Life-long learning<br/><br/>

According to common practice, parishioners who have been baptized as babies will receive the First Holy Communion by Grade 2, and the Sacrament of Confirmation when they are in Grade 8.<br/><br/>

The Parish of St. Augustine under the Diocese of Saskatoon will begin a pilot project this year in which young people will receive Confirmation before receiving First Communion.<br/><br/>

“The correct order the Sacrament of Initiation should be Baptism, Confirmation, on then Eucharist,” Bishop Albert LeGatt explained, “ because we are brought into this new life in Christ through Baptism; through Confirmation we are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit to live out that new life; and then the Eucharist unites us repeatedly and sacramentally to Christ and to one another in that new life.”<br/><br/>

With the introduction of an earlier age for First Holy Communion initiated by Pope Pius X in 1910, Confirmation was left at a later age. As a result, Confirmation became connected with the idea of an adult commitment to the faith.<br/><br/>

“Confirmation is not a question of understanding; it’s not dependent on our knowledge; it’s a free gift.” Said Bishop Albert LeGatt, “Catechesis is not something that leads to confirmation and then stops. Rather, formation in the Christian faith and in Christian life is a life-long journey, which begins with initiation.”<br/><br/>

Currently, the Archdiocese of Toronto still encourages Catholics to receive First Holy Communion before Confirmation. However, we should all bear the message of “life-long learning” in our heart.