CONFIRMATION Guidelines 2015 1) Although not mandatory, candidates who wish may write the bishop a letter telling why they wish to be confirmed. The bishop enjoys reading the letters. Please send them in sufficient time ahead of the scheduled Confirmation so he may have an opportunity to read them. The letters are often helpful to refer to during the celebration. Please ask the candidates to write their own personal letter indicating what the preparation has done for them and give their own reason why they want to be confirmed. 2) We strongly urge Confirmation candidates to participate in the celebration through the readings, the general intercessions and the offertory procession. Processing in and out with ministers is optional. Sometimes students are nervous, so we ask that you give them sufficient training and encouragement, particularly for proclaiming the Scripture. They should not serve as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. 3) Confirmation sponsors are significant persons in the preparation program and in the celebration of the Sacrament. Parents have a unique role as parents and not the role of sponsor. Sponsors should be good Catholics who are themselves also confirmed. Canon Law allows, if it seems to be desirable, for parents to present their son or daughter for Confirmation, but they are not to be the sponsor. 4) After the Gospel, the pastor or his delegate should present the candidates for Confirmation to the bishop. All delegates should remain in the sanctuary near the microphone until each candidate has been called. 5) At the time of anointing with chrism the procedure is as follows: the sponsor presents the candidate, announcing the name to the bishop with some phrase such as: "Bishop Kopacz, I am happy to present Anthony for Confirmation". Please do not use nicknames. Please use either their proper name or if they have chosen a confirmation name use that saints name, but not both. The candidate should stand directly in front of the Bishop, not the sponsor. 6) Since the celebration of Confirmation normally occurs in our Diocese within Mass, we remind you of the Liturgical directives for the use of the Mass for the Conferral of Confirmation and the scripture readings. This Mass (using white or red vestments, and readings selected from the Lectionary Readings for Confirmation) may be celebrated on any weekday but not on Sundays, Solemnities, Ash Wednesday and Holy Week. On those days, the scripture readings of the day are used and not readings from Confirmation. See attached schedule. 7) RED STOLES for confirmation candidates are not to be used. A stole is the sign of the office of priesthood and therefore should not be used by confirmation candidates. 8) Please provide a dish of water, lemon wedges and dish-washing liquid (e.g. Dawn, Joy) for washing the bishop s hand after the anointing. Water and a good towel are very important. The bowl need not be bigger than a soup or cereal bowl.
9) The bishop will bring his own alb, vestment, ritual, Sacred Chrism, miter and crosier (stand for crosier too) when he comes for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. One or more MCs (ministers of ceremony) will come with or ahead of him to prep the altar servers and see that everything is ready for the celebration. The MC will also direct the ceremony. A designated, reserved parking place for the bishop is appreciated. 10) Please have the sacramental record books (Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Deaths) available for the bishop s review and signature. Attachments: The 2015 schedule with liturgy notes about vestment color and readings. Liturgy Planner: Please fill out the liturgy planner and return it five days prior to the celebration to: mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org. This way Bishop Kopacz will have the readings and music selections and thus be able to participate more fully in the celebration.
Confirmation 2015 April 12 - Jackson St. Richard - 5 pm: Second Sunday of Easter; White Vestment; Sunday readings April 19 Gluckstadt St. Joseph 5:30 pm: Third Sunday of Easter, White Vestment; Sunday Readings April 21 - Columbus - 6 pm: April 22 Clarksdale St. Elizabeth 6 pm *April 29 Madison St. Francis 6:30 pm *Due to Good Leaders, Good Shepherd during this week, this confirmation is mainly for St. Francis so that clergy will be able to participate in the Good Leaders, Good Shepherd Session. May 2 Oxford, St. John 11 am May 2 New Albany, Ripley, Corinth (Deanery V parishes) 4:30pm Fifth Sunday of Easter, White Vestment, Sunday Readings
May 3 - Bruce St. Luke - 11 am Fifth Sunday of Easter, White Vestment, Sunday Readings May 5 - Pearl, St. Jude (Pearl, Flowood, Magee) - 6 pm May 9 Greenville St. Joseph (Deanery III) - 11 am; May 9 Grenada St. Peter 6 pm Sixth Sunday of Easter, White Vestment, Sunday Readings May 10 - Houston - 11 am Sixth Sunday of Easter, White Vestment, Sunday Readings May 10 Amory - 430 pm Sixth Sunday of Easter, White Vestment, Sunday Readings May 12 - Meridian (Deanery VI) - 6 pm May 14 - Natchez St. Mary (Deanery II) - 6 pm Mass for ST. MATTHIAS, APOSTLE (Roman Missal 861); ; Preface of Apostles I or II Missal 594-597; Readings: Lectionary 564 Acts 1:15-17,20-26, Ps. 113:1-8; a second reading from one of the NT letters may be added; John 15:9-17.
May 17 Cleveland OLV 5:00 pm Mass for ASCENSION (Roman Missal p. 432-433; White Vestment; Preface of the Ascension of the Lord, pp. 568-571 Readings for the Ascension July 25 - Tupelo St. James - 4:30 pm Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Green or White Vestment Readings for Sunday; since in Ordinary Time, the second reading may be substituted from Feast of St. James: Collect of St. James may be used to close the general intercessions. Oct. 25 - SHSM parishes - 5 pm Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Green or White Vestment; Sunday readings.
CONFIRMATION LITURGY PLANNER (Please email to: mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org 5 days prior to celebration. Thank you) LOCATION: Parishes Participating: Main Language of Mass: Celebrant Homilist Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz Parish Representatives: MCs Mary Woodward Permanent Diaconate Candidate Liturgy of the Word (if on Sunday or after 4 on Saturday, readings are from the Sunday Mass) First reading (English or Spanish): Responsorial Psalm (English or Spanish): Antiphon: Second Reading (English or Spanish): Gospel Acclamation: Gospel (read by priest or deacon) (English or Spanish): Prayer of the Faithful: See suggested intercessions for guide
Music Processional: Penitential Rite Confiteor Kyrie (English or Spanish or Greek) Gloria (best to use a familiar version such as Missa Simplex or Belmont Mass) Presentation Hymn: Sanctus (English or Spanish or Latin) Agnus Dei (English or Spanish or Latin) Communion Hymn: Recessional Hymn: Please email to: mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org 5 days prior to celebration. Thank you