The bishop of Portsmouth has called for a new approach to the Sacrament of Confirmation in his diocese, saying that young people need to be converted, not merely catechised.
In a pastoral letter, Bishop Philip Egan announced measures to ensure that the newly Confirmed remain practising Catholics.
If possible, he said, Confirmation courses should last two years and continue for a year after the Confirmation itself. Candidates should be at least 13 and should choose a saint’s name for the Confirmation.
The bishop wrote: “Over the last decades, there has been much discussion about Confirmation … But to me one thing is clear: we cannot continue indefinitely our current practice, because many of the young who receive this sacrament afterwards drift away.
“Recently someone lamented to me that only two of their 40 newly Confirmed practise their faith, despite a fine programme of catechesis and an uplifting celebration in the Cathedral. I replied provocatively: ‘You catechised them. You sacramentalised them. But did you convert them?’ Evangelisation is first and foremost about conversion, a religious experience of meeting Jesus Christ and being called personally by Him with a transformed heart. We need to enable the conversion of young Catholics, not just to catechise them.”
The bishop said that catechists must tackle “the real blockages to faith many people today struggle with: the existence of God, why a good God allows so much suffering in the world, the uniqueness and divinity of Christ, freedom and responsibility, sexuality, and the relationship of science and religion.”
Bishop of Salford outlines plan to close 22 churches
Bishop John Arnold of Salford has announced the closure of 22 churches in his diocese.
Under the plan, which follows a consultation period last year, another 100 parishes will be amalgamated.
The diocese said the reforms were designed to give priests more time to perform their pastoral duties, including the celebration of Mass, ministering to the sick, elderly and infirm and working in schools.
Bishop Arnold said: “This plan is a real chance to make changes that will help build, sustain and grow parishes fit for future generations. Not just for members of our Church but also for the wider community we live in. The plan allows the Diocese of Salford to look forward, creating outward-facing parishes, responding to the call from Pope Francis to develop ‘missionary parishes’.”
Bishop Arnold said no decisions had been made about the future use of buildings, and that it was hoped they could be used for the community.
In a few cases, he said, “demolition may be considered as a final resort and the future of the land be considered for appropriate development, such as social housing”.
Archbishop helps at soup kitchen
Archbishop Bernard Longley joined volunteers in handing out food and hot drinks to Birmingham’s homeless last Friday night. The city centre soup kitchen is staffed by St Vincent de Paul (SVP) volunteers as well as Sikhs and Muslims. Archbishop Longley said he was “moved” by the experience and that his fellow volunteers were “truly bringing the presence of Christ into people’s lives”.
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