Irish bishop welcomes Confirmation Pledge to include vaping and cigarettes

Bishop Michael Router

Bishop Michael Router, Liaison Bishop with the Irish Bishop's Drug's Initiative issued the following statement on Temperance Sunday.

"The Church's response to those who suffer from addiction must always be rooted in mercy, meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity, and speaking honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that contribute to it."
Today, Sunday, 15 February, the Church in Ireland marks Temperance Sunday, a Day of Prayer that invites reflection on our relationship with alcohol, drugs, and all substances or behaviours that can diminish human dignity and freedom.

Temperance Sunday is a time to pray for those who struggle with addiction, to support families and communities affected by its consequences and to renew our commitment to building a culture of care and moderation.

Addiction, in its many forms, continues to exact a devastating toll on individuals, families, and communities. The human cost, seen in suffering, broken relationships, mental and physical health problems, criminality, and social upheaval, is beyond calculation. Yet the Gospel calls us away from despair and condemnation to compassion and accompaniment.

Central to the mission of the Irish Bishop's Drugs Initiative is the conviction that prevention and early intervention are as vital as treatment and recovery. Education and formation, especially of young people, are essential if we are to respond meaningfully to substance misuse. In this context, I warmly welcome the rewording of the Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking, alongside alcohol and illicit drugs. This development reflects a thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today. Vaping has become widespread and is often presented in ways that obscure its risks and normalise dependency. By naming these realities clearly, the Church affirms her commitment to truth and to the wellbeing of young people.

The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful. It offers young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of family, faith and community. Addiction thrives in isolation. By involving families, schools, parishes, and the wider faith community, the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.

When to take the Pledge

The Pledge may be taken either during the Confirmation ceremony itself, or at the Ceremony of Light, depending on local pastoral practice and in consultation between priests, parents, and schools. The IBDI encourages dioceses, parishes, and schools to consider these options as they prepare for Confirmation celebrations in 2026. The inclusion in the Ceremony of Light option of a prayer spoken by parents and guardians, inviting them to reflect honestly on their own choices and to renew their commitment to being good examples of moderation, is significant and important.

On this year's Day of Prayer for Temperance, we hold in our hearts all who suffer from addiction, and their families who often carry hidden burdens. We also give thanks for those who work tirelessly in treatment, recovery, education, pastoral care, and community support. The Church's response must always be rooted in mercy, meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity, and speaking honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that contribute to it.

As a society, Ireland continues to suffer the far-reaching consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, with costs felt across health services, workplaces, communities, and public life. These realities call for a collective response that will be honest and effective.

In praying for the grace of temperance, we turn to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to our own national example of the power of prayer to overcome addiction, Venerable Matt Talbot, whose life bears powerful witness to the possibility of transformation and hope. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we become a people who choose and protect life, caring for both body and soul, so that everyone may grow and flourish.

Prayer options for taking the Pledge:

(i) Taking the Pledge at the Confirmation Ceremony

Confirmandi
Dear God,
because I want to live a good and happy life with You,
I promise not to drink alcohol until I am at least eighteen years of age.
Help me not to use drugs, vapes, cigarettes,
or anything that could harm my body or mind.
I will listen to and respect my parents and guardians
who care for me and want to keep me safe.
I will support my friends and peers
in making good and healthy choices too.

O Holy Spirit, give me the strength, courage, and joy
to keep this promise every day.
Amen

Bishop
Heavenly Father, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary and Venerable Matt Talbot,
we ask you to help all Irish people, and especially the young,
to practice temperance
and to make choices that are always for the good of body and soul.
May the saints whose names these young people have chosen
walk beside them as their friends and guides,
inspiring them to live with kindness, strength, and faith.
Together with their families,
may they be signs of Your light and love in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(ii) Taking the Pledge at the Ceremony of Light

Priest
Loving and life-giving God,
we thank You for these young people who will shortly receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
They now make a promise to care for the gift of life You have given them,
to stay free from alcohol until adulthood,
and to avoid forever the harm of drugs, vapes, and cigarettes.
Bless their courage and their desire to live with integrity and joy as they pray…

Confirmandi
Dear God,
because I want to live a good and happy life with You,
I promise not to drink alcohol until I am at least eighteen years of age.
Help me not to use drugs, vapes, cigarettes,
or anything that could harm my body or mind.
I will listen to and respect my parents and guardians
who care for me and want to keep me safe.
I will support my friends and peers
in making good and healthy choices too.

O Holy Spirit, give me the strength, courage, and joy
to keep this promise every day.
Amen.

Priest
Lord, we thank You also for their parents and guardians,
who have guided them to this moment with love and faith.
Bless them as they renew their own commitment
to be examples of goodness, moderation, and care.

Parents and Guardians
We thank You, Lord, for the gift of our children and for the promise they make here today.
Bless them with courage to live their pledge with faith, honesty, and joy.
Help us, as parents and guardians, to be good examples to our children;
to look honestly at our own choices, habits, and vices,
and to live in ways that encourage health, moderation, and hope
within our family, guided always by Your Spirit.
Amen.

Priest
Heavenly Father, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin Mary and Venerable Matt Talbot,
we ask you to help all Irish people, and especially the young,
to practice temperance and to make choices that are always
for the good of body and soul.
May the saints whose names these young people have chosen
walk beside them as their friends and guides,
inspiring them to live with kindness, strength, and faith.
Together with their families,
may they be signs of Your light and love in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

To view this year's resources for Temperance Sunday, please visit HERE

To watch Bishop Router's message see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yALQ_t41Kho