Ireland Updates Historic Confirmation Pledge to Include Vaping and Smoking for Young Catholics Across the Country

In a significant move for Irish youth, the traditional Confirmation Pledge has been updated to explicitly address vaping and cigarette smoking, alongside alcohol and illicit drugs.

The change comes as part of Armagh Archdiocese’s efforts to mark Temperance Sunday and the Lenten season, reflecting the concerns and lived realities of young people today.

Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router, liaison bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative, welcomed the new wording, calling it “a thoughtful and prayerful response to the challenges young people face in modern Ireland.”

The update follows direct feedback from school pupils who have witnessed the rise of vaping and its associated health risks.

A Tradition Rooted in History

The Confirmation Pledge has been a part of Irish religious life since the 1930s, originally linked to temperance efforts aimed at curbing widespread alcohol abuse.

Every year, roughly 40,000 young people receive the sacrament of confirmation, making the pledge a pivotal moment in their spiritual and moral development.

Bishop Router explained that the pledge historically helped counter alcohol misuse in Ireland and served as a moral framework for youth.

“We wanted to relaunch the pledge because it had fallen a little into abeyance across the country.

This renewal allows it to address the very real challenges that today’s young people face,” he said.

Responding to Modern Substance Concerns

Vaping has emerged as a growing concern in Ireland, particularly among adolescents.

The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative reported an increase in questions from students about vapes, reflecting a rising awareness of their addictive nature and potential mental health impacts, including psychosis, depression, and even suicidal ideation in extreme cases.

In response, the initiative worked alongside other organizations to advocate for the ban of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in Ireland, a substance often used in vapes.

The pledge update ensures young people explicitly commit to avoiding both vaping and traditional cigarette smoking, reinforcing the broader goal of promoting healthy lifestyle choices.

Education and Community Support Are Key

The pledge is only part of a larger strategy to equip youth with knowledge and support.

Bishop Router emphasized the importance of education, explaining that drug and alcohol awareness programs are delivered across schools and parishes to ensure young people understand the risks and consequences of substance use.

Family involvement is central to the new pledge.

Its wording encourages youth to respect parents and guardians, while also supporting peers in making healthy choices.

Router noted that addiction “thrives in isolation,” highlighting the need for collective action by families, schools, parishes, and communities to provide guidance and encouragement.

Building on Ireland’s Temperance Legacy

The updated pledge also connects to Ireland’s long-standing temperance tradition, particularly the work of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.

From the 1930s to the 1970s, the organization helped promote abstinence from alcohol, shaping generations of Irish youth.

Bishop Router hopes the renewed pledge will reinvigorate this tradition while addressing contemporary challenges such as vaping.

What’s Next?

The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative plans to continue rolling out educational programs alongside the pledge, ensuring young people across the country are informed about the risks of drugs, alcohol, and vaping.

Bishop Router also believes the initiative could serve as a model for other countries facing similar substance abuse issues, offering a faith-based framework that combines moral guidance with practical education.

Summary

Ireland’s historic Confirmation Pledge has been updated to include vaping and smoking, reflecting the realities of modern adolescence.

Supported by education, family engagement, and community involvement, the renewed pledge offers spiritual and moral guidance to help young people make healthier choices.

By connecting contemporary challenges with a tradition rooted in temperance, the initiative aims to protect youth while inspiring similar efforts internationally.

New Confirmation Pledge:

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 18 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.