First Holy Communion at Visitation

102 children will be receiving first holy communion this weekend. Their Sunday School catechists have prepared them for this special moment in helping to deepen their understanding and love for this Sacrament, the source and summit of Christian life. This is in order to familiarise the child with the Mass and encourage their full, active and conscious participation

Celebrating the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time should be an integral part of the ongoing religious experience of a child. Through the sacrament of baptism, the children received their first initiation into the Catholic community, the Church. Receiving First Communion further initiates a child into the life of the Christian community.

As the primary educators of their child, the parents of these children have also been prepared through formations to undertake this important responsibility and to come to appreciate that they have a most important influence on the faith development of their child.

According to the law and practice of the Church, the children were prepared and have received their first penance (Confession) prior to receiving first holy Communion. Catechesis of the sacrament of penance does not merely help the child to have a healthy appreciation of the gravity and effects of sin but also allows the child to continue to celebrate God's forgiveness and reconciliation through this sacrament, which strengthens the bond of communion celebrated in the Eucharist.

Below is a video of Sam receiving his first communion. Let us pray for our children that they will come to encounter the Eucharistic Lord in this great sacrament and come to treasure him for the rest of their lives.



Below is another video meditation which is based on the words of institution said by the priest during the Eucharistic Prayer.