In Tyler, confirmation restored to its place before first Communion

Published: 2005-10-20

TYLER, Texas (CNS) -- Bishop Alvaro Corrada of Tyler has restored the sacrament of confirmation to its original place before first Communion, allowing Catholics in the Diocese of Tyler to more fully celebrate the sacrament of Eucharist. "The place to make your commitment to the Catholic Church is in the Eucharist, not in confirmation," the bishop said in an Oct. 7 letter titled "Pastoral Reflection on the Sacrament of Confirmation." "The sacraments draw humanity into the truth and love of God revealed in Christ, thereby disposing the faithful to live this love more deeply in their daily lives of Christian freedom and witness," the bishop said. "The relation of baptism and confirmation to the Eucharist becomes clear; each prepares a person to take his appointed place within the life of the church." This reordering of the sacrament is not an unusual practice, according to Bishop Corrada. "A good number of dioceses in the United States, Canada and Europe have reordered the sacraments to go back to the usual way, which is baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist," he said.

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