First Communion

Important Information

First Communion Practice

AM Communion Students PM Communion Students Monday, April 30, 2018 Wednesday, May 2, 2018

First Communion Practice is for students only! Children should arrive by 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall. ** Parents, as you drop off your child in the Hall - please remember to take home their Altar. **

Students will be processing over to church and practice receiving communion. Children should be picked up in church at 7:45 pm.

Students must be in the Parish Hall by 9:00 AM or 12:30 PM. Parents pick up child’s envelope from the Hall and place in car - do not bring to church. If you need to switch your child’s First Communion time, please notify the Religious Education Office by Sunday, April 15th.

Church Seating:

Seating for First Communion will be done alphabetically, going from Z to A. Children will process in together and sit as a class. Girls will sit on the Blessed Mother side (left) and boys will sit on the St. Joseph side (right) of church. The children will receive Communion by themselves. Parents, siblings and families may sit in unreserved pews. There is no limit to the number of relatives or friends you may invite to attend the service.

Any questions or special arrangements or needs, please call the Religious Education Office.

1:00 PM Mrs. Williams (School) Last Names N-Z (PREP)

9:30 AM Mrs. Campbell (School) Last Names A-M (PREP)

First Communion Saturday, May 5, 2018

First Communion Dress:

Boys: Required dress is shirt (white shirt preferred) and tie. No polo shirts. Please note: Although not required, boys normally wear a suit, sport coat or sweater.

Girls: Required dress is Sunday-type dress. Girls usually wear a white First Communion dress. Although there are no requirements for girl's head covering, most girls wear veils. Appropriate shoes, including heel height, will ensure your daughter’s safety. Gloves are not encouraged and must be removed BEFORE reception of Holy Communion.

Receiving Communion: Communion may be received either by mouth or in the hands. Students will receive instructions for both. Allow your child to make their own choice. Communion will be received at the center altar.

CHECKLIST First Communion

FIRST COMMUNION STIPEND There is a twenty dollar ($20.00) Sacramental stipend to cover expenses. If you haven’t already done so, please submit to the Religious Education Office by Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Checks

should be made payable to St. Ignatius.

FIRST COMMUNION PRAYER BUDDIES | CARDS Your child has randomly picked a name of a fellow First Communicant. We ask that you remind them to pray for their buddy (or better yet, do so as a family). Have your child pick out a First Communion Card, have them write a note/sign, and address the envelope to their buddy. Cards should be placed in the white box in the Narthex by Wednesday, May 2. If you wish, you can provide extra cards, signed from your family, but not addressed to a particular student. These may also be deposited in the white box or handed in to the Religious Education Office.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES We are in need of volunteers to assist with the preparation for First Communion. Help is needed in the following areas. Please contact the Religious Education Office as soon as possible if you are able to help and in what area.

• Check Content on Student-made Cards Anytime | Can be completed at home • First Communion Envelopes/Cards May 1 | 9:00 AM | Parish Meeting Rooms • Bows on Pews May 4 | 11:00 AM | Church

ALTAR ACTIVITY You and your child should have received the instructions for the First Communion Altar Activity. This activity is designed to familiarize your child with the table of the Lord or altar on which Jesus' sacrificial meal is prepared. Your child will gain an understanding of the ritual of the Eucharist by the hands-on experience of setting the altar table for the sacrificial meal of Jesus’ Body and Blood to be received in First Holy Communion. Altars are due by Friday, April 13 (School) or Sunday, April 15, 2018 (PREP). If you did not receive Instructions for this activity, please contact the Religious Education Office.

“Let the children come to me”