| 7. The celebration of these sacraments involves the entire
parish community, if possible during the Easter season.
The idea of 'initiation' into the Church implies that a
person is introduced into the life and values of those who
follow Christ. The parish is the basic grouping of the local
Church of the diocese; it is in the parish that a Catholic
worships each Sunday and is nourished in faith; it is in
the midst of the parish assembled that Christian initiation
is best celebrated, for the parish "represents the visible
Church established throughout the world" (SC 42).
The General Introduction to Christian Initiation (1973)
shows the connection between Easter and the sacraments of
initiation.
Through the sacraments of Christian initiation men and
women are freed from the power of darkness. With Christ
they die, are buried, and rise again. They receive the
Spirit of adoption that makes them God's sons and daughters
and with the entire people of God they celebrate the memorial
of the Lord's death and resurrection.
While it is possible to celebrate confirmation and first
communion at other times of the year, it is highly recommended
that they be celebrated by the parish between Easter Sunday
and Pentecost.
The basic liturgical signs of the gathered Church, the Sunday,
and the Easter season will help to make the sacraments of
confirmation and admission to eucharist a significant event
in the children's lives. So too the liturgy should be planned
with care so that all the assembly may take part in the singing
and the responses. Normally the children should receive their
first communion under both kinds, along with the rest of
the assembly.
No particular style of celebration is mandated: the parish
must remain sensitive to and respect the varying situations,
traditions and wishes of the families involved. Quite legitimate
diversity exists in the style of sacramental celebration,
for example, with respect to dress and the organisation of
candidates (sometimes candidates will sit together as a group,
sometimes with their families). Uniformity should not be
imposed. Where practicable families should be consulted and
their wishes catered for. For example, a parish might offer
families a choice among several parish Masses on a particular
Sunday for the celebration of confirmation and first communion.
This would allow for sensitivity to certain cultural expectations
and to the situation of non-sacramental parents.
Each parish is to keep a register of confirmation and first
communion celebrated in the parish. In addition, an annotation
recording the completion of Christian initiation is to be
made with the entry in the baptismal register for each person
who receives these sacraments. It is pastorally desirable
that a record be kept of those who are fully initiated members
of the Church.
|
