As Riverside and San Bernardino counties continue their reopening, parishes are beginning to confirm young Catholics across the Diocese while still adhering to safety measures.
Bishop Alberto Rojas revised the safety directives for Masses in an April 14 letter so that parishes can increase seating capacity to 50 percent and reduce social distancing from six feet to three feet. In addition to adhering to the safety guidelines for Mass, parishes will also follow a set of directives for Confirmations.
Candidates will be seated as they arrive instead of processing into their seats like they normally would. Sponsors and candidates will remain socially distanced, unless they are from the same household.
The traditional photo with the Bishop will be skipped, and instead of directly anointing the candidate’s forehead with the Sacred Chrism, the Bishop, or his designee, will dip a clean cotton ball into the oil and then anoint the candidate. (Directives mentioned in this article are current as of press time, although they are subject to modification depending on the state of the pandemic.)
To make sure that there is no more than 50 percent capacity at the ceremony, some parishes, such as St. Bernardine in San Bernardino, are limiting guests to parents and sponsors only.
St. Bernardine catechist Matthew Toilolo shared sentiments on virtual religious education classes. “[Online learning] is challenging as a catechist … You’re not sure if you’re getting your message across,” said Toilolo. He said that many of the students prefer to keep their video cameras off during class, which makes it hard for him to tell if they are engaged in the class and understanding the material.
“They’re more reserved online … it’s hard to read them, and it’s hard to get them to participate sometimes,” said Toilolo, who has been a catechist at the parish for over 15 years. “It’s a challenging time for them, too … hopefully we keep praying, and we’ll get through this.”
Full story at Inland Catholic Byte.
John 20:22 – He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Oh no, Jesus wasn’t wearing a mask!!!
According to the great “dr” of the Church, St Fauci, Jesus would have worn two masks.
There are legitimate questions regarding the validity of this cotton ball proposal. Until this is resolved, seek the Sacrament of Confirmation from a bishop using the Traditional Rite, including laying on the the hand and anointing with the thumb. There is Zero question of validity that way.
Again the traddy is wrong. The Congregation for Divine Worship assured the USCCB in September that the Sacrament of Confirmation administered by means of an instrument is valid. Trads are in schism when they go against the magisterium, as when they disparage the novus ordo Mass. Stop getting your theology from Fr. Z. There are legitimate questions about him, so much so that the bishop kicked him out of his diocese.
Look up the definition of schism, please.
Says the leftist with rainbow flags and felt banners…..the left is in schism by default and by its existence.
With all the infighting its a wonder anyone wants to become or remain Cathoilc.
Seriously. If the church is supposed to be the sign of the Kingdom of Heaven, maybe I’d rather have something like Tesla or SpaceX.
I don’t think the validity is in question. Without weighing in on the cotton ball controversy, here’s what Canon Law says:
Can. 1000 – §1. The anointings are to be carefully performed while observing the words, the order and the manner prescribed in the liturgical books; but in case of necessity it is sufficient that one anointing be made on the forehead, or even on another part of the body, while saying the entire formula.
§2. The minister is to perform the anointing with his own hand unless a serious reason persuades him to use an instrument.
Orthodox Churches, which have valid sacraments, use a gold-plated brush or gold-plated hand-held stylus-like rod (as do Eastern Catholic Churches).
Materia et forma.
It amazes me how traddys consider nonexistent felt banners to be such a threat to their faith.
Fact is that if you disparage the new Mass, if you doubt the validity of the new Mass, you are going against the teaching of the church. That puts you in schism.
And the CDW did authoritatively state that administering chrism with an instrument is valid.
Nope, you can’t kick us out for preferring The Mass of the Ages. Strange you are so threatened by Your Fellow Catholics.
I don’t mind you celebrating your old Masses in your own parishes. I don’t say anything bad about that. Its you saying bad things about our parishes and Masses that I find offensive. Just stick to your Masses and let us celebrate ours. But you have to think you’re superior, which is why you denigrate the new Mass every chance you get. I don’t denigrate the old Mass. I find fault with traddys for their condescension thinking they have a better version of Catholicism. They don’t.
Both forms of the Roman Rite are in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. They are the same rite, different forms.
I understand that. Tell that to the trads who think they’re more Catholic than the novus ordo Catholics.
We dont have a better version of Catholicism we have the only version of Catholicism
Exactly the condescending arrogance I said is typical of traddys. When you prod them, they openly admit they think the vast majority of their fellow Catholics aren’t really Catholic. Understand this: such an attitude makes you a schismatic.
What do you mean by ‘we”? Serious question.
You have an inferiority complex. As a defender of the Novus Ordo, all things go Mass, you have earned it.
