Q: What are your thoughts on this situation? I have had teens who are Baptized Catholic, had left the church with their families after Baptism, but who have returned and been practicing the faith for several years who now need both First Communion and Confirmation. Their peers are in the Teen Confirmation program and they […]

Q: If someone wants as their confirmation Saint “Virgen de Guadalupe ” what would you tell them? Have them change it to “Virgen Maria de Guadalupe” or “María” or is a title of our Lady acceptable for Confirmation as they asked about? == A: There are surprisingly no universal rules governing confirmation names because the […]

Q: During a weekday confirmation mass (ordinary time) do we usually skip the Gloria and Creed (reserved for feast and solemnities)?  == A: The Confirmation Mass always has a Gloria—as long as the presidential prayers are from the Ritual Mass of Confirmation and not, say, the Third Sunday of Lent. It includes the creed only […]

Q: I have two sets of twins in my Confirmation classes this year and they asked a great question to which I don’t have an answer, can they both use the same Confirmation sponsor? == A: Yes, they can.

Q: We recently welcomed four adults into the Catholic Church. We learned shortly before the ceremony that one of them had been baptized Catholic. So we conducted the rite of reception for the other three, and then included the Catholic in the confirmations. All received their first communion later at the Mass. Did we do […]

Q: We are celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on the Third Sunday of Easter so we’ll be using the readings for the day. Do we have to use the psalm or can we use Psalm 104? == A: Sorry you’re having trouble with the blog. Occasionally people report difficulties with it, but I get lots […]

Q: Thank you so much for your insights and responses on liturgical questions. The question I have is on a confirmation sponsor proxy. There seems to be a bit of disagreement even within our diocese. Must the proxy adhere to the same requirements as the confirmation sponsor. i.e., requirements of age, being confirmed, etc., etc.? […]

Q: I have someone (candidate) inquiring to be in full communion with the church. She is ready to start formation as soon as possible but I don’t think she will be ready to be received and confirmed on Easter Vigil this year. My question is, can candidates be confirmed outside Easter vigil by their own […]

Q: One of our parishes has a transgender teen seeking confirmation. No one, but the pastor, is aware of this child’s circumstances. The family is seeking to legally change the gender on the birth certificate. The teen was baptized as an infant in a parish other than where confirmation will be received. The dilemma is […]

A: Would it be liturgically OK to celebrate the Votive mass of the Holy Spirit and wear red vestment on Sunday for Confirmation mass? Thanks. == Q: On an Ordinary Time Sunday you may celebrate the Ritual Mass of Confirmation with its prayers and readings, wearing red. You may not use the Votive Mass of […]