Ten ways to prepare for First Communion

1. Plan the Wardrobe:
Several weeks in advance, involve your child in deciding what he or she will wear on First Communion Day. Children in our community are accustomed to wearing traditional attire. Girls in white dresses, veils are optional, Boys in suits and tie. 

2. Invite Friends and Extended family members… this is a special day to celebrate as a whole family
First Communion will be celebrated as a group with our Parish Community on
​Incarnation Sunday TBD
St Paul Sunday TBD

3. Find a meaningful gift

While receiving your First Communion is not about the gifts or the money, it is helpful that your child receive something concrete to help remember this important milestone, please support Mary’s Corner (gift shop) at St Paul Church-open Before or After Mass times.

4. Parent Meeting TBD

5. Come to workshop TBD

During this workshop St Paul & Incarnation candidates will have the opportunity to make the special bread we will use for their First Eucharist Liturgy (plus have a sample to take home), they will create a special stained glass piece and banner to aid the beautification of our Church and eventually be a special keep sake. 
… you are Very welcome to provide your own embellishments for your banners or you are welcome to use the patterns, felt, ribbons and embellishments that are on hand at the workshop. 

6. Celebrate meals together as a family

Unfortunately, our society’s hectic pace has made sitting down to meals as a family less common. Yet, this opportunity for sharing and becoming closer to one another is so important.

7. Spend time in family prayer.

In Pope John Paul II’s letter to families, the Pope calls prayer “the source of all renewal of family life.” Spend some time praying together, asking God to prepare your child to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and thanking Him for this wonderful gift. Please use the special Rosary that was crafted especially for your child by a St Paul Parishioner using the instructions from your booklet.

8. Help your child understand and participate in the Mass.

Encourage your child to pay attention to the Mass and pray the prayers along with you. Their Eucharist workbooks they are using in the classroom have all the Mass parts, however, show them where to follow along with the Liturgy in the Missals in the pews of church.

9. Attend Holy Thursday Mass and Eucharistic Adoration as a family.

Holy Thursday Mass can be a wonderful learning experience for children preparing for Eucharist. It recalls the story of the First Eucharist, Jesus’ last supper with his apostles, and closes with the transfer of the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. We are especially blessed here at St Paul, as our chapel is devoted to Perpetual Adoration (which means- we can sit with Jesus exposed as the Eucharist 24 hours a day!) Incarnation transforms their Hall to a beautiful Adoration space after Holy Thursday…

10. 2 ways you can Practice

(1) GO TO MASS AS A FAMILY EVERY Weekend

(2)  Parents and Children are requested to attend Practice: TBD 
As a group we will come together to walk through the liturgy and finalize our seating arrangements… s

All candidates are requested to be present ONE HOUR BEFORE MASS, at this time the photographer will be available for individual pictures to purchase, followed by a large group Picture… Please respect the photographer, after he takes his official picture, parents will have an opportunity to take candid shots.

Please also remind your family to stick around to take pictures as a family after the liturgy.

Another Key date to remember :