Letter to the Bishop Guidelines
It is required that a confirmand write a letter to the bishop to request the sacrament of confirmation. The Church teaches us that the unifying figure in each diocese is the bishop. St. Ignatius of Antioch, a student of St. John the Evangelist and also the third Bishop of Antioch, wrote to his followers in the year 105 AD that wherever the bishop is, the Catholic Church is there. He is quoted as saying, “Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop... wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” For this reason, it is important that each confirmand express his or her desire to be confirmed in writing to the bishop, who is the ordinary celebrant for the sacrament of confirmation.
Overview of Letter
Letters to the bishop should reflect the individual character and style of each confirmand. While honoring the letters as unique expressions, the following topics are recommended to be included in the letter’s body:
Greeting
Begin your letter with the greeting: Your Excellency (or Dear Bishop Barron),
Body of the Letter
Conclusion
It is required that a confirmand write a letter to the bishop to request the sacrament of confirmation. The Church teaches us that the unifying figure in each diocese is the bishop. St. Ignatius of Antioch, a student of St. John the Evangelist and also the third Bishop of Antioch, wrote to his followers in the year 105 AD that wherever the bishop is, the Catholic Church is there. He is quoted as saying, “Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop... wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” For this reason, it is important that each confirmand express his or her desire to be confirmed in writing to the bishop, who is the ordinary celebrant for the sacrament of confirmation.
Overview of Letter
Letters to the bishop should reflect the individual character and style of each confirmand. While honoring the letters as unique expressions, the following topics are recommended to be included in the letter’s body:
Greeting
Begin your letter with the greeting: Your Excellency (or Dear Bishop Barron),
Body of the Letter
- Introduce yourself. Say something about your family or your background.
- Request the sacrament. Give a few reasons why you would like to receive the sacrament.
- Explain how you have prepared for the sacrament. It is important that you tell about specific parts of your preparation: your prayer life, your celebration of the other sacraments, your service to others at home, in the community and in the parish, etc.
- Tell how you will continue to carry out your life of service to God and others through the power of the Holy Spirit. Tell how you plan to make your confirmation in the faith real and alive in your life. Ask the bishop to pray for you.
Conclusion
- Conclude the letter with “Sincerely,” and write your complete signature.
- Be sure to check your spelling and grammar.
- At least one (1) page long, but no more than two (2)
- 1.5 spacing
- 1-inch margins
- Times New Roman
- Size 12 Font