Q: We have candidates (baptized, non-Catholics) who are ready to be received into the Catholic
faith, confirmed and share first Eucharist. Must we wait until the Easter Vigil to fully initiate
them into the Catholic faith?
A: No. In fact, the National Statues for the Catechumenate, approved by the National Conference
of Catholic Bishops on November 11, 1986, state that the ordinary time to receive candidates
into full communion in the Catholic Church is at a Sunday Eucharist of the parish community
(#32). However, for pastoral reasons, candidates may be received at the Easter Vigil as long
as a clear distinction is made between the elect and the candidates.
Q: I have heard that if the parish receives candidates (baptized, non-Catholics) into the
Catholic faith outside the Easter Vigil, the receiving priest cannot confirm them. Is this true?
A: No. In fact, the receiving priest must confirm them according to Canon 883:2. No special
permission is needed from the Archbishop to do this. The faculty comes from the universal law
of the church.
Q: Then these candidates might not take part in the Rite of Election or the Scrutinies. Is
that OK?
A: Yes, that is acceptable. Remember that the Rite of Election and Scrutinies are directed
primarily at true catechumens (the unbaptized). It is not necessary for candidates to participate
in these catechumenal rites.
Q: If this is the case, then can the unbaptized (true catechumens) be fully initiated into
the Catholic Church at times other than the Easter Vigil?
A: No, except for serious pastoral need. The Church does not want to deprive the catechumens
of the Lenten season, the Rite of Election, the Scrutinies and the Triduum experience.
Q: A catechumen wishes to be married as a Catholic. She has gone through the catechumenate
process and has been awaiting an annulment. The annulment has been granted, but it is months
til the Easter Vigil. Can we fully initiate her into the Catholic Church now, instead of waiting
for the Easter Vigil?
A: As was stated previously, the Church does not want to deny any catechumen the Lenten
and Triduum experience. Therefore, she should be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil. However,
she does not need to delay her marriage. She can work with her pastor to obtain a disparity
of cult, and marry while she is a catechumen. This constitutes a valid marriage in the Catholic
Church, provided her husband-to-be is free to marry in the Catholic Church. For more complicated
marriage concerns, contact the Archdiocesan Tribunal Office at 831-8177.
Q: Now what about uncatechized Catholics; when can they be confirmed and share in first Eucharist?
A: Archbishop Sheehan has given permission for uncatechized Catholics, after proper formation,
to complete their initiation at the Easter Vigil. The presider needs no special permission to
confirm and share first Eucharist with them at the Easter Vigil.
However, in this Archdiocese, uncatechized Catholics may not complete their initiation through
Confirmation and Eucharist together, except for the Easter Vigil. Outside the Easter Vigil,
uncatechized Catholics may share in first Eucharist at any Sunday Eucharistic liturgy with the
assembly, but must wait to be confirmed until the Archbishop or his delegate comes to celebrate
the sacrament of Confirmation at the parish. So the permission to complete the initiation (Confirmation
and Eucharist) of uncatechized Catholics is only given when celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
Of course, in extreme cases, special delegation may be sought from the Archbishop.
Q: We have an RCIA with adaptations for children in our parish. What sacraments can the children
receive and when?
A: According to Canon 852:1 children with the use of reason who are seeking baptism or full
communion have the same rights as adults. Therefore, if children are unbaptized, they are to
be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil; that is, they are to celebrate Baptism, Confirmation
and Eucharist. This is supported by Canon Law 866 and the National Statutes of the Catechumenate
#18 and #35. If children (baptized, non-Catholic) are received into the faith, whether at the
Easter Vigil or a Sunday Eucharist, they are to celebrate both Confirmation and Eucharist. No
special permission is needed.
However, Archbishop Sheehan wishes to allow pastoral discretion in this regard. If a pastor
sees genuine pastoral need to delay Confirmation of children with the use of reason until a
later time, he may do so. No special permission is needed.
Questions, contact the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation at
831-8194.
