Confirmation
The sacrament of Confirmation is intrinsically tied to Baptism and Eucharist. “By signing us with the gift of the Spirit, Confirmation makes us more completely the image of the Lord and fills us with the Holy Spirit, so that we may bear witness to him before all the world and work to bring the Body of Christ to its fullness as soon as possible.” Confirmation is an initiation sacrament - not a sacrament of maturation or commitment. Presently, in the English sector of this diocese we celebrate Confirmation at the age of 12, so therefore it completes the initiation process. This placement sometimes causes us to have that graduation/maturation mentality, but it is about entrance (initiation) not exit. It is the parish community who celebrates the sacrament of Confirmation. The Ritual of Confirmation says that "when a parish community prepares seriously for the celebration of Confirmation as one of the spiritual highlights of the year, the whole local Church benefits from the grace of the event. A deepening faith in the Spirit and in God's people, a growing awareness of our responsibility to proclaim our faith in our lives, a continuing effort by all to seek the kingdom of God first; such are the fruits of a well prepared and well celebrated Confirmation service." The Church is the one welcoming the candidates into full initiation, so the entire community should be involved in spiritual preparation because "the chief shepherd of the diocese...is coming to invite baptized persons into the fullness of Christian initiation."
Because it is the community who is celebrating the sacrament, candidates should experience the sacrament, not lead it. They should be embraced by the community. Candidates are being ministered to by the community in the reception of this sacrament. Therefore, those who normally fulfill the ministerial responsibilities of lector, communion minister, music minister should also fulfill those responsibilities for Confirmation. They are best prepared to involve the whole community, so "they [the community, can] take part in the sacred action, actively, fully aware, and devoutly."
The Rite of Confirmation is by its very nature liturgical. Efforts need to be made to ensure that those involved in Confirmation continue to be involved in the liturgical life of the parish.
Resources
1. National Bulletin on Liturgy #152
5. Rite of Baptism for Children
6. Rite of Confirmation