First Holy Communion Mass - the Big Day

Sunday 5th September, 4.30pm. Seconds before Mass starts an effulgent ray of divine light illuminates the dozing guide dogs.

 

In the sacristy, the crack team of altar servers are the epitome of relaxed calm.

 

 The bell rang and off we went.

First Communion Sermon

Here's the sermon I gave at the First Holy Communion Mass on Sunday - or the main part of it, anyway:

During his ministry Jesus addressed himself to adults. He appealed to adult minds and consciences to place themselves under God's rule.

In the early years of the Church's life, after Jesus' resurrection, the community soon faced the situation where the adults, having themselves converted, had their children to bring up. The judgement was quickly reached that they had a duty to bring their children up as fellow-believers and fellow-disciples. Children were baptised as babies - claimed for Christ and initiated into membership of the Christian community - and their parents assumed the responsibility of teaching them the Christian faith and way of life as they got older.

First Holy Communion Mass - preparations

Tomorrow three children are making their First Holy Communion at St. Joseph's.

It would have taken place earlier in the year but for the fact that the lessons started later than usual and some family members were abroad for almost the whole of the summer. So we settled on the first Sunday after the start of the new school term.