There are three reasons

1. The ancient custom of the Church was that the sacraments of initiation were to be received in the following order: baptism, confirmation, communion. 
2. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Holy Communion is to be the final sacrament of initiation, not Confirmation: “The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322).
3. Pope Benedict XVI and others have encouraged this practice

Ideally a child will be confirmed and receive first holy communion at the same Mass.

Read more about the Restored Order of the Sacraments as presented by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, D.D.

Preparation for confession, confirmation, and or communion can begin when the parents and the pastor have determined readiness of the child and he or she:

1. has reached at least the age of reason (7-11). A good sign of this is your child’s ability to reason (for example when a child has reasoned on his or her own that Santa Clause cannot exist because of various impossibilities). See also First Reconciliation Readiness Indicators (Those with mental developmental disabilities are to receive their sacraments along with their peer groups even without showing any signs of reaching the age of reason). 
2. is receiving ongoing instruction in the faith either at St. James, home, or school
3. is able to renew baptismal promises
4. is regularly attending Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation and the other precepts of the Church (link to Reconciliation page – Precepts of the Church)
5. has requested Confession, Confirmation, or First Communion

With all of the challenges and temptations of the world, why withhold the graces of the Sacrament of Confirmation any longer than is absolutely necessary? Within the Ordinariate a child is normally “to be admitted to Confirmation and the Eucharist around the age of discretion, being sometime between the ages of 7 and 11” (Pastoral Letter on the Holy Spirit p. 23). If a child is passed the age of reason then confirmation will be administered at the current age of the child.

1. Assess the readiness of the child from the parental perspective. See above “How do I know that my child is ready for confirmation?”
2. Please contact Father Mayer to schedule an assessment meeting with the child so that he can confirm the child’s readiness to begin sacramental preparation.
3. Obtain a sponsor for the child who can help and be of assistance to the child during and after confirmation. See below: Sponsor.

Membership or Permission
In order to receive Confirmation at St. James Catholic Church, the family must be registered members of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, or else have a signed letter from the Pastor of their home parish giving his permission for the child to receive catechetical preparation and the Sacrament at this parish.

Receive Instruction

In addition to the readiness indicators above which include ongoing instruction, the child and the child’s sponsor are to receive specific instruction in preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Parents are also encouraged to to attend the workshops and to be an encouraging example for the child by allowing the child to see the parent going to Confession while at the workshop.

• Reconciliation Workshop: Sunday, January 22, 2023, 12-2 PM
• Confirmation Workshop: Sunday, March 26, 2023, 12-2 PM

Submit all required paperwork

• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• Completed Confirmation Info Form
• Completed Sponsor Eligibility Form 

Completed Ordinariate Member Form. Only members of the Ordinariate may be confirmed at St. James.

Pastoral Visit by Bishop Lopes: Saturday, December 9, 2023, 5:30 PM
Our bishop is cheduled be visiting St. James on the weekend of December 9, and 10. He will be administering the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Saturday evening anticipatory Mass scheduled for 5:30 PM. 

How often is Confirmation Scheduled?

Historically Bishop Lopes has visited the community about once every two years in either December or January. For a serious reason, a person can be confirmed at other times by Father Mayer who would need to request delegation from the Bishop to confirm a specific person.

Confirmation preparation at St. James is composed of a mixture of church and fun, easy to do, home based activities that are designed to engage the whole family with all the supplies you need provided by the church.

At Church Sessions:

• Sunday, October 8, 12-1:30 PM: Confirmation Kick-off Meeting for child and at least one parent
• Sunday, October 22, 12-1:30 PM: Fun Interactive Meeting for Parents and Children
• Sunday, November 5, 12-1:30 PM: Fun Interactive Meeting for Parents and Children
• Saturday, December 2, 2-5 PM Confirmation mini-retreat

• Be designated by the one to be confirmed and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
• Have completed the sixteenth year of age (unless the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause);
• Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
• Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared (for example, the person must be in a marriage considered valid by the Catholic Church, if living with spouse);
• Not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed/baptized/received.
• Be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it.

For confirmation there is normally only one sponsor, either male or female, though two are permitted. If there are two, one must be a man and the other a woman. 

1. Please print and complete the Godparent/Sponsor Form and get it to Fr. Mayer either by dropping it off at Mass, emailing it to office@StJamesCC.org or mailing it to the St. James Parsonage, 3725 Lilly Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

2. Plan to attend the confirmation workshop and rehearsal, normally held on the same day

If a sponsor is physically unable to be at the confirmation, the Church allows for the sponsor to appoint in writing a proxy who will be able to physically be at the confirmation. If this is your situation please have the sponsor complete print and complete this form and have it emailed to office@StJamesCC.org or mailed to the St. James Parsonage, 3725 Lilly Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

• Be designated by the one to be confirmed and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
• Have completed the sixteenth year of age (unless the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause);
• Be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
• Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared (for example, the person must be in a marriage considered valid by the Catholic Church, if living with spouse);
• Not be the father or mother of the one to be confirmed/baptized/received.
• Be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it.

For confirmation there is normally only one sponsor, either male or female, though two are permitted. If there are two, one must be a man and the other a woman.

1. Please print and complete the Godparent/Sponsor Form and get it to Fr. Mayer either by dropping it off at Mass, emailing it to office@StJamesCC.org or mailing it to the St. James Parsonage, 3725 Lilly Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

2. Plan to attend as many of the confirmation preparation meetings as possible and to be available to the person preparing for confirmation. If you are not able to attend the preparation meetings, you will need to set up an individualized meeting with Father Mayer.

3. Plan to attend the confirmation rehearsal which is normally held one week prior to the confirmation.

If a sponsor is physically unable to be at the confirmation, the Church allows for the sponsor to appoint in writing a proxy who will be able to physically be at the confirmation. If this is your situation please have the sponsor complete print and complete this form and have it emailed to office@StJamesCC.org or mailed to the St. James Parsonage, 3725 Lilly Rd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32207.