Q: Greetings father Paul,

I’ve been working at this Parish for about a year and a half in music ministry and liturgy. It is a new diocese for me after working in a different diocese for 25 years. With the Easter Vigil coming up, we have 30 catechumens, 10 of which are in elementary and high school. The school age kids are being baptized at the Easter vigil, receiving first communion with their peers in May and confirmation in April.  I’ve always thought that the RCIA/OCIA envisions all three sacraments together in one liturgy.  Is it possible to separate them into three different liturgies? If not, is the bishop allowed to give permission for this?  It seems that this is not what the OCIA envisions. I believe the reasoning is to have the kids receive their sacraments with their peers.  

I appreciate all the times you have helped me out with these questions and given me the Church’s teachings on these matters. 

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A: Here are previous posts: https://paulturner.org/children-and-initiation/ https://paulturner.org/baptism-and-confirmation/

In short, the code of canon law obliges your priest immediately to confirm any children of catechetical age whom he baptizes.

For more, see my book Confirmation: The Baby in Solomon’s Court. 

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