Baltimore Archdiocese lowers confirmation age to strengthen family involvement

Mar 14, 2025

MARYLAND: Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore has announced a decision to lower the age of Confirmation to nine, a move aimed at increasing family engagement in the formation of youth. This initiative comes amid growing concerns over disaffiliation from the Catholic Church, with leaders across the US striving to strengthen catechesis by reducing the age at which young people receive the sacrament.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge and the Diocese of Salt Lake City made similar changes in December 2024, and other archdioceses, including Seattle, Boston, and Denver, have also adjusted their confirmation age requirements in recent years.

For Archbishop Lori, who has served in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for nearly 13 years, the key to addressing the catechesis crisis lies in family involvement. After extensive consultation with experts in Catholic theology, developmental psychology, and the experiences of other dioceses, the archbishop concluded that the decisive factor in young people remaining in the faith is the active involvement of their families.

In his January 22 pastoral letter, Archbishop Lori emphasised, “Purposeful engagement of families in the formation of their children is essential in our formation efforts.” He expressed his hope that greater parental involvement in the confirmation preparation process would allow the graces of the sacrament to take root in the lives of young people, “sealing their missionary identity in the Spirit and sending them forth.”

Disaffiliation from the Church has become an increasing issue in the US with recent studies showing rising numbers of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated, particularly among Generation Z. A 2024 Survey Centre on American Life study found that nearly 4 in 10 Generation Z women identify as “unaffiliated,” and a 2018 study revealed that many young people are leaving the Church as early as age 13.

However, Archbishop Lori acknowledged that changing the confirmation age alone cannot solve the complex issue of disaffiliation. He stressed that young people will still require “care, support, and intentional accompaniment,” and called on parishes to strengthen their youth ministry efforts in ways that support growth in the Christian faith.

While many Catholics are accustomed to confirmation taking place in high school or late middle school, the Archdiocese of Baltimore believes that nine-year-olds are capable of receiving the sacrament. “We often underestimate the zeal and readiness of the youngest of our disciples,” said Archbishop Lori.

The archdiocese emphasised that confirmation is not about how much one knows about the faith but about openness to the Holy Spirit. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, confirmation “completes” baptism and increases baptismal grace (Nos. 1303, 1305), marking the beginning of a person’s Christian journey, rather than serving as a “graduation” from faith formation.

The transition to a younger confirmation age will begin in the 2025-2026 liturgical year and be implemented in phases, with each parish adapting the change over one to three years based on their specific demographics and needs. Some parishes have already piloted early- age confirmation programmes with positive results, particularly in fostering strong family engagement, according to Archbishop Lori. --CNA