OLPH Confirmation Transition

Archbishop William E. Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore has announced a significant change regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation. After extensive study and consultation, the standard age for receiving Confirmation will be lowered to 9 years old.

This initiative aims to deepen the faith formation of our youth and address the growing trend of disaffiliation from the Church. By engaging children at a younger age, we hope to:

• Strengthen Family Involvement: Encourage active participation of parents in their children’s spiritual journey.
• Empower Young Disciples: Provide the graces of the sacrament at a formative stage, fostering a lifelong commitment to the faith.

The transition to the new Confirmation age will occur in three phases, starting in the 2025-2026 catechetical year. All parishes will adopt the change by spring 2028.

Several parishes have already piloted this approach, witnessing positive outcomes such as increased family engagement and enthusiasm for faith formation.

Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation, along with Baptism and Eucharist. It deepens and strengthens the grace received at Baptism, bestowing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

• We plan to offer separate preparation groups for elementary, middle, and high school students so that all students age 9 and up have the opportunity to pursue Confirmation preparation while still receiving age-appropriate instruction.
• Our elementary group would most likely be limited to 5-6 sessions plus a day retreat, whereas our middle and high school group will have a more robust program of 8-10 sessions plus a weekend retreat.
• We will craft our schedule with federal holiday weekends and school breaks in mind.
• The age 9 minimum refers to your student’s age at the time of Confirmation (which typically takes place mid-to-late March for OLPH Parish). In other words, your students may be admitted to Confirmation prep classes even if they are age 8 at the start of the school year and celebrate their 9th birthday anytime before Confirmation.
• In accord with Archbishop Lori’s desire to prioritize family-centric faith formation, parents will also be expected to be present with their children at formation sessions. Towards this end, we are working hard to develop a preparation schedule that minimizes demands on your family schedule and all of our team members (volunteers and staff).

Why is the age being lowered?

To strengthen young discipleship and align the sacrament with its original intention as a gift from God rather than a rite of passage.

How will this impact faith formation?

Families will play an even greater role in nurturing faith at home, and resources like the Family Discernment Guide will support this journey.

Will Confirmation still be meaningful at a younger age?

Yes! Studies and pilot programs show that children are capable of deep spiritual engagement and are already exploring questions of faith and identity.

At Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), we are committed to walking alongside families as we navigate this important transition in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Since Archbishop Lori’s decision, we have taken intentional steps to engage our parish community in prayer, dialogue, and discernment.

We held a prayer and listening session where parishioners came together to reflect on this change, express their insights, and share their hopes and concerns. The feedback from this session has been invaluable in shaping our approach.

The discussion of concrete plans, community feedback was addressed, and we discerned our path forward together.

• A desire for deeper spiritual engagement at younger ages.
• Reflections on how Confirmation at a younger age may change peer dynamics and formation experiences.
• The importance of family faith formation in ensuring a meaningful sacramental journey.