confirmation question for the Catholics

It's come to my attention that here in CA, several churches just this year began having parishioners make their confirmation in 10th grade instead of 7th or 8th, as it was previously.

Is this just a west coast thing, or is it decided by individual diocese? Has it changed in NY too? Anyone know? I tried to Google it but came up empty...

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

I just read this on wikipedia when I was posting this on the other thread:

According to canon law for the Latin or Western Catholic Church, the sacrament is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion (generally taken to be about 7), unless the Episcopal Conference has decided on a different age, or there is danger of death or, in the judgement of the minister, a grave reason suggests otherwise (canon 891 of the Code of Canon Law). The number of Episcopal Conferences that have set a later age, usually between 14 and 16 years of age, has diminished in recent decades, and even in those countries a bishop may not refuse to confer the sacrament on younger children who request it, provided they are baptized, have the use of reason, are suitably instructed and are properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises (letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published in its 1999 bulletin, pages 537-540)

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

I think this is a lot more common all over now. The idea is that someone who is a little older would be making the decision him/herself, rather than it being the decision of the parents. Parishes I lived in that moved it to HS also had the kids do community service as part of their confirmation prep, which I think is a great idea.

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

Way back when I was in Jr. High, I had an older couisn who was making her confirmation in 11th grade. This was in NJ. It's just when her parish did it.

My cousin just made his, in CT, in the fall of 9th grade.

My parish was 8th grade when my brother was in school, but then then actually made it earlier, & I made mine in 7th. That was probably for some dumb reason, like not enoguh CCD teachers to have classes up through 8th grade.

ETA- I also did community service, and if I had to wait untill 10th grade or higher to make my confirmation I probably would have been a CCD dropout!

Message edited 10/18/2007 2:44:09 PM.

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

I was confirmed in the 9th grade in my area. That was the typical year - cause if you continued on with religious ed classes, you got HIGH School credit for the semester.

Message edited 8/13/2009 11:34:55 AM.

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

I was living in Redlands, CA (right outside San Bernadino) before I moved to LI. The parish there did confirmation in 10th grade. When I moved to LI our parish did it in 9th grade. Since I moved here the summer between 9th & 10th I made mine in 10th grade with all the 9th graders.

The first year I moved here I took a lot of classes with 9th graders since many of the classes that are taught to 10th graders here were for 9th graders in California.

Re: confirmation question for the Catholics

I think the individual diocese make the determination (within a range). It seems like the age is getting pushed back further and further and I personally think it has to do with the church's desire to keep younger people involved with the church (even if by arm twisting). I remember a priest asking us why young people no longer come to church. I kept my opinions to myself and just ask "hey, are you calling ME old?"