First Communion

In the Eucharist we  receive Christ Himself.  This is why it is so important that we are  properly prepared and approach the sacrament with the correct disposition.  The  day of our First Holy Communion should be one of the most memorable and joyful  days of our life.

Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his body and blood – himself – for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion.  In this way we are joined with the one body of Christ, the Church.

The Eucharist is the mysterious centre of the sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist), because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, unbloody manner.

Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

EUCHARIST (Greek Eucharistia = thanksgiving)

“DO THIS IN MEMORY” 1st Communion Programme 

Do This in Memory is a parish-based pre-sacramental programme designed to help children, parents and the parish community prepare for First Eucharist.

It is a parish based programme of preparation for First Communion centred in the parish celebration of the Sunday Eucharist and in the home. The programme resources are designed to facilitate parents, families and the parishes’ active involvement in the preparation for the sacrament. It complements and supports the work of sacramental preparation in the parish school or the religious education programme in the parish. The programme takes place once a month for eight months before First Eucharist (Holy Communion Day) and concludes during the parish celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Are you Registering your child for 1st Holy Communion this year?
Then please read and print the form below and drop it in to the Parish office:

FINAL DATE FOR REGISTRATION FOR FIRST COMMUNION IS 31st October 2019

Expectations of the Parish Church Community

First Holy Communion is a wonderful moment in a child’s life and represents a sign of growth in the knowledge and love of God for each and every child.  Parents who put forward their child or children for First Holy Communion are fulfilling the vow they made publicly at the baptism some years before to be the ‘first and best teachers of the child in the ways of faith’.  Now they must more actively fulfill this vow.  The celebration of First Holy Communion each year is primarily a parish community celebration. There is naturally therefore some expectation that the family practice their faith in the community.  The parish will give every help to parents and children.  The support of parents for this and other elements of the programme cannot be emphasised enough.  To this end parents must make an effort to ensure that their children attend the programme masses which will take place at various Sunday masses throughout the year in Holy Redeemer Church.

When do 1st Holy Communions take place in Holy Redeemer?

1st Holy Communions usually take place during the month of May at one of the Sunday masses in the Main Church.