Confirmation

Kevin Doherty, Adm., Parish of Clonmany

Welcome

We get it — we really do! Often, coming to this page is about finding out “When is Confirmation?” But that’s an approach well past its sell-by date. It comes from another Ireland.   

When we look at the reality of Church life in Ireland today, with so many not interested (apart from a big day out) then it’s obvious that to keep on seeing Confirmation as about (firstly) dates and times is a nonsense.

Instead, we see Confirmation as offering, and respecting, real choice.

The choice is between religion or Faith:

  • RELIGION is a thing to do … and asks nothing of us. It’s a box-ticking exercise.
    (it’s about a big day)
  • FAITH is a life to live … and asks everything of us. It’s a life-choosing surrender.
    (it’s about a big life)

As a community of FAITH in Clonmany, obviously we have no interest in religion.

This is why, as a parish, when we prepare for Confirmation, we do not see it as ‘a thing to do’, something that has to happen because a girl or boy happens to be in 6th Class. Confirmation can happen at any age, or not at all.

We encourage those who are interested in receiving Confirmation, and their families, to honestly question if it is for them, or not – and so, to honestly stay, or to honestly leave. This reminds us that Faith is a choice, with privileges and responsibilities.

 

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT OUR CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Now that we see why our parish approach to Confirmation is about “We are who we are!”, let us look at how our parish approach to Confirmation is about “We are who we are!”

CONFIRMATION IS REALLY ABOUT 12-YEAR-OLDS – NOT SO MUCH!
It is important to move away from an understanding that sees Confirmation as something to do only with those who are preparing to receive the sacrament (usually around the age of 12). Everyone in our parish has a role to play in preparing for and celebrating the sacrament :

  • The girls and boys themselves (our ‘candidates’ for Confirmation),
  • Their parents and guardians, and their families
  • Our parishioners — the candidates ‘Parish Family’

HOME, PARISH, SCHOOL WORKING TOGETHER

Traditionally, preparation for Confirmation was confined to the school. Often teachers did a wonderful job in preparing children for the sacrament. They still do. However, the days of leaving this preparation to the school alone are gone.

Today, the responsibility of preparing the children and families of our parish for Confirmation belongs to everyone in our Parish Family: Home, Parish, School. All working together … like the legs of a milking stool — everyone lending support.

At the very heart of everything is, of course, the Home. The Parish role and the School role is to compliment each other, and for both to support the role of the Home in preparing for the Sacrament.

 

For too long Confirmation was experienced as a type of ‘spectator sport’, where often the only involvement required for families was, essentially, to know the date and the time of the celebration. This was a calamity, because it meant, as a parish and as a Church, we settled for so much less than is possible.

Our approach today involves everyone, especially parents and guardians, in a much more proactive way. Our ‘candidates’ for Confirmation will have much more input (in a good way) from their parish. It is the kind of input (some reading, some quizzes, some gatherings) that will require the help and guidance of parents. This, hopefully, will help show how the parish ’leg’ is playing its part in reminding these girls and boys how absolutely wonderful they are, and the dreams of GOD for them.

 

Also, we remember the journey towards Confirmation does not begin in 6th class, but is ongoing (especially from baptism).

 

Saint Teresa of Avila, who has written so beautifully about the journey of our soul into GOD, describes our life in Jesus Christ as like rain falling into the sea. They become one.

The sacrament of Confirmation is about this living encounter with the Risen Christ. We understand that secular religion (who has decided that GOD either does not exist, or is utterly irrelevant) tries to make Conformation into something else, into ‘a big day’, only.

It has no understanding of the profound depths of love we journey to when we dare encounter the Risen Jesus in the sacraments. And so, there is this difference of understanding:

  • Secularism thinks we are about
    religion as a thing to do;
  • Disciples of Jesus know we are about
    Faith as a life to lead.

 

Please keep this difference in mind when considering how we approach the sacrament of Confirmation in our parish.