Church of St. Anthony

170 Meeker Avenue,  Watkins, MN 55389

 Phone: 320-764-2755

 

 

"Go therefore and make disciples

of all the nations..."

Matthew 28:19

Preparation of uncatechized Adults for Confirmation and Eucharist
Persons require at least 1 year of at least attending Mass weekly and preparation, regardless of in which ecclesial community the baptism took place. The normal time to complete initiation (receive Confirmation and Holy Communion) is during the Easter Vigil.
The prerequisites for Confirmation and Eucharist are:
1. Faith has taken deep root and they are strong in the Christian daily life (RCIA 401)
2. Seeks forgiveness of their sins and the healing of their weakness, and have celebrated the sacrament of penance (RCIA 408) sometime after the 2nd Sunday of Lent
3. Attends Mass at least every Sunday, learns the Word of God, and joins their brothers and sisters in prayer (RCIA 413)
4. Appreciates the Church's tradition and universal character (RCIA 435)
5. Faithfully listens to the apostles' instruction proclaimed by the Church
6. Has a deep appreciation of their baptism, in which they were joined to Christ and His Church. Has submitted a certificate of Baptism.
7. Is advanced in a life of love and service of others
8. Is mature in faith and understanding for a fuller life in the community (RCIA 460)
9. A written testimony from the sponsor
10. A written request from the candidate
As a sign of God's activity in this work of preparation, some of the rites below may be especially suited to the circumstances of these baptized adults.

Rite of Welcoming the Candidates (optional, sponsor's discretion, choose a Sunday in the summer or fall)- The Rite of Welcoming is a public declaration of intention to continue the journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church. They are signed with the Cross to show that they belong to Christ. 

Rite of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion (optional, sponsor's discretion, the first Sunday of Lent at the Cathedral). *Note: This rite is only intended for celebrations in communities where there are no catechumens (unbaptized seekers).

Penitential Rite (highly encouraged, during a daily Mass in the 2nd week of Lent)- Our prayer for this candidate, and for ourselves, is that Jesus- who is the sum of the Law and the Prophets- will transfigure all our lives with His redeeming grace, bringing us to conversion- a genuine desire to be holy as He is holy. 

Presentation of the Creed (optional, sponsor's discretion)- During a daily Mass in the 3rd week of Lent

Presentation of the Lord's Prayer (optional, sponsor's discretion)- During a daily Mass in the 5th week of Lent
The candidates should participate in the Period of Mystagogy after Easter with those who were baptized, confirmed, or received Eucharist.

Baptized, but received little or no formation

This is a time to develop the effects of the baptism they have already received. Little or no formation is usually indicated by the absence of at least weekly worship attendance.
The candidates should have a Catholic Bible to use. 

The candidates should have a Catholic Catechism to use. Journey of Faith Booklets may be helpful in learning the Catholic teachings. There are teacher's guides available for the sponsor. Ask the parish office for the booklets.
The candidates should memorize the Lord's Prayer and Nicene Creed.

Sponsor Tips
If the candidate doesn't yet have a Catholic Bible or Catholic Catechism, this would be a great gift to give at this time. 
 
If there is practice for anything, only the sponsor should attend.

Collect candidate's reflections, favorite scripture quotes, testimonies, and questions to create a scrapbook gift for later.