DETROIT — Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon conferred the sacrament of confirmation on 65 adults at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Nov. 24.

Twice each year, on the feasts of Pentecost and Christ the King, the archdiocese offers confirmation to adults who were catechized in their youth, but who — for one reason or another — were never confirmed.

It might be that the person didn’t quite feel prepared enough to be confirmed or was prevented because of some family exigency. Many have nevertheless been practicing Catholics, explained Fr. Charles Fox, priest-secretary to Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

“It’s not like they’ve ever left to join some other church,” he said.

The confirmands must be recommended by their pastor to participate in one of the twice-yearly services.

The situation is different with people who were only baptized Catholic or had actually left the Church, in which cases they would be required to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

RCIA participants — whether converts, candidates or not-fully sacramentalized Catholics — are brought into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass.

People who think they might qualify to receive adult confirmation at the next opportunity should consult their pastor. Adult confirmation may also be conferred at one’s parish church, depending on the preference of the pastor.

Confirmation is traditionally the third sacrament of initiation, after baptism and the reception of first Holy Communion. In the case of some unbaptized adult converts, all three are conferred at the same time.