Archdiocese
to restore order of sacraments
By Frank Flegel
REGINA — The traditional order for administering the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and eucharist (first communion) — is to be restored in the Regina archdiocese this fall.
Baptism is traditionally administered shortly after birth and that practice
will continue, but confirmation and first communion will now take place
at the same mass: confirmation after the homily and eucharist during
the liturgy of the eucharist.
“This is the normal theological order of the sacraments of initiation
since the beginnings of the church,” said Rev. Brad Fahlman, chair
of the committee established by Archbishop Daniel Bohan to oversee the
restoration.
Pope Pius X changed the order in 1910 because bishops were having a
hard time getting around to all the confirmation ceremonies because
there so many, Fahlman explained. “Confirmation was being delayed
and in some cases children were in their teens before being confirmed.
Communion comes after that, so Pope Pius X said because it is taking so long we want little kids to have first communion so they leap-frogged communion back before confirmation.”
When the child reaches Grade 2, or about seven years of age, confirmation
and first communion will be received at the same mass. Parents must
attend the preparation sessions with their children and can delay the
child’s reception of the sacraments for a year or so if they feel
the child is not yet ready to take that step.
First confession, now known as reconciliation, will occur later. Fahlman
said that may move around a bit. He acknowledged there are various views
as to when a child is ready for it.
“Reconciliation is a sacrament of healing, of restoration,”
he said, “not a sacrament of initiation. You need to be part of
something before you can be restored to it.”
He noted that some children can barely read when they attend their first
confession and couldn’t pronounce the word “absolution”
let alone understand its meaning. “Parents will help decide when
their child is ready for that,” he said.
Several churches in the archdiocese have been part of a pilot project
in the restoration; the Church of Our Lady in Moose Jaw has been practising
the restored order for the past four years. A report on the pilot projects
said there was some concern when the changes were introduced because
there was little understanding of the history, but once “catechists
got going with it,” said Fahlman, “we didn’t hear
any concerns at all.”
Four in-service sessions are scheduled in September for the nine deaneries
to instruct catechists, parents, priests and anyone else who is interested.
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