First Holy Communion

[louiselouise]

I am going to my friends sons first holy communion on saturday and have never been to one before as I am not Catholic, Anyone tell me what happens?

[Mosaic]

At my nephew's, lots of pushing and shoving and standing on seats with video cameras!
Catholic churches are generally very easy-going at congregation level - nobody will mind if you don't know what to do, and if you don't feel like kneeling then don't. Lots of catholics don't kneel.
The children will have some kind of talk within the set format of the Mass, then they will all go up and receive communion, then there'll be a blessing and badabing, badaboom! One more sacrament completed!
Many parents make this an opportunity for status display by dressing their kids in all sorts, can be both funny and sad to behold.

[louiselouise]

Im looking forward to it but didnt want to look like a fish out of water. I know he is just wearing a shirt and trousers

[ummmm]

Long boring mass with lots of little girls in wedding type dressing and boys in their suits. If you're Irish...a big party after.

[mike11111]

In the 50s and 60s at C of E confirmations the boys wore suits and the girls white dresses and white veils. I don't know when or why this custom died out.

[tamborine]

Initiation into the church when girls & boys feel 'super holy' after a looooong service. The child does feel chosen & close to Jesus & Mary....for a day :)

A suitable gift is a St Christopher medal for boys, blessed ofcourse.

[rockyracoon]

First communions are the best of the sacraments, as it's on a saturday there probably won't be too many of the normal congregation, and no one expects non catholics to know what to do, just stand when everyone else does and join in with the rest if you want, it's a lovely service, then everyone goes and has a party after. As mosaic pointed out, some of the dresses are a sight to behold.

[cazzz1975]

if your a little girl its ALL about the dress and any gifts you may be given :)

[ummmm]

A dress like this?

http://pics.livejourn...stacy288/pic/00002092

[rockyracoon]

We had a little girl in a dress like that at my daughters communion, the poor thing could barely walk in it, it was that heavy.

[louiselouise]

I hope there will be girls there so I can see the dresses lol

[cathfromsaron]

i just stay at the back, copy everyone else posture-wise and try not to get in the way!

[louiselouise]

should we sit in a certain plcae? like with the family or is it everyman for himself? (or herself in my case)

[mike11111]

The remark about ciggies takes me back nearly 50 years. As a teenager I used to be a server (altar boy) in a (high) Anglican church where incense was the norm. I became thurifer (incense swinger) and responsible for the thurible (aka smoky handbag). When it came to the sermon I would decamp to the vestry, ostensibly to recharge the thurible but actually to have a couple of Woodbines, secure in the knowledge that I wouldn't be caught, everyone else listening to the sermon and any tobacco fumes suitably masked by the pungent smell of incense.

[tinkerbell23]

Nowadays i think the first rows are for kids and family get a row then its everyman for themselves get there for a seat lol

Its a nice wee service actually all the wee kids feel important and look lovely - quite heartwarming xx

[cupid04]

Have you bought a present?

[Mamyalynne]

I gave my eldest Grandson £20, he was thrilled, a relaxed atmosphere these days.