| 8. The ordinary minister of the sacrament of confirmation
is the bishop of the diocese which, in Brisbane, includes
the archbishop and his auxiliaries.
One way of interpreting the history of confirmation is to
say that the Western Church was prepared to suffer a fraction
in the unity of the sacraments of initiation for the sake
of safeguarding the role of the bishop in Christian initiation.
This was seen to be important because the bishop is a sign
of unity. As successor to the apostles, he links the particular
worshipping community with the Church of all ages; as a member
of the college of bishops, he expresses the unity of the
Church around the world. Christian initiation brings a person
into membership of the Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
A parish will need to balance several key elements to make
sure that, over a number of years, none is lost. The ideal
is to have the bishop present to celebrate confirmation
and first communion on a Sunday in the Easter season.
From year to year, one or other of these may need to be foregone.
In some regions, it may be desirable for several parishes
to cluster together in a common celebration with the bishop
as minister of the sacraments, though the identity of each
parish worshipping community should not be compromised. For
their part, in Brisbane, the archbishop and the auxiliary
bishops undertake to make Christian initiation a priority
during the Easter season.
It is desirable that the bishop not only confirm the child,
but also give the child first holy communion. This affirms
the unity of the sacraments of initiation and highlights
their orientation towards and climax in the celebration of
eucharist. It also properly focuses on the bishop as leader
of the eucharistic community.
Occasionally another pattern may better safeguard the balance
of values. For example, if the bishop can only be present
on a weekday in the Easter season to celebrate confirmation,
a parish may decide to celebrate confirmation outside Mass
and to admit the newly confirmed to the eucharist at the
following Sunday Mass.
When it is not practicable for a bishop to celebrate this
completion of children's initiation with the parish community,
express delegation of the pastor or another priest may be
granted on application (Canon 884). When the bishop does
preside at the celebration of these sacraments in a parish,
the parish priest will usually concelebrate with him and,
especially where there are large numbers, will join him in
administering the sacrament of confirmation and in giving
first communion to the children. Lay ministers of communion
may also take part, especially in offering the cup to those
who are receiving their first communion and their families. |
