No child will celebrate the first communion in the Diocese of Almería in 2027

An adjustment in the pastoral plan of the Diocese of Almería (Spain) to better adapt catechesis to the maturity and ability of children causes first communions to be celebrated in 2027.

The economic and social consequences of this decision have led local hoteliers to maintain a meeting with Mons. Gómez Cantero in early June, since these celebrations constitute a very important part of the income of some businesses such as restaurants, clothing stores or photography studies.

The episcopal delegate for catechesis, P. Samuel Olvera, explains to Aci Prensa that, despite understanding the damage that this can assume in the economic level, “we have to be aware that we, as a church, as a diocese, as a parish, what we offer is a sacrament, a personal encounter with Christ, not social acts.”

“It is true that it is a socially very delicate discussion, but our obligation is to prepare children well for the sacrament of the first communion,” he adds.

A decision, meditated, known and well received within the Church

In recent weeks, this issue has generated a little more media flight, due to a certain mobilization of entrepreneurs. However, the pastoral decision that delays the catechesis start calendar to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist has not been recent or improvised.

In it Official Gazette of the Bishopric of Almería is published a decreedated September 14, 2024, which was approved by the new Diocean itinerary of initiation to the Christian life, renewing the previous plan, carried out in 2005.

It refers to a previous reflection period. It is not, therefore, “that has been taken lightly, but a decision that has been more than three years,” says Fr. Olvera.

Two are the main reasons for this modification: the first, that the catechists found that the children “cost work, especially the first years of catechesis, be with them, because maybe some did not know how to read or write” and could only do activities such as coloring sheets with pious motifs and “little else”.

In addition, the modification of the start of catechesis in the Diocese of Almería responds to an equalization “with the rest of the diocese, especially Andalusia.”

During the pandemic, there were also many who, improvised, due to circumstances, delayed their formation. “The truth is that it was noticed that year in maturity” when taught catechesis, Fr. Olvera ratifies.

Thus, the children will begin their preparation for the first communion in the second of primary, with 7 or 8 years, which will last three years, at the end of which, they will receive the sacrament of the Eucharist, with 9 or 10 years, preceded that of the penance and, where appropriate, the baptism if they had not received it before completing the six years. From there, confirmation preparation will begin, which would be carried out in the first secondary education course.

This calendar will be applied gradually from the Spanish school year 2025-2026 that begins next September, the last year in which the first communions in third primary school will be held.

The following course, 2026-2027, first communions will not be held and, already in the 2027-2028 school period, the celebrations will return.

In 2023, the Diocese celebrated about 3,800 communions, just over 4,000 baptisms and just over 1,000 confirmations.

Provisions for baptism and confirmation godparents

The Diocese decree of Almería also recalls that The Canon Law Code It establishes that the candidate for godfather of baptism or confirmation must be Catholic and be confirmed and lead “a life consistent with faith and the mission that will assume”, among other requirements.

“From now on, the chosen ones will be required to comply with these requirements, especially the reception of the sacraments of the Christian initiation to perform this function,” is collected in the decree.

This provision is perceived as “a great pastoral opportunity for reception and accompaniment of so many adults who have not completed their Christian initiation, so they can do it.” The episcopal delegate for the catechesis of the Diocese of Almería, confirms it: “In my parish we have gone from 20 confirmations to 110”.