In short: yes. Some of the confusion stems from misunderstandings of the theology of Confirmation.

For example:

• Confirmation is truly about one’s openness to the work of the Holy Spirit, not about how much one knows about the faith. Nine-year-olds are not just capable of this openness but are often particularly receptive.
• Many people feel Confirmation is about “becoming an adult in the faith” (similar to a Catholic version of a bar or bat mitzvah), but that is not accurate. Confirmation enables one to be a witness for Christ, and the lives of the Saints show us that young disciples are some of the most effective witnesses of all.
• Confirmation is not a choice that a person makes to “confirm” his or her faith as they enter adulthood – it is God’s action of sealing and fully unleashing the Holy Spirit already present in that person through baptism.
•  Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation not a graduation. Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist mark the beginning of our journey to understand the ever-unfolding mystery of God’s work in our lives. Some consider Confirmation a “graduation” of sorts, marking the end of formal catechesis, and that is not the case.

Faith formation is a lifelong adventure! This change makes that theological reality even more clear.

Spiritual readiness is an essential part of preparing for the sacraments. Most parents find that their children are spiritually ready to receive First Holy Communion around age 7 or 8. Since the Eucharist is considered the “source and summit” of our Catholic faith, a child who has received the Eucharist should be ready to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Some families may hesitate because their child will miss out on the social aspects traditionally associated with teenage Confirmation—such as retreats and peer bonding. These experiences, however, are already available through our EDGE and LIFE TEEN youth ministry programs, which serve youth ages 11–18. Additionally, our Faith Formation team will introduce a special discipleship retreat during the 2026–2027 cycle to serve as a bridge between EDGE and LIFE TEEN, offering a retreat experience comparable to what was previously part of our teen Confirmation program.

In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, preparation for all Sacraments takes place in the context of the parish. While our Catholic schools provide an excellent environment for growing in faith, preparation for and celebration of the Sacraments (particularly First Reconciliation/Penance, First Communion/Eucharist, and Confirmation) will continue to be the responsibility of pastor and parish leadership, in partnership with parents and families. Catholic school religion/theology classes will continue to supplement and amplify the formation provided by parishes.

We’ve heard it many times that Confirmation is not graduation from religious education, and that is true. At the same time, Confirmation does indeed mark the completion of something: namely, the reception of all of the sacraments of initiation. In addition, it signifies that sufficient formation is completed for our testimony to the narrative of salvation—including the Gospel—to be shared faithfully and fruitfully with the aid of the Holy Spirit (cf. CCC 1308-1309). It also completes our initiation into the common priesthood of the faithful, so that our personal sacrifices might be more acceptable to God before the altar at the Mass (cf. CCC 1305).

However, Christian discipleship is life-long, and the goal and tasks of catechesis continue throughout our entire lives, independently of receiving all of the sacraments of initiation. We are called to ongoing conversion and ever-growing conformity to Christ, and faith formation is a necessary element of that process. Moreover, the completion of the great gift of receiving the sacraments of initiation brings about increased responsibility: “to whom much is given, much is expected” (Lk 12:48; cf. CCC 1285, 1319).

At St. John, we offer a wide variety of ongoing faith formation opportunities: Odyssey (for K-5th grade), EDGE (for 6th – 8th grade) and LIFE TEEN (9th-12th grade)