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Original Order of Sacraments of Initiation
Diocese of Honolulu see below for registration and dates - Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Age of Discretion
- For children baptized Catholic as infants, Confirmation is to be celebrated at the age of discretion, that is, about 7 years old, and will be celebrated at the same Mass with first Holy Communion (RC no. 11; canon 891). 42. A certificate of Catholic Baptism must be presented to the parish where Confirmation and first Holy Communion will be celebrated, unless the child was baptized at that same parish and the record of Baptism has been verified. 43. Preparation for the Sacraments: As primary educators of their children, parents have the right and the duty to be involved in preparing their children for Confirmation and first Holy Communion. The parish is to offer programs to parents to teach them practical ways to fulfill their role and deepen their own faith life. The catechesis offered to parents should help them grow in their own understanding and appreciation of the sacraments and enable them to catechize their children more effectively (NDC no. 36A, 3a). 44. While attendance in a parish, school, or home catechetical program is required, it is not sufficient preparation in and of itself for the reception of the sacraments. Parents are to be reminded that they must accompany their children to Sunday Mass, initiating their children into the worship of the community and encouraging them to participate as fully as possible. 45. However, the fundamental decision about receiving the sacraments of initiation takes place at Baptism. Having received Catholic Baptism, children have the right to be prepared for and to receive Confirmation and first Holy Communion (canons 843, 912). Baptized Catholic children may not be denied the sacraments because their parents do not regularly practice the faith. Such parents should be encouraged to participate in the sacramental preparation process with their child with the hope of encouraging the parents to greater practice. 46. Baptized Catholic children are not to be denied the sacraments because of difficult family situations, as long as they can be adequately prepared for the sacraments. In situations where divorced, separated, or unmarried parents have joint custody of their child, both parents should ordinarily consent to their child receiving the sacraments.
The reception of the sacraments may be delayed until the parents are able to agree. 47. Parents who choose to prepare their child at home with the help and direction of the pastor are required to use the same or equivalent materials used in the parish catechetical process. Home-schooling parents and their children are to participate in certain elements of the parish process, including parent sessions, rehearsals, and liturgical celebrations. 48. Considerations regarding Students in Catholic Schools: If the child attends a Catholic school, catechetical preparation is to be done there. Pastors are to presume that children enrolled in second grade in a Catholic school have received sufficient catechetical preparation for the sacraments. 49. However, family participation in retreats, parent sessions, rehearsals, and liturgical celebrations are to take place in their own parish. Also the celebration of the sacraments of initiation always takes place in the parish, not in a school. 50. In a parochial school, special sensitivity must be shown to children from other parishes enrolled in the school. The proper place of celebration of the sacraments remains the child’s home parish. Every effort must be made to safeguard and support participation of the child in his or her proper parish. January 10, 2016 8 51. At the start of the second grade, all Catholic schools are to remind parents in written form of the need to attend Mass at their home parish, inform the parish that their child will be catechized for the sacraments in a Catholic school, register with the parish if this has not been done, and begin the process of family integration with their home parish in order to receive the sacraments there.
- Parish and school programs are to be closely coordinated and conducted in conjunction with one another to the maximum extent possible. Although students may be in separate catechetical programs, those children who are members of the same parish are to celebrate the sacraments together and retreats, parent sessions, rehearsal are to be done together. 53. Content for Catechesis: For children baptized as infants, preliminary preparation takes place in the first grade or earlier and a more intentional and focused preparation for first Penance, Confirmation, and first Holy Communion takes place in the second grade. 54. The administration of Confirmation and first Holy Communion to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity, are able to renew baptismal promises, and can receive the Body and Blood of Christ with faith and devotion (canons 889, §2, 913). 55. Scheduling the Date: A date for Confirmation and first Holy Communion is set by the parish contacting the Office of the Bishop. Ordinarily these will take place beginning during the Easter season until the early fall. What is said below regarding the bishop applies equally to the vicar general or other priest who substitutes for the bishop on occasion. 56. Attire: Since Confirmation and first Holy Communion are sacraments of initiation, completing Baptism, and since the newly baptized are given a white garment, white should be considered as the preferred color for shirts or dresses. Veils are permitted but not required for girls. 57. Celebration of the Liturgy: The parish is to consult with the Office of Worship regarding the details of the liturgical ceremony. The Office of Worship must approve worship aides prepared by the parish.
- “Ritual Masses are connected to the celebration of certain sacraments or sacramentals. They are prohibited on Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, on Solemnities, on the days within the Octave of Easter, on the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), on Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week (General Instruction of the Roman Missal no. 372).” If the sacraments of initiation are celebrated on those days, the prayers and readings must be those assigned to the day, not those of the ritual Mass. On other days, the selections for ritual Masses in the Roman Missal may be used for the prayers, and the Lectionary for Mass, Volume IV, provides options for readings for Christian initiation in nos. 750-769. 59. If the candidates for the sacraments are to perform the function of reader, they should be well prepared. Providing the readers a copy of the text is a good idea so that they may practice in advance. However, readers are to read from the lectionary during the Mass. (See the Guidelines for Lectors available from the diocesan Office of Worship.) 60. A deacon, if present, is to read the Gospel and hold the chrism for the bishop while confirming. In the absence of a deacon, a concelebrating priest should fulfill these functions. The Universal Prayers, prepared in advance, are also to be read by the deacon or, in his absence, by members of the faithful. January 10, 2016 9 61. The pastor of the parish, or another priest, deacon, or catechist, is to present the candidates to the bishop before the homily (RC no. 21). If multiple parishes are present, each pastor may present his own candidates. 62. For the renewal of baptismal promises, the candidates should be rehearsed to respond, “I do,” loudly and clearly.
The candidates should also be well rehearsed for the reception of Confirmation, including their responses. 63. Confirmation Name: Due to the unity between Baptism and Confirmation, the candidates may use their baptismal name for Confirmation. However, by custom, they may take a different name for Confirmation. A new Confirmation name may be chosen from among the names of holy men and women of the Scriptures, of the saints, or of virtues (e.g., faith, charity). If the name of a saint is chosen, the title “saint” and the place are omitted. (E.g., if St. Catherine of Siena is chosen, then the Confirmation name is “Catherine.”) 64. Communion under Both Forms: Catechesis should include the importance of the full sign of the Eucharist. While children are strongly encouraged to receive Communion under both forms, they should not be forced to do so, especially in regard to the chalice. Children should be taught they never receive wine at Holy Communion, but the Blood of Christ. Children may be given a small taste of unconsecrated wine during their preparation or at least be warned about the taste so that they will not make unpleasant faces when they receive the Blood of Christ. They and their parents may then decide whether they should receive Communion from the chalice. Even when children do not receive Communion from the chalice, they should be taught about it so that they will understand what is being offered when they see others receiving Communion from the chalice. 65. Ideally those receiving first Holy Communion receive the Body of Christ from the bishop or another priest and the Blood of Christ from a deacon. Pastors are encouraged to invite clergy from neighboring parishes in order to achieve this ideal. Registration Call the Religious Ed office (808-734-8979 ext 225) Saint Patrick Church is scheduled to begin original order for Sacraments in 2019-2020.
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