Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley has announced that all children in his diocese will be confirmed in St Mirin’s Cathedral rather than their own parishes. The decision is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

In a recent letter to all parishes in his diocese, the bishop said he had ‘decided that the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley.’

“This will highlight the special link of the Sacrament of Confirmation with the diocesan bishop, whose church is the cathedral,” the bishop said. “We thus also remind ourselves that the local church is the diocese made up of our various parishes and communities gathered around the bishop and linked through him with the Bishop of Rome and with the whole Church.”

Sense of occasion

Bishop Tartaglia said he had several reasons for celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation in this way.

“I want to give the Confirmandi every opportunity to prepare well for the Sacrament, I want the celebration of the Mass and Liturgy of Confirmation to be a truly memorable event for them and I want the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation to be really effective in them,” he said.

He called on all Paisley Catholics to pray for those due to be confirmed.

“I ask you to pray that, by the grace of the Sacrament: their baptismal union with Christ may be deepened; their membership of the Church may be reinforced, especially in their commitment to Sunday Mass; and  they may be strengthened in mind and heart so that, as they mature in knowledge, in years and in experience, they will be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ,” he said. “For this to happen, parishes, schools, families and all of us really need to resolve to pray for the Confirmandi, to support them in their Faith, and to give them the example of a true Christian and Catholic life.”

Closer to Church

He said he believed that this change would help bring young Catholics closer to the Church.

“I believe our celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a real chance to confirm our children in their Faith before they leave primary school,” he said. “For myself, I am really looking forward to these Confirmation Masses as a unique outpouring of the Holy Spirit and as a special moment of new evangelisation not just for the Confirmandi, but for all of us.”

In June 2008, following a scheduled review of the way the diocese celebrates Sacraments for Children, the bishop decided that Confirmation would be offered to children during Eastertide at the P7 stage.

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