1. Planning the Liturgy
Confirmation is a very important stage in the initiation of a Christian and should be celebrated with due reverence and joy. The significance of a Confirmation Mass reaches beyond the candidates to their families, schools, the whole parish and the Diocese. The presence of the bishop, clergy and faithful makes the liturgy a real manifestation of the wider Church. Because it is a liturgy for the whole Parish, it is appropriate to have other parish groups involved in their areas of competence (e.g. readers, musicians, hospitality), representing the diversity of ages, backgrounds and ministries in the parish.
If it is expected that there will be more than 70 candidates please consider having two Confirmation Masses on different days/nights or even on the same night (e.g. 5 pm and 7 pm), as larger crowds often mean some family members are excluded and the ceremony is so long that the attention of the younger people is hard to sustain.
The Confirmation Mass should be planned in good time. Please forward the details of the proposed readings, prayers, music, etc., and any draft booklet to Fr Peter Williams, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, PO Box 6644, Parramatta NSW 2150 or to fax 9890 8569 at least four weeks in advance. Please do not go into print with booklets until Fr Peter has approved them.
2. Choice of Mass Texts and Readings
If the Confirmation Mass is celebrated on a Sunday of Advent, Lent or Easter, or on a Solemnity, the Mass (both Readings and Prayers) of that Day is used. On other days one of the Ritual Masses for Confirmation (both Readings and Prayers) should be chosen. Please select collects, a first reading, responsorial psalm, second reading, verse before the Gospel and a Gospel passage. The translations used should be those in the normal approved Lectionary, not the Lectionary for Masses with Children or some other bible translation.
3. The Presentation of the Candidates
After the Gospel the candidates for Confirmation are presented by the Parish Priest or a catechist. (Please note that children of Oriental Rite such as Maronites are not presented at this time: see (7) below.) The candidates stand when their name is called and respond 'PRESENT' in a confident voice. The Bishop will then normally go to the ambo to preach the homily.
4. The Renewal of Baptismal Promises
When invited by the Bishop at the end of his homily, candidates stand for the renewal of baptismal promises (which takes the place of the Creed). The candidates should be well rehearsed to answer in a loud voice ‘I do’ to the questions with a confident voice.
5. The Laying on of Hands
If there are more than twenty candidates the Laying On of Hands and Prayer will be conducted from the chair at the centre of the sanctuary in front of the altar. If there are fewer than twenty candidates the Bishop and Parish Priest will lay hands on each candidate, in which case the candidates should come forward and stand in a line at the entrance to the sanctuary. The Parish Priest and any assistant priests are invited to extend their hands also during the Prayer of Confirmation.
6. The Anointing
For the anointing of the candidates the Bishop will be seated in a chair at the centre of the sanctuary in front of the altar. Coming to the altar emphasises the connection between Confirmation and the other two sacraments of initiation, Baptism and the Eucharist; it also allows the Church to fulfil its promise at Baptism to bring the candidates back again to the altar for the Eucharist and Confirmation. This central position should also ensure that the whole congregation witnesses the confirmation of every candidate.
In order to avoid drawing out the anointing unnecessarily, the candidates and their sponsors may come forward in two rows, so that two candidates kneel in front of the Bishop at a time. The sponsor stands a little behind the candidate, placing the right hand on the candidate’s shoulder. The Parish Priest stands on the Bishop’s left to introduce the candidates by their confirmation names (written on their cards), unless they are wearing their confirmation names in large clear print on name-badges etc. An assistant stands on the Bishop’s right and holds the Chrism.
The candidates should be well rehearsed to respond to the bishop when he anoints the candidate with the words “N—, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” with the response “Amen” and to respond to “Peace be with you” with the words “And also with you”. The Bishop will then shake hands with the newly confirmed and say a few words of encouragement to them before the candidate moves away to allow the next in line to take their place. It helps to have someone marshal the procession of the candidates so that there are not long delays or confusion.
The servers should be ready for the Bishop to wash his hands as soon as the last candidate has been confirmed. Lemon or soap with water and a towel would be appreciated.
7. Maronite, Melkite and other Catholics of Oriental Rites
Catholics of Oriental Rites such as Maronites are confirmed at the time of Baptism. Sometimes their families desire that their children nonetheless join their ‘Latin Rite’ friends in catechesis for Confirmation and in the ceremony. They are most welcome. However, we must be very clear in our own minds and in our actions that we respect the fact that they have already been confirmed. After the anointing and the washing of the Bishop’s hands any such children should be presented by the Parish Priest or a catechist; he or she announces that these children have already been confirmed but are joining their friends in this celebration and will now receive a special blessing. The candidates stand when their name is called and they come forward for a blessing. They do not have a sponsor.
8. First Communion
Any children making their First Holy Communion during the same Mass should be the first to come to Communion.
9. Certificates and Photographs
The Bishop would like personally to sign the Confirmation Certificate of each candidate he confirms. Please forward the certificates to the Bishop’s office well before the date of the Mass. When they are signed, they will be returned to the parish by post. A group photograph of the candidates with the Bishop may be taken after the Mass. Professional or family photographers should be discouraged from entering the sanctuary or crowding the candidates as they are confirmed. Individuals may be photographed with the Bishop after Mass.
10. After Mass
Upon the conclusion of Mass, the procession should leave by the main doors. The Bishop will stand outside the doors of the church to greet the people as they emerge and join the newly confirmed and their families for photographs.
11. Vestments and Chrism
The Bishop will bring all his vestments and the Sacred Chrism.
12. Concelebrants
The Parish Priest and any assistant or visiting priests will normally concelebrate the Mass with the Bishop. One of them should proclaim the Gospel and prepare the chalice during the Mass, unless a deacon is present to do so. Whoever proclaims the Gospel first asks the Bishop’s blessing and after the reading presents the Gospel Book to the Bishop to reverence.
13. Assistants
The Bishop will normally have a Master of Ceremonies with him. It is nonetheless useful if a priest, deacon, acolyte or senior server is well-rehearsed and prepared to assist in directing proceedings as required; it would also help if there were several servers to facilitate a fitting and dignified celebration of the Confirmation Mass. The Bishop and clergy give Holy Communion to the faithful. To avoid prolonging Communion time unduly, some Acolytes or other Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may also be used.
14. Music
Music is a very important part of a celebration such as Confirmation. The following should be sung: the Entrance Hymn; the Gloria (liturgical season permitting); the Verse before the Gospel (‘Alleluia verse’); the Responses to the Preface; the Holy Holy; the Acclamation after the Consecration; the Great Amen; the Lamb of God; and Hymns at the Preparation of the Gifts, at Communion, and for the Recessional (if any). The Bishop will sing the Introduction to the Preface, the Preface, the “Let us proclaim”, the “Through him, with him”.
The following may also be sung: the Lord Have Mercy; the Responsorial Psalm; song(s) during the Anointing; and the Lord’s Prayer. The Bishop will sing the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer and its embolism.
15. Sound
Please organize a hand-held, free-standing or lapel microphone, not an over-the-ear ‘Madonna mike’.
16. Liturgical Environment
Special decorations may highlight the significance of this liturgy for the candidates and parishioners. If used, symbolic elements such as water, oil and flame should be placed where they will not impede movement in the sanctuary, where there is no danger to anyone from them and where they will not detract from the centrality of the altar, the ambo and the chair.
17. Parking
Please organise a parking spot for the Bishop.
Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP
Bishop of Parramatta
2010