By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Hawaii’s head religious educator and chief liturgist teamed up this year to write a guide for those who want to introduce to their dioceses and parishes the “restored order” of the three sacraments of initiation.
“Planning for Restored Order: Reconciliation and Eucharist for Older Children: Tips and Advice for a Successful Program” is a 24-page booklet, part of a series on the sacraments published by Twenty-Third Publications, a leading Catholic publisher on spirituality and faith formation.
In it, Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy, director of the diocesan Office of Faith Formation and Religious Education, and Deacon Modesto Cordero, head of the Office of Worship, give a capsulized history and theology of the celebration of the three sacraments of initiation, explaining the order in which they were originally meant to be given.
The order of reception — Baptism, then Confirmation, followed by Communion — is not new, but the original intent, hence the phrase “restored order.”
The two authors were among the primary architects of the Diocese of Honolulu’s transition from giving the sacrament of Confirmation to adolescents to confirming children before their first Communion.
Up until a few years ago, Confirmation in Hawaii was administered to youth in their teens, as it still is in most dioceses around the country. Then, after much preparation and education, the Diocese of Honolulu introduced a transition to the original order, staggered over three years, pacing parishes when they were ready.
Today, the sacrament of Confirmation, administered by the bishop or bishop’s representative, is given to children at the same Mass at which they then receive their first holy Communion.
This booklet offers practical advice as to how to introduce to the diocese and parish this major change, which affects parish religious education, parish school and youth ministry curriculum.
The authors’ sources include Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
The publication redefines the sacrament of Confirmation for those who are used to calling it an adolescent rite of passage or graduation into Christian maturity.
“Confirmation,” it states, “more perfectly binds the baptized to the Church and enriches each person with the strength of the Holy Spirit so that the individual can be a true witness to Christ.”
It states that the reception of Confirmation does not require a certain age or mental ability, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, “Age of body does not determine age of soul.”
Even in childhood can a person attain spiritual maturity, the saint said.
This compact booklet is an easy read with short chapters. In typical educator’s style, each section ends with “reflection” points to ponder. It also includes a few pages of answers to frequently asked questions.
