2027 confirmations to consolidate

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
In an effort to assist Bishop John Keehner in fulfilling his episcopal obligation to be more engaged with his parishes, and to make the best use of resources, many confirmation liturgies will be grouped, starting in 2027.
 
Father Andrew Galles, diocesan director of worship, explained that conversations to move towards consolidating confirmation liturgies began under Bishop Walker Nickless, now bishop emeritus of the diocese.
 
“There were discussions about making confirmation Masses more regional in order to better share resources and free the bishop to engage in a wider variety of parish visits that are not solely based around confirmations,” the director of worship explained.
 
He pointed out that in the last year of Bishop Nickless’ active ministry as shepherd of the diocese, he celebrated about 31 confirmation Masses. The consolidated plan for 2027 calls for about 18 confirmation Masses.
 
“In a diocese of our size, it makes sense to share resources, especially when looking at the celebration of a more complex episcopal liturgy, which is the reality with every confirmation,” Father Galles said. “Aside from that, it allows Bishop Keehner more opportunities to spend time with parishes at their normal Sunday Masses away from confirmation.”

 Father GallesAs bishops are required to visit parishes on a regular basis, relying only upon confirmation Mass visits doesn’t give him a good sense of typical parish life. 

“It’s beneficial for the laity to encounter Bishop Keehner in their parishes not simply as the minister of confirmation and nothing else, but also as the shepherd and high priest of the diocese who is engaged in the week-to-week life of their parish,” the priest pointed out.
 
The consolidation plan, which was approved by the Presbyteral Council in October 2025, combines small groups of youth to be confirmed and reduces the total number of confirmation Masses. The director of worship explained that the smaller confirmation classes have had about 12 to 20 students, and it makes sense to celebrate fewer confirmation Masses with more candidates. The goal is to have at least 40 to 50 youth to be confirmed at each Mass.
 Confirmation Mass held at Immaculate Conception in CherokeeAlso, the consolidation would provide the opportunity for smaller parishes that typically hosted confirmation every other year to move to an annual celebration of the sacrament if they chose. 
A memo distributed from the Office of Worship further explained that the pastors and religious education directors in the groupings would collaborate with one another to select and request potential confirmation dates to the Bishop’s Office.
 
The confirmation liturgies would be “special, stand-alone Masses that are not part of the usual Sunday Mass schedule.” The hosting parish would be responsible for the liturgy, working with the Office of Worship.
 
Examples of groupings for 2027 confirmations include St. Andrew Church in Sibley hosting the parishioners of Lyon and Osceola Counties including parishioners from Rock Rapids and Sheldon. The Sibley church has a seating capacity of 358.
 
Also, Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer would host those to be confirmed from Spirit Lake and Milford. The Spencer church has a seating capacity of 750.
 
Some parish confirmation liturgies will remain stand-alone due to seating capacity and number of those to be confirmed including St. Rose of Lima in Denison hosting Crawford County students. All Saints Parish in Le Mars would also host their own confirmation Mass.
 
As the diocesan priests have worked through parish groupings and mergers over the decades, the prospect of consolidating confirmation liturgies may not have come as a surprise. Father Galles said the priests on the Presbyteral Council “responded positively” as they understood how it would assist the bishop in his role.
 
“I don’t know if it was anticipated by the pastors, but perhaps this kind of resource sharing could be seen as the next logical step after consolidation,” the director of worship said.
 
He explained that across the 24 counties of the diocese, each parish is connected to the diocesan community and the bishop.
 
“Every diocesan parish and every diocesan priest is rooted, like branches on a vine, to the ministry of its bishop because he is the shepherd and high priest among us,” he said. “This interconnectedness, this universality, this union with one another is what makes us Catholic.”

Cover photo - Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Sioux Center.

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