first communion information
April 4, 2006
Dear Second Grade Parent,
This letter will give you some information to help you prepare for your child’s First Communion. Your child's First Communion will take place on Saturday, May 6, 30, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. The mass begin at 11:00 a.m. and will be over by about 12:30 p.m. The children should meet in their classrooms by 10:30 a.m. These times will help with your planning.
The dress code for girls and boys is as follows:
Girls wear white dresses (of any length) and white socks or tights. They also wear veils or flower/baby's breath wreaths in their hair.
Boys wear sports coats and dress pants or suits of any color. They wear white or light colored shirts and dress shoes. They also wear ties.
If you have a relative who is a priest, please let us know if he plans to attend the mass, and would like to concelebrate. Please call the religious education office (773)238-1851 with this information, send a note to school or C.F.F. or write to echermak@sjfschool.net to let us know.
We will have a reserved section for seating for 2 adults of each communicant’s choice. This will give parents and guardians a chance to be close to the front. Closer to communion day, each child will receive these two passes. As many people as you’d like to invite may sit anywhere else in the church! All are welcome.
Your child will receive a CD of communion songs to be used at the liturgy. We are fortunate to have wonderful music here at Saint John Fisher and know that the children enjoy listening to and singing along with this CD. We use music found in the Gather hymnal and hope the children have fond memories of their communion day when they hear these songs in the future. We encourage you to listen to this CD in the car or in your home to help the whole family familiarize themselves with the songs.
To also help your family prepare for the day, each child will receive a countdown to communion calendar which will allow your child and family to do something each day to get ready for the First Communion. We hope this calendar will be yet another way for your family to focus to the joy and spiritual significance of this day. Calendars will be distributed this week. Please look over the parent’s brochure carefully, read the prayer blessing for your child as you present this calendar, and begin by opening door 30 on Friday, April 7th.
To beautify the church, we are asking each family to make a small felt square communion banner. The directions are on the attached sheet. The banners are due by Friday, April 28th or Sunday, April 30th (C.F.F. students) to be turned in to the homerooms or to the C.F.F. classroom.
We are also asking for a $30.00 communion/reconciliation fee to cover the cost of program booklets, projects, rings, flowers, decorations and the communion photograph. Make checks payable to the Office of Religious Education, and turn it in to your child's teacher, by Friday April 15th or Sunday, April 17th (C.F.F.).
A professional photographer will take a picture of each child as he or she receives communion. Each child will receive this candid picture which is included in the communion fee. We will also have a professional studio photographer in the foyer before each of the masses to take portraits of those children who would like them. There are no appointments for these portraits, so there may be a line at various times. Remember that the children must be in their rooms 30 minutes before the liturgy begins when you are deciding on picture times.
We will also have a professional videographer to record the First Communion Liturgy. We offer this service to allow parents to enter fully into the celebration of the liturgy without having to record the event with a video camera. The videographer will have access to the altar and will record each child as he or she receives communion. We hope any families who would like a videotape or DVD of this event will take advantage of this service. An order form is attached.
Please do not take your own flash pictures or leave your seat for photographs or videotaping at any time during the mass. We find this to be very distracting to the children and the rest of the congregation. Your cooperation will help make this a prayerful time for everyone. Please also pass on this information to friends and relatives who will attend. After the liturgy, it is nice to take pictures outside of church, or on the altar. You may want to bring a camera for this.
Traditionally the children have worn their communion outfits to mass the next day (Sunday, May 7th ) - for their second holy communion - to give them another chance to get dressed up, and to continue their weekend celebration with all the parish community. We invite your children to wear their communion suits and dresses when they come to mass with your family on May 7th .
First Communion is a time of great grace and blessing for our parish families. We look forward to celebrating with you. In the meantime, the best way you can prepare is to take your child to mass each Sunday, sit close to the front and help them to participate. Let them know why communion is important to you.
We look forward to seeing you on communion day. If you have any questions, please call the Religious Education Office: (773)238-1851 or e-mail to echermak@sjfschool.net .
Sincerely,
Ms. Earner Mrs. Meskill Mrs. Nitsche Mrs. Paluch Ms. Chermak Sister Jean
Start Countdown Calendar: Friday, April 7th.
Banner due: Friday or Sunday (C.F.F.) April 28thth or April 30th
Fee due: Friday or Sunday (C.F.F.) April 28th or Sunday, April 30th
Names of Priest relatives to be included in program booklet due: Monday, April 24th.
Video/DVD fee due: Thursday, May 4, 2006
First Communion Day: Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.
Children to arrive at 10:30 a.m.