Ah but in your heart, you know the trads have what you long for. You’re welcome to join us.
“The cult of toxic tradition.”
Yes… Fr. Zulsdorff has a column today in which he asserts that the novus ordo Mass is childish and the TLM is mature. With attitudes like that, traddy traditionalists certainly are toxic to church unity. Their condescending arrogance is offensive.
Why do you care what anyone else thinks of you or your NO attendance? Whether its a Lutheran, “Traddy”, Atheist, Hindu, Baal worshipper…
It’s your choice to take offense or not.
TLMers sure are touchy about being called out on their attitudes. If you think your Mass is so great, why the constant harping about the novus ordo? What do you care about what goes on at Masses you don’t attend and don’t think are valid?
These disputes over whether a sacrament has effect depending on how its celebrated are silly. Nine out of ten kids who are confirmed leave the church and their lives aren’t changed by being confirmed, so what does that say about its effectiveness? Bishops have to realize that going through these empty motions is absurd. How many of them admit it to anyone?
I sympathize with your statements. In these difficult times of social and ecclesial deterioration, I too have wondered where God’s power and presence are, where the power of the sacraments is. They seem absent. For all the claims made that Confirmation is an important sacrament that strengthens recipients to witness to the faith, why do so many leave soon after being confirmed, almost like it’s a goodbye sacrament? Teens spend two years preparing for Confirmation, then…. goodbye. Something is really wrong.
Catholics should receive the sacraments of initiation when they are children. The proper order of the Sacraments is: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion.
And you are wrong.
The correct order is:
Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation.
Frank, it depends on what you mean by “correct” and it legitimately does vary. Until about a century ago, when Pope Saint Pius X encouraged young children to receive Holy Communion (and moved that prior to Confirmation), the ancient order of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist was maintained. The age of reception of Confirmation and Eucharist varied, but it was often at about 12 years of age. You can see that in the anointing after baptism, which originally was the sacrament of Chrismation/Confirmation. (Chrism is the Holy Oil.) The priest says, “The God of power and Father our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin and brought you to new life through water and the Holy Spirit. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation, so that, united with His people, you may remain for ever a member of Christ Who is Priest, Prophet and King.” The priest then anoints the child on the crown of his or her head with chrism. (“If the number of children is large,” deacons may anoint some of them.) Eastern Catholic (and Orthodox) Churches maintain the ancient, traditional order and some Latin dioceses have restored it. Follow your bishop and the sacraments will be valid. Come, Holy Spirit! He is the power and resource that we all need!
It’s all about sex. They leave around the time they decide sex is their priority and don’t want anyone to tell them they are in sin.
Shouldn’t the sacrament give them the strength to resist temptation? Why do 90% leave if the sacrament does what people say it does? That’s a failure rate that should raise questions about catechesis, sacraments and pastoral leadership.
Let’s untangle this. Catechesis…seems to be lacking in your post. As far as the efficacy of the Sacrament of Confirmation…now we can do something with that. Cooperation with grace is a necessary element in the effectiveness of grace. As well as the intention of the recipient of the Sacrament. The Sacrament itself is indelible. Cooperation with the grace, obviously, is occasional. If a 17 year old kid decides to ignore the bounty laid at his feet, there will be spiritual (detrimental) consequences. When that 17 year old becomes 50 and decides to cooperate with that grace, there will be spiritual (beneficial) consequences. Pastoral leadership? Well, it’s a mixed bag, isn’t it?
And 50% of marriages in the Church end in divorce. The problem is not with the sacrament, it’s the people who in their folly, mess things up.
How do you know that’s it? According to Bishop Barron, the young say that they simply don’t believe the church’s teachings anymore. That’s why they leave. They find, with good reason, that science is a better way to make sense of the world than the religion they have been taught. Religion seems to them to be completely irrelevant and unnecessary and in some ways a hindrance to living a fulfilling life. That’s why they leave. And when they are happy and don’t miss the sacraments, they are confirmed (pun intended) in their choice to leave.
“According to Bishop Barron …”
lol
Yeah, the trads hate Bishop Barron too. They hate the most effective evangelist of our day. That tells you a lot about them.
Bishop Barron’s opinion is no more valid than the one you are objecting to.
Calling a Sacrament an empty motion is grave error, possibly blasphemy.
Then why such a high failure rate?
Sin! We have to co-operate with grace.
They are not magic spells.
I took the Eucharist for years without knowing the Real Presence of Christ. I did not stay in the Church but when I returned I was enlightened to His Presence.
1. Sacraments are not magic. God still respects our free wills.
2. Jesus Christ is present and works in every sacrament. But, being touched by Jesus doesn’t mean that everyone is healed or changed. Many touched Jesus, literally, one day when He walked on earth, only the woman who touched him with faith was healed. See Luke 8:43-48.
