Q:  I have a woman who just moved here with her son from Mexico. As you know, in Mexico they make their confirmation before the first communion. She has presented a letter to me from their pastor that the child is prepared to receive both sacraments. What should be done? Do I ask to confirm […]

Q:  Do baptized Catholics come to the “Call to Continuing Conversion”?  We do the combined Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, and the white RCIA study edition seems to indicate that baptized Catholics are included. see par. 411 and par. 547.  Thank you. A:  They may be included, yes – if they have been baptized […]

Q:  Just wondering if there needs to be a “sponsor” or “witness for the reception of a minor child?  I have a child at my parish who is hoping to receive first communion, but she was baptized Episcopal. It seems that the parents make the profession of faith for the girl – or state that they […]

Q:  I am trying to make sense of Rubrics 49 – 53 in the Easter Vigil.  The rubrics use the terms “infants”, “children” and “adults.”  We will be baptizing children ranging in age from first grade to 7th grade. No infants will be baptized.    Pastorally, because of relative immaturity, I intend to treat the younger […]

Q:  What sacrament celebrations can / cannot / should not take place during Advent and Lent.  Couldn’t find the exact information… Is the following accurate? SEASONAL LIMITATIONS: Advent: no Gloria, keep Alleluia; no Confirmations; Discourage baptisms, marriages and First Communions Lent: No Gloria, no Alleluia (substitute choice from # 223 in the Lectionary);  discourage baptisms, marriages; no […]

Q:  After a person has been received into the Catholic Church, can they receive communion or do they have to wait for their confirmation? A:  Confirmation is part of the Rite of Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church. When the priest receives a baptized Christian into the Catholic Church, […]

Q:  In our baptismal record, a number of entries mention baptism of children above the age of reason with a notation of ‘neo-conversus, baptism absolute’. A Google search reveals that this is old terminology for those who were received into the Church. What is not clear is if these people were baptized, or baptized & […]

Q:  Our diocese will be moving toward Restored Order within the next three years. That means that our children will celebrate confirmation before they receive first communion. Have you ever documented a brief history of this practice in any of your writings? Do you have a document that you might easily direct me toward? I […]

Q:  Greetings Paul. I hope that all is well with you. We here down under are somewhat bemused/amused by the campaign for president currently running in your country! Two paragraphs in the RCIA have always puzzled me but I keep forgetting to ask about them. I came across them again just now so decided to […]

Q:  It’s been a while since I taught about Prayers of the Faithful. What is the sequence? First For the church… Then ? Etc. etc. A:  Here’s what GIRM 70 says: The series of intentions is usually to be: for the needs of the Church for public authorities and the salvation of the whole world […]