In the Philippines, Catholic schools usually prepare the students for First Holy Communion (and the requisite First Confession) when they are in Grade 2. Then Confirmation is normally done when the kids are in Grade 6. I think my Grade School was a tad remiss in their duties because I remember I was already in High School when I got confirmed, and it was with Sunshine and her other grade school classmates. (Actually it was a family affair because London Eye and Sister Deer got confirmed at the same time. I don't remember if Eldest Sis was with us getting confirmed. If she was, then surely she was already in College by then. Oh my, we were the 'oldies.')
The reception of the sacraments here is slightly different from that in Manila whereby children (usually in Year 4) go for First Confession, then Confirmation, then finally First Holy Communion.
When we arrived in October 2009, MyGirl had finished Grade 2 while RD was incoming Grade 6. That meant that MyGirl had received her First Holy Communion with her classmates at St. Scho while RD had missed joining his Bosconian batchmates for Confirmation.
We found out that the sacraments were usually given at around Easter (Baptism) towards Trinity Sunday (Confirmation) and Corpus Christi (First Communion) but apparently the sacramental program here in Australia is spread out over several months starting many months in advance.
The earliest program we could get the children to join started last October 2010 ending with their Confirmation last 16 June 2011. So it was really a journey.
Check out the newly confirmed angels.
(Photos c/o RD's new godparents.)
