Delayed First Holy Communions from Year 2019/2020

Due to be celebrated in May 2020.

 THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO THE HALF-TERM MAY 2021.

Dear Parent/s,

During the pandemic I’ve offered families the opportunity to celebrate First Holy Communion as a single family unit in a very different format. The next half-term offers the final opportunity to avail of this celebration.

Here is the outline of the day.

Family arrive at the church at 9.45am and are the first to be seated in the church.

The family are seated at the rear of the church.

The family are the last to receive Holy Communion and the priest spends a few moments speaking with the child before the reception of  Holy Communion.

While this is a very different celebration and very minimal it is also very personal and intimate as the child is surrounded by loved ones in this moment of sharing in God’s love.

Many families have found this experience to be very moving and personal to them.

The procedures are as follows –

Email downhamparish@gmail.com for access to the available dates.

I will send you a google sheet with the available dates.

Choose your date and email me to inform me that you have chosen a date.

I will then ask you, by email, to send me the names of your household who will attend with your phone number. (This is for Track and Trace)

I will then confirm that your booking for the date has been accepted.

Final details of the day are then sent to you by email with prayers for the parents and child to say on the day.

Our children are in Year 3 at Primary school when they begin preparation for First Holy Communion.

Our current programme has 6 Saturday modules which take place during the year from September/October to May.

Parents and children are involved on these Saturdays and further activities occur on specific Sundays.

Due to the Christmas Bazaar taking place on Saturday 7th December

we will change Module 2 to Saturday 14th December

and the Sunday Activity to Sunday 22nd December.

Further Revision

Module 4 is now changed to Saturday 8th February 2020 at 10am

and the Sunday Activity to Sunday 16th February at 11am Mass.

First Holy Communion Programme Timetable (2019 – 2020).

Catechists’ Meeting                                                                            TBA

Parents / Child introductory session                         Saturday 19^th October 2019 at 10am Mass

Enrolment Mass                                                         Sunday 3^rd November 2019 at 11am Mass

Module 1.                                                              Saturday 16^th November 2019 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                         Sunday 24^th November 2019 at 11am Mass

Module 2.                                                              Saturday 14^th December 2019 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                       Sunday 22nd  December 2019 at 11am Mass

Module 3.                                                                 Saturday 18^th January 2020 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                            Sunday 26^th January 2020 at 11am Mass

Module 4.                                                                 Saturday 8th February 2020 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                           Sunday 16^th February 2020 at 11am Mass

                                                                                              Saturday 7^th   March at 10.30am

   Sacrament of Reconciliation   

                                                                                              Saturday 14^th March at 10.30am

Module 5.                                                                     Saturday 21^st March 2020 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                               Sunday 29^th March 2020 at 11am Mass

Module 6.                                                                      Saturday 25^th April 2020 at 10am Mass

Sunday Activity                                                                    Sunday 3^rd May 2020 at 11am Mass

Rehearsal                                                                       Saturday 16^th May 2020 at 10am Mass

First Holy Communion                                                       Sunday 17^th May 2020 at 11am Mass

Each module begins with Mass at 10am, followed by a separate meeting for children and parents in our two Halls. We finish at 11.30am. Parent/child/catechist will review the child’s folder of work  after each module. Each module must be complete before commencing the next module.