From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
I am 58 years old and was baptized as RC I was never confirmed /never made first holy communion and rarely attended church. I was drawn back to attending church about a year ago and as I am self employed and work in different ares each day I am attending Mass just about every day and receiving a great deal of satisfaction and comfort from doing so. I don’t take communion as I am not entitled to but would dearly love to do so. I don’t belong to any parish as I visit many different churches and would not be able to attend the same one due to my work. As someone who is parish-less how can I get confirmed,no one seems able to help me.
God bless you. It sounds like the Holy Spirit is doing some wonderful things in awaking in you the Faith you received in baptism so many years ago. Keep at it, even if it gets difficult… and there will be times when it gets difficult. In the meantime, enjoy the graces you are being given.
Also, kudos to you for wanting to respond to that grace and participate more fully in the Church by receiving the sacraments. God will richly reward your interest and your efforts.
Now, to work!
Even if you are not registered in any parish, the good news is that you DO have a parish. Even if you work all over the place and attend Mass at different places, you nevertheless have a parish based on where your primary residence is. Mind you, parish boundaries are not always easy to figure out, but if you call the nearest parish and inquire, someone be able help to yo, if not on the spot, then in short time.
Those who do not have a permanent home are called vagi in Latin, meaning “wanderers”. They have a right to the sacramental services of the pastor of the church where they are at any given moment.
In addition, if you make inquiries at any Catholic parish, you would surely be welcomed with open arms, given the instruction you need, and placed on the proper path for making a good confession, getting confirmed, and being admitted to receive our Eucharistic Lord in Holy Communion.
If you have found unhelpful people at a parish, place a call in to the local diocese and explain the situation.
If, after this, you still meet resistance or roadblocks, drop me a line again and let me know where you are. Perhaps I might manage to knock some heads together.
Meanwhile, welcome home! I imagine that many of the readers here will stop – RIGHT NOW – and say a prayer for you.
