Sacramental Programme
Our First Holy Communion programme is a key part of the spiritual journey for children preparing to receive this important sacrament. The celebration of First Holy Communion usually takes place on the Feast of Corpus Christi during the 9:30am Sunday Mass at Corpus Christi Church. This is a joyful and significant occasion in the life of the Church.
The programme is open to children from Year 4 onwards, as long as they have been baptised as Roman Catholic. In order to take part, families are required to provide a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate as proof of baptism. This ensures that all children are fully prepared and eligible to begin their preparation for this important sacrament.
Preparation is led in school through weekly after-school sessions, usually starting at the beginning of the Spring term. As a school, we follow the I Belong programme, which guides children through their preparation in small, meaningful steps. Each child receives their own workbook to use during sessions, which they keep as a lasting memento of their journey.
After each theme, there are also opportunities for children to complete a simple, reflective task at home with their families, helping to reinforce learning and encourage meaningful discussion beyond the sessions.
The themes covered in the ‘I Belong’ programme of study follow the framework of the Mass and are as follows:
- In the name of the Father (Introductory Rites)
- Lord have mercy (Penitential Act)
- Celebrating our rescue (Reconciliation)
- God helps me to get it right (Reconciliation)
- Glory to God in the highest
- The word of the Lord (Liturgy of the word)
- Bread to offer (Liturgy of the Eucharist)
- Fruit of the vine
- Do this in memory of me
- Body of Christ
- To love and serve (Concluding Rites)
As part of their preparation, children also celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (First Confession). This takes place during Lent at church during the school day, with parents and carers warmly invited to attend.
Regular attendance at Sunday Mass is also an important expectation, helping children to grow in their understanding and connection to their faith community. Our Mass times are as follows:
St Gabriel’s Church: Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 11:00am
Corpus Christi Church: Sunday at 9:30am
You can, of course, attend whichever Mass best suits you best.If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office or speak to Father James.
