Sacraments Of Initiation
2023 Aug 30

From:
Office of Bishop

Date:
Wed, Aug 30, 2023 @ 11:46

Subject:

Sacraments of Initiation - Important Announcement

Dear Fathers,

At this time of year, many of our parishes are resuming sacramental preparation programs. Following inquiries from many Pastors, I would like to provide clarification regarding the Sacraments of Initiation as they relate to children.

“Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and to be prepared properly for it” (CCL 867.1).

Though it is common for parents to wait several months or even a few years to baptize their child, baptism is properly administered in infancy. Parents should not defer the baptism for the sake of combining this sacrament with other sacraments.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children should be used only for children who are converting to the Faith, either with their family or on their own accord. RCIC is not for unbaptized children raised in a Catholic family. Only if a child is converting from a non-Catholic family, in that case—and in that case only—children of catechetical age “are to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist in a single celebration,” usually at the Easter Vigil (National Statutes for the Catechumenate, 14).

Children who are from a Catholic family and who are not converting to the Faith may be baptized at any time. They should only make their First Communion once they have reached the age of reason, and have previously made their First Reconciliation, following the normal parish sacramental preparation programs in place for children.

The Sacrament of Confirmation may be received by:

(a) high-school aged teenagers who have already been baptized and have completed the standard two-year course of preparation,

(b) baptized Catholic adults who have completed Adult Confirmation classes,

(c) Adult converts who have completed RCIA and are being fully initiated.

(d) Children who are converting to the Catholic faith from non-Catholic families, who have completed a full RCIC program and are being initiated into the faith at the Easter Vigil.

I have heard from Pastors that in some of our communities, Catholic parents are intentionally delaying Baptism and First Communion for their children, enrolling them in an eight month RCIA program, and having them receive Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil, all in an attempt “to get it over with” in the shortest amount of time, with the most minimal religious education required.  This is not good for the child, the family, or the life of the parish community.

Children from Catholic families should be respected and given the full course of religious education for their First Confession, First Communion and, later as teens, their Confirmation.

I ask you to please communicate this to your religious education staff, and publish it widely in your bulletins and parish websites.

We owe it to our children to give them the best religious education possible to appreciate and receive these important rites of our faith.

[..]

Yours sincerely in Christ,

The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, S.J.

Bishop of Oakland