In my diocese every child went to first Communion in 2nd grade and first confession in 3rd grade, in a ridiculous reversal of the proper order.
That's a more pressing problem than the archeological desire to bring back combined Baptism/Confirmation.
Adolescent Confirmation isn't the reason why Catholic teens stop assisting at Mass.
They stop because of poor parenting (usually a father who never goes to Mass) or poor catechizing or both.
My Confirmation instruction had absolutely nothing to do with the Church's teaching on the sacrament or the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church or anything else that was relevant. It was mostly about how it's bad to be racist, that we should all be nice to other people, etc. All things that 13 year old should have learned long before they were 13 and which have little to do with the doctrinal content of the sacrament.
After skimming the whole letter, I get the sense that Bishop Acquilla makes it clear to his priests that the proper order is to be followed.
**They stop because of poor parenting**
Agree with you here when they are adolescents. But many adults (including me) take on a lot of guilt when their adult children choose to move from the Catholic faith to an evangelical church.
Did we fail? Or are they exercising their own wills? Hope this doesn't get the thread off the subject?
Any Christian is free to go to confession whenever they wish. Just take your child yourself and screw the diocese.