Fifth Sunday of Easter

Confirmation and First Communion

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

I spent the past week in La Crosse for the South Wisconsin Pastors Conference. Our main presenter this week, Pastor Mark Surburg, provided a detailed history and practice of Confirmation and First Communion.

As we discussed the convoluted history of Confirmation and First Communion while making changes to our practice at Good Shepherd, this week’s presentation was fascinating as Pastor Surburg demonstrated just how confusing and chaotic the history of Confirmation and First Communion truly is.

For instance, Pastor Surburg showed us pastors that for most of the Church’s history, children received the Lord’s Supper prior to Confirmation. For a significant portion of history, Confirmation was more of a blessing by the bishop than anything else.

But the most shocking thing Pastor Surburg presented was that one of the core documents establishing Confirmation within the Church was written by a pope who might not have even existed.

The takeaways from this week’s presentation are these:
1. The history of Confirmation and First Communion is truly confusing and mindboggling.
2. As a church, we must find ways to continue teaching and catechizing not only our youth, but also adults, so that they remain faithfully in the church throughout all the days of
their lives, beyond Confirmation. Bible Class is one of the ways we need to continue this endeavor.
3. The Church at large and in this case, our district, is now discussing the reception of First Communion at a younger age than the recent traditions of First Communion at
Confirmation.

It was a wonderful week of study and growth. It was good to be with fellow pastors of the district.

God’s peace be with you, dear friends in Christ.
Pastor Rogness