A pilot programme offered by an initiative of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has seen a number of parishes across the island offer an alternative to the Confirmation pledge this year, which some parishes feel has become “outdated”.
The Confirmation Commitment was created by the Pastoral Response to Substance Misuse in answer to requests from parishes in recent years for a different option to the pledge.
“Over the last number of years people in parishes have been asking if we could look at the pledge and see how we could change or update it, as some felt it was outdated,” said Darren Butler, National Coordinator. “That is not to say that the pledge doesn’t work. Some parishes are very happy with it and it works for them, but we were getting enquiries about whether there was anything different available.”
Commitment
The Confirmation Commitment educates young people in substance misuse and gives them the opportunity to make a commitment to lead a healthy lifestyle.
The initiative also encourages the Confirmation candidate’s sponsor to be an important part of the young person’s life, guiding them through the challenging teenage years.
“It is not only asking young people to make commitment, but also asks the sponsor to be more involved and make a commitment to be a positive role model in their faith life and in the challenges they face moving on to secondary school,” Darren said.
The Confirmation programme in the parish stays the same, but with the addition of the sponsor attending a ‘Service of Light’ ceremony and where they stand together to make a commitment to the young person to be a positive role model. The sponsor then presents the candidate with a ‘spirit band’ with one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit engraved on it. The young person also stands with other candidates to make their own commitment.
The candidate then presents the sponsor with a specially designed bookmark to thank them.
The option to take the abstinence pledge still remains as part of the young person’s commitment.
Feedback from parishes has been very positive, and according to Darren “what makes it work is that it is something new but it doesn’t change the Confirmation service”. “Parishes can add in a lot more, and use it as an opportunity to engage with the community,” he said.
Community event
Abbeyfeale parish in Co. Limerick made the Confirmation Commitment part of the annual Lenten walk from Dromtrasna National School to Killenagh Holy Well on Palm Sunday. It is a popular annual community event led by Canon John O’Shea and Fr Joe Foley and is followed by a barbeque. This year the Confirmation children and their sponsors made their commitments and exchanged the wrist bands and prayer cards as part of the pilgrimage.
“It was a very touching moment,” said Liz Cullinane, Coordinator for the Abbeyfeale & District Initiative. “It was very poignant to see the children making their commitment to keep themselves safe, and it was good to bring the young person and their sponsor together.
“It is great to see the sponsor more involved. Teenagers don’t always want to listen to their parents for guidance, so it is good to have someone else you can trust, who will speak to them and be there for them.”
The Confirmation Commitment programme will be evaluated over the coming months, and organisers hope to roll it out to more parishes next year. For more information and resources see www.irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com