Tuesday, May 09, 2006

First Communion


Last January, Ryland and the rest of the Level 2 Catechism Classes started the preparation for their First Communion.

First, the parents were invited to attend three meetings to guide them how to help the children understand this Sacrament. Like the one for First Reconciliation (Confession), parents were given a guidebook and the children a workbook. And so for one to two nights a week, I sat down with Ryland for about half an hour doing the lessons on his workbook.

On the first meeting, Wanda, the catechism coordinator, asked us parents to share memories of our First Communion. Hers was how she got spaghetti sauce all over her white dress. One dad was how the bread got stuck to the roof of his mouth. One mom said that all she remembered was how she wanted to get out of her dress once she got home. Another mom remembered how she had to wear this long white veil. My sister’s (her daughter is also in Ryland’s class) was how she had to memorize all these prayers and the Ten Commandments, seven deadly sins, etc. Mine was how we had to wear this gala uniform – white dress, white veil, white socks, white shoes. And the thing that stuck in my mind was thinking, “So this is what the host tastes like. It tastes like bread.” Wanda asked me how I felt about that. Was I surprised? Was I disappointed? Honestly, I couldn’t remember.

Wanda also told us about the Orthodox church. They have their Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation – all three at the same time. At the meeting, there were these two parents who belonged to the Orthodox church. They had no memory of their First Communion because they had it when they were babies. Babies were given just a very small piece of Bread. Isn’t that interesting?

The point of having the parents teach the children about Communion is to make this a special experience for them. After all, parents are every child’s first teachers and the home is their first community.

Last Saturday, the children had a retreat. On that day, they also helped make the bread that they were going to receive. It was not the traditional wafer. They made unleavened bread. After the retreat, parents and children had rehearsal at the church.

After months of preparation, the children finally had their First Communion on Sunday. They looked oh so cute and adorable. The girls in their white frilly dresses looking like little brides. And the boys, although not all of them wore suits, were in their Sunday’s best. They marched down the aisle to the altar carrying red roses and then they sat down with their families. It was a very special celebration.

Years from now, I wonder what Ryland will remember about his First Communion. Will it be that he had to memorize the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and The Creed (I Believe)? Or perhaps the nights we spent reading and learning from his workbook. Or how he had to wear his white and black suit and how he had to take off his blazer at church because it was too hot. (It was 27 C.) Or perhaps receiving the bread for the first time. Could it be how disappointed he was that he didn’t get a single toy out of his presents? Or that I said, “First Communion is not about toys.” I hope what he remembers best is the nights we spent together learning his communion lessons and also how he was surrounded by his family and how we had a feast after his First Communion.

What about you? What’s your memory of your First Communion?

18 comments:

work-in-progress said...

I was so excited to receive the unblessed wafer during rehearsal only because, well, it was something to eat. I didn't really relate to it being the Body of Christ (but of course I didn't tell anyone that). What do I remember most about my First Holy Communion? I think that I wore perfume and that, together with my all-white dress, made the whole thing very special. It was more a sensory rather than a spiritual experience. I think perhaps Holy Communion should be introduced a little later for children to appreciate what it truly is about.

work-in-progress said...

P.s. Your son looks dashing in his white coat. Congratulations niceheart!

Joy said...

I don't think I remember much about my First Communion either. What I remember more was how scared I was going into my first confession. Yikes! I remember my heart beating fast as I waited my turn to go into the confessional. I think I was scared that I would forget my prayers or what to do.

Toe said...

The white suit is so cute. On my First Communion, I remember that I loved those small little cards with the praying angels that I gave away to family and friends. Do they still do that now?

Anonymous said...

that i was dressed in white with a 'belo'...

your son looked very neat in his outfit.

niceheart said...

Thanks, guys, for sharing your memories.

Toe, those little cards are not popular anymore. Four years ago, my mother ordered those cards for my middle son when he had his First Communion, and also for my oldest son and a nephew who had their Confirmation. But not this year. Mahal na siguro. :)

Work-in-progress, in the parish that we belong, First Confession is introduced in Grade 3. But I have asked the catechism coordinator to have my son receive that sacrament in Grade 2 (para sabay sa Communion), so did my sister whose daughter is in the same grade as my son. We just thought that they should receive the sacrament of confession before they do the communion. And I think the reason they delay the First Confession is because the children are more mature and can understand it's concept more. So I guess you have a point. Perhaps they should also delay the First Communion.

Ange said...

I can't remember much about my First Communion except for the pretty white dress my granny made for me. Yes, I too was nervous when I went for my first confession, and forgot the Act of Contrition. To cover up, I went, "Bless me father for I've sinned, and then .... the the the the the the ... "

Sidney said...

Wow! Your son looks great in his white costume!

I don't remember much ... :-(

Ann said...

I don't remember much about it. What I still remember was my first confession....i'm curious about that bread of life.

Happy mother's day!

niceheart said...

