Confirmation

There have been several important changes to the parish guidelines for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation within the Diocese of Stockton. Those guidelines are below for your reference, or you can download them by clicking here. Additionally, the information sheet that the parish needs to fill out for the Bishop has also been updated. That form can be accessed by clicking here.

Sacrament of Confirmation Outline and Overview

Below are some key points for your consideration as you prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation within your parish. The following pages contain detailed information about each element of the celebration. It is important that you read through all of this information before finalizing your parish’s plans.

If there are questions regarding any aspect of the Confirmation liturgy, please contact Virginia Meagher at the Chancery Office, 466-0636, or via email at vmeagher@stocktondiocese.org.

Key points for consideration:

• Five to seven experienced servers should be vested in albs and ready to practice with the Master of Ceremonies at least 30 minutes prior to the start of confirmation.
• In addition to the vessels and items normally prepared for Mass, a pitcher of water and a larger bowl with a quartered lemon and a couple of hand towels are also to be at the credence table
• Normally, the readings of the day will be used. If only two readings are assigned for the day, an additional reading may be chosen from those provided in the Lectionary for Mass for the ritual Mass for Confirmation. If readings other than those of the day are chosen, please notify the Bishop of this fact no later than ten (10) days before the celebration of Confirmation. The Bishop may still elect to go with the readings of the day.
• No photographs or videos by are to be taken during the Mass, including the celebration of Confirmation, with the exception of the parish’s official photographer.
• While the Bishop is confirming each Confirmandi, an official photographer provided by the parish will stand in the sanctuary and take one picture of each confirmation (in a manner similar to the pictures taken of graduates as they receive their diplomas). The Bishop will not be available to pose for individual photos either before or after confirmation.
• Any announcements to be made follow the prayer after Communion. The Bishop will thank those involved in the preparations for and execution of the event. No other thank yous are necessary or appropriate.
• It is recommended that a stipend of not less than $50 be offered to the Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies. The deacons and lay men who accompany the Bishop do so at their own expense and without remuneration from the Diocese. A stipend is an appropriate way to express the parish’s gratitude for his ministry.
• Please return the Confirmation Information Sheet to the Chancery office no later than ten (10) days before the liturgy.
• Do not prepare a binder for the Bishop with the prayers or readings. All prayers will come from the Rite of Confirmation (which the Bishop will bring) or from the Sacramentary. Readings should be proclaimed from the Lectionary and, if available, the Book of the Gospels. If the Mass will be in both English and Spanish, both the English and Spanish Sacramentary should be available.

Sacrament of Confirmation Preparations for the Celebration of Confirmation

1. Servers. If possible, five (5) servers at least should be appointed. One will carry the cross (and hold the book); two will carry candles; and two will hold the miter and pastoral staff. A sixth server can be assigned to carry the incense. If desired, a seventh server can be appointed as book bearer.
   
   Experienced servers should be assembled, vested in albs, and ready to practice with the Master of Ceremonies at least 30 minutes before the liturgy. The Master of Ceremonies will assign and review with them their duties prior to the ceremony. Adequate seating is to be reserved for the servers.
2. In addition to the vessels and items normally prepared for Mass, the following are also to be prepared at the credence table for use after the anointing with chrism:
   a. a pitcher of water and a larger bowl with a lemon cut into quarters;
   b. a couple of hand towels.
   
   Enough bread and wine for the assembly are to be prepared in one plate and one or more flagons prior to Mass. Communion from the tabernacle should be used only in exceptional circumstances.
3. Those to be confirmed are to be seated in the assembly with their sponsors before the liturgy begins.