3. We need to evangelize, not merely attempt to catechize the unevangelized. (They’re not motivated to listen, learn, change and grow.)
4. Change what we’re doing. Don’t continue to use the same Confirmation prep programs that fail year after year. Try another one! At worst, then, at least you’ll know two programs that don’t work.
5. Programs are not the answer. A Person is, well, three Persons, actually, the Holy Spirit, Jesus and the Father . See #3 above.
Saint John Paul says that the new evangelization begins with us Catholics. The message isn’t new, it’s ancient, even eternal. What’s “new” is that it begins among our own; in our parishes and families and even, apparently, in some of our chanceries.
Wait just a minute there, even our cooperation with grace is a movement of grace. We cannot cooperate with operative grace apart from cooperative grace. You people seem to be saying that cooperation with grace is the way someone earns holiness, like it’s offered in front of us but we have to decide to take it. It’s not up to us… it’s up to God giving the grace. If we could cooperate with grace apart from grace, if we could choose grace apart from the motion of grace within us, we would be earning salvation. So the lack of response to the grace of the sacrament is the result of a failure of God to give efficacious grace. Which raises the question… why is God not giving more efficacious graces to his young faithful?
earns holiness?
earning salvation?
God gives abundant grace. Humans, through weakness, don’t use it.
You know you need to be up at 6:30 and you know you should go to bed at 10:30. But there are cat videos on Youtube and ice cream in the freezer and an article on procrastination that you need to read so you stay up til 12:30 then you oversleep.
It is not the person who posted the videos fault or the person who made the ice creams fault or the fault of the person who wrote the article or the manufacturer of your alarm clocks fault. And it is not God’s fault. It is your fault.
You’re failing to realize that we can’t cooperate with grace unless God gives us the efficacious grace of cooperation. So, yes, sin is the fault of the sinner. But unless God gives efficacious as opposed to merely sufficient grace, a person will remain mired in sin. So why are so many youth mired in sin? Because God only gives them sufficient but not efficacious graces.
Yes.
If children don’t see their parents pray; if they are not taught to pray; if they are not taken to Eucharistic Adoration or at the very least, taken early to Mass to spend time with the Lord before Mass and stay after Mass giving thanksgiving, why would they become devout Catholics?.
They might attend a retreat or FOCUS event or something that will vivify them.
They might get a mystical experience due to God’s mercy.
Is God the center of our lives?
If the sacrament is not properly administered, it is not a sacrament at all. Do your research.
Absurdity Church. This is 2021 We know all we need to know about the wuflu. The probabilty of infection from human to oil to human are zero. That youth is in an age bracket of almost the highest for survival from the wuflu.
No felt banners but novus ordo theatrics nonetheless. Who wants to return to Mass and see and deal with this nonsensical distractions?
Angels on the head of a pin. Sounds like a reasonable effort to retain the substance of the Sacrament while minimizing covid risks. I can’t believe God wants people to expose themselves to covid risk [albeit small] just to dot every i and cross every t in the missal.
God wants us to use the brain and tools he has given us to see thru these “cotton ball” absurdities.
The young man shown in the photo has statistically greater chance of dying in a car accident (0.97%) than dying from wuflu (0.67%). According to the CDC, only 158 0-18 YO US men have died from the Covid. I’m not even mentioning his odds of contracting covid in the shown scenario – nil.
Why can’t bishops educate themselves? Why can’t MikeM? Fear?, Laziness?
Why are we put thru this foolishness and false controversies?
I agree with you the chances of contracting COVID through chrism is probably vanishingly small. But I also dot see why people have to make a big deal about the cotton balls either. I’m more worried about spreading the virus from being in the same room as the rest of them and even then, the priest and parents can be vaccinated and masked, so at least in most places in the US, it’s a small risk.
“But I also dot see why people have to make a big deal about the cotton balls either.”
Because it perpetuates the false notion that a.) there is a serious risk for infection b.) these acts “cotton balls” mitigate a non existent risk. Result: Heterodoxy, Fear, controversy and distortion of the sacraments.
As we now know, masks do not mitigate risk nor does the social distancing.
Novus ordo theatrics.
And there’s significant evidence that the virus was a leaked biological weapon from China.
You seem to worry a lot. Stay home with your mask on and pray for those willing to live their lives without fear.
People, let me put it this way. If a drug company claimed a new treatment would protect and strengthen the person who received it against harm but 90% of the time it failed to achieve the advertized results, the drug wouldn’t be approved.
The church would be better off if the bishops stopped worrying about Biden and started worrying about all the young adults and teens they are losing.