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| First Holy Communions; Differences in celebrations | |
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| Topic Started: Tuesday, 20. March 2007, 22:07 (2,223 Views) | |
| PJD | Saturday, 26. May 2007, 19:37 Post #91 |
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Yes Alan, not quite but roughly as it was. If I remember girls on left, boys on right. Girls in wedding-like dress, boys in formal dress. Children all together. Parents somewhere behind. After that nosh up in the adjacent school. Breakfast - kiddies style that is. PJD |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 26. May 2007, 22:02 Post #92 |
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At my first Holy Communion, and Derek's, and Alan's, the children all sat together. Certainly at mine, the teachers were in charge of us. I much prefer the way it is now, with the children sitting with the people who bring them up, ie their parents. The school supports the family in the Catholic upbringing of their children, not the other way round. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 26. May 2007, 22:03 Post #93 |
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Thank you Michael. It is a pleasure to read such a complimentary posting on a forum. May your daughter and her friends grow in faith and spread the Word. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| PJD | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 10:02 Post #94 |
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Rose: Afraid I don't really like the way it is now. But I suppose I am prejudiced because that was they way it was - a day for the Lord and for the Children. Others took a back step; but that was the way it was when I had first Communion. PJD |
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| maklavan | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 18:53 Post #95 |
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Picture this: A church packed with rowdy restless people, some lolling about, some standing up to take photographs, some chewing gum,some talking and continuing to talk right through the service. A scene from a Hollywood horror movie? No; our parish having its annual First Communion Mass. None of the children have been to Reconciliation, or know about it because that is to be taught and approached in a year's time,When asked what was the most important thing about First Communion, some girls said their dress, some children said the party, and some said the money they would be given! I am told that this par for the course in many parishes. |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 19:46 Post #96 |
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It seems to be common for First Holy Communion to be treated as a day for a party, posh clothes, and for some, a ride in a carriage. I saw a man poke his camera so close to the child's face while his child received the host, it was wonder the priest did not drop the ciborium. Is there a case for delaying First Holy Communion until a more mature age? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 19:51 Post #97 |
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PJD I was impressed to read that in Michael's parish, First Holy Communion was celebrated with the accent on spirituality, and the children had been well prepared for reception of the Blessed Sacrament. It makes a contrast with other tales. |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Emee | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 20:05 Post #98 |
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Maklavan Let's hope and pray that once these same children have been instructed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation next year that the Sacrament of Holy Communion will have a far deeper meaning and significance for them - hopefully for their parents too by the sound of it!! How sad it turned into such a spectacle! In our Church the day is always celebrated with dignity and reverence. Any photos are reserved for AFTER the event! |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. May 2007, 20:38 Post #99 |
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If First Holy Communion preparation was announced at Church, not done in school for the whole class, there would be less chance of families who never darken the church door, and care not about their religion, having their children make First Holy Communion. The numbers would be fewer, but genuine. How about six months preparation, after Mass, parents presence required, with consideration shown to shift workers or people with other genuine reasons for occasional absence? |
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Keep the Faith! | |
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| Michael | Monday, 28. May 2007, 00:43 Post #100 |
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how long were the children given to prepare for this sacrament makalavan? in our parish they were given over a year to prepare with their first confession in november, they also recieved first communion homework that also required some parental input, |
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| maklavan | Monday, 28. May 2007, 14:49 Post #101 |
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The scene I described in my posting is, I am assured, typical of that in many churches. I know of one parish priest who put is foot down and insisted that parents and would be first Communicants must come to Mass for some weeks before the bigs day. One irate lady was overheard to say, at the school gates,"This is ridiculous. my child goes to soccer every Sunday and can't possibly come to Mass!" Another one said, "My daughter is doing ballet lessons every Sunday, and Father is so unreasonable in expecting her to come to Mass!" In one parish the pp insisted thar every child come to Mass on the following Sunday to get their certificates. 28 were at First Communion; 13 turned up to receive their certificates! |
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| Deleted User | Monday, 28. May 2007, 15:55 Post #102 |
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Sadly, I would have to agree - and this seems to happen even when parents are involved in preparation. KatyA |
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| CARLO | Monday, 28. May 2007, 18:55 Post #103 |
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Mak My dear friend. Sadly what you describe is not uncommon. Our Curate recently preached a sermon (God Bless Him) describing some of the effrontery and vulgarity of the people who approach him demanding various Sacraments as one would approach a shop assistant at the counter in Woolworths! "We have a right........." "We don't have to go to Church..........." "We don't BELIEVE in going to Church!!!!!........" He told of us of occasions when he had been brave enough to turn them away much to their surprise and anger! If I were not a 'trad' I would have led a standing ovation! De profundis Out of the depths CARLO |
| Judica me Deus | |
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| Deleted User | Tuesday, 5. June 2007, 01:37 Post #104 |
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I have just returned from France where on Sunday I attended Mass at the beautiful Church in Civray. We were surprised to see the number of people outside the Church, until we saw a procession approaching led by what appeared to be a very large number of altar servers in white acolyte albs. It wasn't until we entered the Church that it became apparent that they were all First Communicants. The Mass was beautifully conducted, the Church was packed and there were absolutely no rowdy or restless people, although there were a lot of photographs taken. All the First Communicants were together at the front, almost in the sanctuary,with parents and family in the congregation. The expense of First Communion "outfits" has frequently been decried as unnecessary and even as detracting from the occasion by turning it into a fashion show so the idea of all the Communicants dressed as acolytes seemed a reasonable compromise. Is this done anywhere in the UK or is in just in France KatyA |
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| K.T.B. | Tuesday, 5. June 2007, 23:17 Post #105 |
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I believe in Scotland the children wear simple white tunics to prevent too much excess in the way of clothing. I've been to a first Holy Communion Mass where people behaved as described by Maklavan. A teenage girl sitting in front of me blew bubbles from bubblegum throughout the Mass! Thankfully this generally isn't the case in our Parish. Also, the children make their first Reconciliation in the Lent prior to their First Holy Communion. We say to the children that we need to be friends again with God before we receive Communion. |
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3:45 PM Jul 11