Introductory Rites

4. Before the procession begins, the incense bearer presents the open censer to the Bishop, who places incense in the censer.
5. The order of the procession is as follows:
   
   • incense-bearer (if used);
   • the server carrying the cross between two servers carrying lighted candles;
   • extraordinary ministers of communion (if needed);
   • readers;
   • the deacon (or reader) carrying the Book of the Gospels;
   • concelebrating presbyters, with the pastor of the parish at the end;
   • the Bishop;
   • a little behind the Bishop, the deacon(s) assisting him;
   • servers who assist with the miter, pastoral staff, and book.
6. When the Bishop reaches the foot of the altar area, he reverences the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle only if the tabernacle is located directly behind the altar, otherwise, the Bishop bows to the altar.
   
   If incense is used, the Bishop incenses the altar.  Please note that incense is not added to the censer by the Bishop at this time.
7. During the Easter season the use of the Sprinkling Rite is recommended in place of the Penitential Rite. The Gloria may be sung during the sprinkling.

Liturgy of the Word

8. Normally, the readings of the day will be used. If only two readings are assigned for the day, an additional reading may be chosen from those provided in the Lectionary for Mass for the ritual Mass for Confirmation. If readings other than those of the day are chosen, please notify the Bishop of this fact no later than ten (10) days before the celebration of Confirmation. The Bishop may still elect to go with the readings of the day.
9. Readers are to be assigned to proclaim the readings before the Gospel. Confirmandi, as a rule, should not exercise this ministry, unless they do so regularly at Sunday Mass.
10. A deacon, if present, proclaims the Gospel; otherwise, a concelebrant proclaims the Gospel, after receiving a blessing from the Bishop. After the proclamation, the Book of the Gospels is brought by the deacon or concelebrant to the Bishop for veneration.

Rite of Confirmation

11. After the proclamation of the Gospel, the pastor presents the Confirmandi to the Bishop. If the number of Confirmandi is small, their names should be called individually; otherwise, they are presented as a group.
12. The Bishop will preach the homily. If available, a free-standing, hand-held microphone will be used by the Bishop in talking with the candidates.
13. After the homily, the Confirmandi stand and renew their baptismal promises. They should be instructed to respond as a group to the Bishop’s questions with an enthusiastic “I do.”
14. If the number of Confirmandi is small (i.e., fewer than ten), the Bishop is open to laying hands on each person individually.
15. The Bishop alone lays hands (or extends hands over the Confirmandi) during the prayer All-powerful God. . . .
16. The Bishop will stand when anointing the Confirmandi. The Confirmandi approach the Bishop two-by-two and lined up one behind another. The Godparent presents the candidate to the Bishop by saying the candidate’s confirmation name: Bishop, I present N. The name should be spoken loudly. Name tags, printed with the Confirmation name only, can be helpful. The Confirmation name may be either the Candidate’s baptismal name or the name of a saint.
    During the anointing of the Candidates, there should be no singing. Soft instrumental music may be played.
    The Confirmandi should be instructed on their parts of the ritual dialogue with the Bishop. They should respond with a confident Amen and Also with you.
    
    While the Bishop is confirming each Confirmandi, a photographer provided by the parish, will stand in the sanctuary and take one picture of each confirmation (in a manner similar to the pictures taken of graduates as they receive their diplomas). THESE ARE THE ONLY PICTURES THAT THE BISHOP WILL TAKE.
17. After the anointing, the Bishop will return to his chair, where servers with towels, bowl, a lemon cut into quarters, and water will come to him.
18. The general intercessions are announced by a deacon, a reader, or a cantor. In composing intercessions, the model provided in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 69-71 should be followed. The prayers should include intercessions for the Church, civil authorities, those in need, and the needs of the local community related to the celebration. It is recommended that there are no more than five petitions.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

19. If a collection is taken up at the Confirmation Mass, the newly confirmed and their sponsors should be included. Envelopes for this purpose might be distributed to the Confirmandi and their sponsors in the weeks before the liturgy.
20. Some of those newly confirmed may present the gifts of bread and wine.
21. Communion should be distributed under both kinds, with two cups for each distribution of the consecrated bread. The Eucharistic bread distributed for Holy Communion should be consecrated within the Confirmation Mass.
    If there are not enough concelebrating presbyters or deacons available for the distribution of Communion, commissioned extraordinary ministers of Communion should be ready to serve.

