Practice receiving at home
We give you time to explore the handout at your own pace, and there is no need to hand them into us. We will be giving the children their folders of work back to them with their certificate on the day of their FHC Mass. When you take the folder home, put the final handout in.
Page 9 of the Family Handout (p.65), explains how we can receive Holy Communion: on the tongue, on our hands. Please practice this at home. You could use a cup of squash and normal bread. Please also decide as a family how your child will be receiving communion. It is up to you.
Page 9 of the Family Handout (p.65), explains how we can receive Holy Communion: on the tongue, on our hands. Please practice this at home. You could use a cup of squash and normal bread. Please also decide as a family how your child will be receiving communion. It is up to you.
Number of Seats
At each service, each family will be allocated a pew (bench) in the church.
Photographer
At each service, we will have a professional photographer taking photos of the children as they receive Communion for the first time.
Before every service, there will also be an opportunity for the children and their families to have photos taken in the church. The photographer will be ready an hour before the Mass, on a first-come-first-served basis.
You will be able to view photos and have them printed immediately after Mass. They will not be online afterwards it is important to bring money along if you are likely to want to purchase some photos they will cost £12 or three for £30. Contactless payments are preferred but bring cash, just in case.
Before every service, there will also be an opportunity for the children and their families to have photos taken in the church. The photographer will be ready an hour before the Mass, on a first-come-first-served basis.
You will be able to view photos and have them printed immediately after Mass. They will not be online afterwards it is important to bring money along if you are likely to want to purchase some photos they will cost £12 or three for £30. Contactless payments are preferred but bring cash, just in case.
What to wear
It can feel like a lot of pressure to get your children the "right" clothes for their first Holy Communion. Some girls don't like wearing dresses, and some boys hate the idea of wearing a tie or suit. Here are just some recommendations based on tradition and are not set rules imposed by the church.
It is traditional for the children to wear white; for girls a white dress and boys a white shirt and smart trousers. Wearing white recalls the day of their Baptism when they first wore white to show that they were "clothed in Christ". The celebration of First Holy Communion completes what began with the first Sacrament, Baptism.
You do not need to purchase dresses or shirts from a specialist first Holy Communion store that will generally over-charge. There are many clothes shops in the area that sell white dresses. Other items such as accessories, the colour of shoes, the colour of ties, the choice to wear a suit jacket or waistcoat, the choice of socks or stockings are all at the discretion of parents.
It is traditional for the children to wear white; for girls a white dress and boys a white shirt and smart trousers. Wearing white recalls the day of their Baptism when they first wore white to show that they were "clothed in Christ". The celebration of First Holy Communion completes what began with the first Sacrament, Baptism.
You do not need to purchase dresses or shirts from a specialist first Holy Communion store that will generally over-charge. There are many clothes shops in the area that sell white dresses. Other items such as accessories, the colour of shoes, the colour of ties, the choice to wear a suit jacket or waistcoat, the choice of socks or stockings are all at the discretion of parents.
Special Requirements
If your family has any special requirements on the day of the FHC Mass, such as needing low-gluten hosts or space for a wheelchair, then please let us know if you haven’t already.
Volunteers for Readings
We are looking for a parent to read the 1st reading and five children to read a bidding prayer at every FHC Mass.
Please watch out for an email asking for your help.
Please watch out for an email asking for your help.
Reconciliation
It is recommended that the children receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion for the first time. There are a few opportunities in the parish to go.