Thanks for the comments, guys. I guess most of us remember our First Confession more than our First Communion.

Anonymous said...

I made my First Holy Communion finially at age 12,just two months before my 13th birthday and it was weird to say the least!My parish required us girls to wear a poofy,top of the knees,short sleeve communion dress and veil with the lace anklets and the white 'mary jane' shoes.Since the communion dress was considered an extension of the baptism outfit we were baptized in as babies,we had to wear an undershirt and white plastic pants[rubberpants] under our dresses!The little girls all wore the toddler size rubberpants,and mom found a pair of extra large super size rubberpants for me to wear.Even tho they were the xl supersize,they fit me snug and the leg openings were digging into my leg joints the whole time!It also was warm that sunday morning in May and the rubberpants were holding in my body heat some and i was sweating a little.Then there was the paranoia of being almost 13 and everyone seeing me in my outfit and knowing i had the rubberpants and undershirt on under my dress!When we got home,i took the rubberpants off and put on a pair of my normal underwear.

Anonymous said...

To anonymous- I made my First Holy Communion at 14 and had to wear the same outfit as you did but per the dress code,had to wear a cloth diaper with the rubberpants over it.When mom was pinning the diaper on me,she accidently stuck me with one of the diaper pins and it bothered me for quite a while.I felt somewhat weird being 14 and having the diaper and rubberpants on under my dress!During my party,my friends and female relatives lifted up my dress and checked out the diaper and rubberpants and they all thought they looked cute.

Anonymous said...

I am 15 and just did my First Holy Communion last month on June 6th with the 7 year olds.I had to follow the dress code just like the little girls and wear a short sleeve,poofy,knee length communion dress and veil with a white under shirt,10 ply thick cloth diaper,rubberpants,high waist white tights and white mary jane style shoes.The undershirt had to be tucked into the waist of my tights.I felt like a little girl in the outfit,but it was different having the diaper and rubberpants on under my tights!

Anonymous said...

I am 15 and just made my First Holy Communion with the 7 year olds back on June 5th.We had to wear the poofy,short sleeve,knee length communion dress and veil with the lace anklets and white mary jane shoes.A diaper and rubberpants and tee shirt had to be worn under our dresses.Instead of a cloth diaper,my parents had me wear a size 8 pampers cruiser diaper with the teen size rubberpants over it! It was weird having them on under my dress and worst of all being 15 and everyone knowing i had a diaper and rubberpants on under my dress!

Anonymous said...

My First Holy Communion at 14 was very embarrassing and humiliating!The girls First Communion dress code called for us to wear a short sleeve,poofy,top of the knees communion dress and a white bonnet[no veil],lace socks and white mary jane shoes and a cloth diaper,white rubberpants and a white tee shirt as the top! We went to the recommended store in town and got the dress and bonnet,lace socks and the shoes ,all in my size.Mom sewed baby diapers together to make the diaper,and got the rubberpants from the suggested website.The morning of the ceremony was weird,after my bath,i laid on my bed,mom slid the diaper under me,applied the babypowder,then pinned it on me.Next she pulled the rubberpants up my legs and over the diaper,then my tee shirt was put on.The rest of the outfit was put on me and we went to the parish.I felt really embarrassed walking down the aisle in my dress and bonnet and everyone knowing i had the diaper and rubberpants on under it!

Anonymous said...

Our parish does First Holy Communion every year on Mothers day,so i was happy to have my 12 year old son and 14 year old daughter in their First Communion outfits last sunday for the whole day!The son was in his suit and ty and the daughter in her cute,poofy,knee length,sleeveless communion dress and veil with lace anklets and white maryjane shoes.After her shower,i rubbed her down with baby lotion,then she laid on her bed and i slid her cloth communion diaper under her,then pinned it at the corners,then put the rubberpants on over it followed by her white camisole.I got her rubberpants big enough to fit blousy over her diaper and they crinkled under her dress!I was so happy having her in her outfit and like the little girls in their class!

Anonymous said...

My two nieces,Anna and Amber,who are 15 and 14 were just baptized last sunday July 16th.They both wore identical white,below the knees,baptism gowns with matching bonnets,lace anklets and white maryjane shoes.Under their gowns they had a white tee shirt with a thick cloth diaper and white adult size rubberpants.Both girls looked very pure and infant like in their outfits!

Anonymous said...

I am 16 and one of my best friends who is 16 also just made her First Communion on Sunday January 7 with three teen boys.She had to wear a poufy,short sleeve,top of the knees communion dress and bonnet with lace anklets and white maryjane shoes and had to wear a cloth diaper and adult size plastic pants and tee shirt under her dress.She was quite embarrassed being in the outfit with the three teen boys and had to wear the outfit all day.She showed me the diaper and plastic pants under her dress and she looked like a baby! She told me the three teen boys stared at her the whole time and made her feel uncomfortable!