Concluding Rite

22. Any announcements to be made follow the prayer after Communion. The Bishop will thank those involved in the preparations for and execution of the event. No other thank yous are necessary or appropriate.
23. The procession out the church follows the same order as at the beginning of the Mass.

Varia

24. Dress for Confirmandi and sponsors. Candidates and sponsors should dress modestly. Shorts, bare midriffs, and plunging necklines are examples of inappropriate dress.
    Because the stole is a sign of the ministerial office of a priest or deacon, it is not permitted for Confirmandi to wear any type of stole for Confirmation.
25. Confirmation names. Candidates may use their baptismal name or the name of a saint as their Confirmation name. Candidates whose baptismal names are not those of saints should be encouraged to pick a saint as his or her patron(ess). All Confirmandi should then research the life of the chosen patron and identify the virtues of his or her sainthood.
26. Sponsors. Insofar as possible, each candidate for Confirmation should have his or her sponsor present. It is recommended that one of those who acted as a sponsor at baptism should also serve as sponsor at Confirmation.
    Parents may not serve as Confirmation sponsors for their children. They may, however, present their children to the Bishop for the anointing with chrism.
27. The music selected should be artistically good, liturgically appropriate, and pastorally suitable. A cantor—not a music group—should lead the assembly in singing so that there is full, active, and conscious participation.
    Because the importance of the sung participation of the Confirmandi and sponsors cannot be understated, the songs to be sung at the Confirmation Mass are to be selected a year in advance so that they can learn them during their catechetical sessions throughout the year. At the very least, the Confirmandi and their sponsors should know the acclamations for the Eucharistic Prayer (Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen), the Alleluia, and the Communion song.
28. The Bishop will review all sacramental registers on the occasion of Confirmation in a parish.
29. No photographs or videos by are to be taken during the Mass, including the celebration of Confirmation, with the exception of the parish’s official photographer.
    The Bishop will not be available to pose for individual photos either before or after confirmation.
30. Confirmation certificates to be signed by the Bishop should be sent to the Chancery Office a month in advance of the Confirmation.
    
    Confirmation certificates should not be distributed during or after the Mass in the Church. It is preferable that they be given out in the hall following the liturgy.
31. The custom whereby the Bishop enjoys a meal with the priests of the parish and the neighboring parishes is encouraged. The Confirmation catechists would be most welcome. The Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies should also be invited. This meal can be either before or after the liturgy, depending on the time of the Mass.
32. Stipend. The customary offering that is given to the Bishop on the occasion of Confirmation is used for charitable purposes and to offset expenses connected with Episcopal ministry.
    
    It is recommended that a stipend of not less than $50 be offered to the Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies. The deacons who accompany the Bishop do so at their own expense and without remuneration from the Diocese. A stipend is an appropriate way to express the parish’s gratitude for his ministry.
33. Parking space for the Bishop. A place should be reserved for the Bishop’s car near the rectory or the vesting area.
34. Vestments. The parish is to provide the chasuble and stole for use by the Bishop.
35. The celebration of Confirmation is not an occasion for witness talks or acknowledgements by the candidates as if it were a graduation ceremony, or for other non-liturgical rituals, which are best left to Confirmation retreats and preparation programs.
36. Please return the Confirmation Information Sheet to the Chancery office no later than ten (10) days before the liturgy.
37. Do not prepare a binder for the Bishop with the prayers or readings. All prayers will come from the Rite of Confirmation (which the Bishop will bring) or from the Sacramentary. Readings should be proclaimed from the Lectionary and the Book of the Gospels. If the Mass will be in both English and Spanish, be sure to have both the English and Spanish Sacramentary ready.
38. If there are questions regarding any aspect of the Confirmation liturgy, please contact Virginia Meagher at the Chancery Office, 466-0636, or via email at vmeagher@stocktondiocese.org.