Saturday afternoon many years ago.

lazybones32

It'd never be rolled into a Sunday Mass: there could be 90 children being confirmed, which would make the Mass run for about 3-4 hours.
I've seen adult confirmation and baptism happening with the Saturday vigil Mass but the kids get a day to themselves

Mrs OBumble

LordSutch wrote: »

To my way of thinking Sunday seems like such an obvious day to have such religious events.

Confirmation is usually carried out by the bishop. Your average Bishop has maybe 40-50 parishes (I guess), and there aren't enough Sundays in the year for one each, after you take out the unsuitable ones.

uck51js9zml2yt

lazybones32 wrote: »

It'd never be rolled into a Sunday Mass: there could be 90 children being confirmed, which would make the Mass run for about 3-4 hours.
I've seen adult confirmation and baptism happening with the Saturday vigil Mass but the kids get a day to themselves

It depends on numbers.

LordSutch

lazybones32 wrote: »

It'd never be rolled into a Sunday Mass: there could be 90 children being confirmed, which would make the Mass run for about 3-4 hours.
I've seen adult confirmation and baptism happening with the Saturday vigil Mass but the kids get a day to themselves

Unless of course it clashes with something else, like I mention in post # 6 :cool:

I guess the massive numbers involved in the RC Church dictate that any day is possible for the confirmation providing the Bishop is free? I am looking at this from a C of I perspective, so its a completly different set-up.

Many thanks for all your replies...

lottpaul

Asked a few teacher friends who said that 99% of time Confirmations are on a weekday. Parishes are normally just told when the bishop is coming but in Dublin diocese at least most confirmations are performed by priests nominated by the Archbishop. The Archbishop himself performs a few but couldn't get around to every parish. Also, in some parishes he has performed a Confirmation service rather than a full Mass+Confirmation -- shorter ceremony etc. Am not sure why officially but the teachers involved felt it was a practical and realistic approach in a parish where regular Mass attendance was extremely low.
Here in Kerry the "season" kicks off in a few weeks and the bishop seems to do 2 ceremonies on most day.

http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/page/communications/important_date/confirmation_dates/

Mrs OBumble

lottpaul wrote: »

....Am not sure why officially but the teachers involved felt it was a practical and realistic approach in a parish where regular Mass attendance was extremely low.

A related factor is that teachers themselves are paid to work on weekdays, not on Sundays.

LordSutch

Teachers? how are teachers involved? unless the confirmation is done from school?

and sorry if it all seems totally obvious to you, but this is all news to me.

thanks.

lottpaul

LordSutch wrote: »

Teachers? how are teachers involved? unless the confirmation is done from school.

From what I know of local schools and parishes locally all of the preparation is school based and done by teachers. Some priests are better than others and visit classes in the run up to the ceremony but all of the ground work is carried out from school. I realise it may be different in city parishes/dioceses but not here so far.
It must be very disruptive for small schools as they have no option but to close on the day - and nowadays that counts as one of their holidays, not an extra. Bigger ones just continue with business as usual.
The only perk for all of this seems to have been a meal with the bishop or at the parishes expense. That may be changing too.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children to Mass on certain weekends in the months leading up to the ceremonies but my trusted informant tells me that sometimes this only involves them in lighting candles, receiving magazines, doing a reading or 2 etc. It varies greatly.
(On a sadder note I've heard some regular Mass goers complain that there's another "childrens Mass" coming up and arranging to attend a different church that day to "avoid the crowd")

All of the above would be true for First Holy Communions and First Confessions.

looksee

LordSuch, have you really not been aware of all the discussions about the role of the RC church in schools, especially primary schools? A great deal of the debate is around the level of input schools have into church ceremonies.

freshpopcorn

I'm speaking about my area regarding the communion and conformation.
Communion is generally held on a Saturday.
Conformation is generally held on a Thursday.
In the lead up to both the teacher generally preps the class with prayers and what info they need to know.
The Communion class has to attend one mass a month from January until May.
Same goes for the Conformation class(not sure of how many masses)
However, I don't think they make a fuss if the child doesn't attend. At these masses they've to do a bit of singing, prayers of the faithful, etc.
The priest generally calls into the class about once a week after Christmas just for a chat with the class.
In the lead up the ceremonies the class attends the church to practice and to get them used the whole ceremon and what they've got to do.
Teachers and priests don't take it as serious as it used be before. Just as long as the they behave

LordSutch

looksee wrote: »

LordSuch, have you really not been aware of all the discussions about the role of the RC church in schools, especially primary schools? A great deal of the debate is around the level of input schools have into church ceremonies.

I am approaching this whole topic from my Church of Ireland/Anglican bubble.
Its very different for us, hence my basic questions, but I'm learning.