I need some information -- Catholic church question

[Lynn CC]

My DS will receive his Confirmation at the end of this month.
I have taught the same group from our town in religious class from their First Holy Communion up until now (they are 10th graders).
I asked them how they explain what they are about to do to some of their friends that are not of the same faith.

They tell them that Confirmation is a free gift from God. They will receive the Holy Spirit and strengthen their palace in the church.

They all want money as gifts. They have a lot of Saint Medals, Candles, cross necklace etc...
Hope this helps!

 

[RUDisney]

Originally posted by caitycaity
br, it's not a big deal at all if your daughter just sits during communion. last summer i was in the bridal party of an EXTREMELY catholic wedding. i think i was the only person in the whole church who didn't get communion, and i was in the very front pew. it wasn't a big deal though, and no one said anything (to me, anyways).

Caity, what's an extremely Catholic wedding as opposed to just a plain old Catholic wedding?

One of my sister's attendants was a non-Catholic and we abused the daylights out of her since she was first in line in the first pew. She had planned to receive, but wanted to know what she was supposed to do. We told her that she was supposed to receive, spin around, and yell, "praise Jesus, Allelulia!" as loud as she could. She didn't believe us, though.

 

[caitycaity]

i was first in line in the first pew too.

what i meant by extremely catholic was that the bride was 100% italian, the groom was born in ireland, and everyone in attendance (except for me) is very devout (go to church every day, all active in their parishes, etc.)

as opposed to the catholic wedding we are going to this summer where the couple is just getting married in the church b/c their parents (who don't even go every sunday) want them to.

 

[RUDisney]

And I thought you meant that they were Catholics who wanted to put on a show for everyone to convince them that they were devout. I understand now. DH has a cousin who let her uncle plan the church part of her wedding because she knew he was far more religious than she and it would be a better show. Divorce was about a year and a half later... but that's another story.

 

[caitycaity]

yikes!

 

[Steve H.]

LOL caity!

One of my groomsmen in my wedding was raised Catholic and stopped practising pretty much the second he was on his own. He walked in the Church the day of the rehersal, looked up and say, "Whew -- no lightning!"

 

[catsrule]

I gave my neices small gold cross pierced earrings. My nephews I gave money because I didn't know what to get them.

 

[caitycaity]

steve.

at a wedding of some of our friends a couple years ago (they are catholic and pretty devout), the best man was an atheist. at one point during the ceremony they handed him the bible (i forget why) and he said afterwards that he thought he'd be struck by lightening too.

 

[ChibiJones]

As far as the kneeling goes, it's not necessary if you're not comfortable with it. There are lots of people who can't kneel because of knee problems, etc. They just sit a little closer to the edge & lean forward so that they aren't in the way of people behind them. Same thing happens if one person finishes praying after communion earlier than the person behind them. You won't be out of place if you don't kneel.

 

[Tulirose]

I just have to add my two cents here even though your questions have been thoroughly answered.

I will be very surprised if your daughter is actually invited to the church itself. I believe she will probably be invited to the party afterwards at the home or a restaurant.

I can't speak for all the parishes within the Diocese of Rockville Centre (which covers all of Nassau and Suffolk Counties) but my experiences with several of them is that there is just not enough room to accommodate a large amount of guests.

In my particular parish, each candidate is assigned a section of a pew and there sits the candidate, the sponsor, and the parents. This alone fills our entire church (over 600 people). Any other family members and guests who attend have to sit in the back, overflow section of our church building which does accommodate several hundred more people but offers a rather distant view of the sanctuary and, IMO, a rather poor *atmostphere*.

Confirmations are joyous occasions and even more special in that the bishop (or one of his auxillary bishops) comes out to the individual parishes to celebrate this sacrament. However, I have found that not too many families, in our particular area of the country, invite large groups of nonfamily members to the church. It is usually the immediate family (parents and siblings) and perhaps one or both sets of grandparents and maybe a favorite aunt or uncle. I was not invited to my own nieces' and nephews' Confirmation ceremonies because of space limitations. Some parishes even hand out a certain number of tickets per family. These are the reasons why I expect your daughter will only be invited to the party afterwards.

However, maybe I am wrong and I think it would be a great experience for your DD to witness a Confirmation ceremony and, in turn, her friends attend your daughter's bat mitzvah. But what a great learning opportunity this thread has presented for all. I have never heard of people going up with their arms crossed at communion time to receive a blessing, and I am a Minister of the Eucharist.

 

[beccab]

Regarding the kneeling, sitting and standing, DH (not catholic) calls it "holy aerobics".

Glo's explanation was exactly what I had learned while in school, 12 yrs of parochial schooling.

As far as "ceremonial" practices & procedures, there are just variations from parrish to parrish. I never heard or seen practiced the blessing thing. If you were not receiving communion, you just remained in the pew.

At DD's confirmation, we could invite as many as we wanted, no restrictions.

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by RUDisney
One of my sister's attendants was a non-Catholic and we abused the daylights out of her since she was first in line in the first pew. She had planned to receive, but wanted to know what she was supposed to do.

In a Roman Catholic church, only Roman Catholics should receive the Eucharist.

 

[beccab]

Correct about only Catholics receiving communion in a Catholic mass but I have encountered some very offended people because of this rule. I would never go to another denomination's church & think of participating in their sacred rites.

 

[Patrick IL.]

BR...may I suggest a Religious goods store as an option for the gift. Everything that has been said is very accurate, While communion is the "biggie" in the Catholic Church...Confirmation is more the coming of age. The children are taught and expected to live and spread the word of Christ.