First Holy Communion at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Coming to understand the Sacraments is a complex interaction of a great variety of experiences and celebrations participated in by the children during their school years. The programmes for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion for our yr 3 children start in November and end in June and is taught both through the RE curriculum and family workshops. All children in Year 3 participate in the iRE curriculum part of the programme.
Parents are involved in supporting their children through the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion by attending regular family learning workshops and Masses throughout the programme, and by spending time with their children talking and praying together.
During the time of preparation for First Holy Communion, children participate in celebration Masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The children are presented in church by their parents for their First Reconciliation, and this is followed by a Mass to ‘Give thanks for Creation.’ The First Holy Communion Mass is entitled ‘Sharing a Meal.’ On completion of the First Holy Communion programme, a ‘Going Forth’ Mass is celebrated in the gardens of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church followed by a family picnic.
By celebrating our First Holy Communion Celebrations at regular Sunday Mass times we involve the parishioners in our programme, and our children in parish life. We also encourage parishioners from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church to sponsor a child through prayer during the programme.