Q: Fr. Paul, I am sure you have addressed this, or something like this in the past.

We had our Confirmation Mass recently.  We had combined several parishes so we had 3 deacons and 5 priests.  There was a little bit of confusion concerning the order of the procession. 

One suggested order was: thurifer, cross bearer, candle bearers, the confirmandi and their sponsors, the deacon with the Book of the Gospel, the concelebrating priests, and the presider with the remaining two deacons.

The second suggested order (and the one used) was the same except the deacon with the Book of the Gospel was placed directly behind the cross bearer.  

The GIRM isn’t really clear about a procession that includes deacons, multiple priests and special participants like confirmandi and their sponsors.

Do you have insight as to what the proper order of the procession should be?

Know that I, and many others, appreciate you wealth of knowledge, your wisdom, and your willingness to share them.

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A: Here are some relevant posts:

The order of procession in the Ceremonial of Bishops: https://paulturner.org/procession-of-concelebrants-at-chrism/

Typical Sunday processions: https://paulturner.org/entrance-procession/

There’s no obligation to put confirmation candidates in the opening procession. They may be seated before Mass begins. But if you wish to include them, I think they belong with “other ministers” after the cross and candles and before the one carrying the Book of the Gospels.

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