First Holy Communion
We are delighted that you have chosen to engage in preparation of your child for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in 2025.
Your child has been preparing for the sacraments in school since they started Grow in Love in Junior Infants. They have and are learning to grow in friendship and relationship with God.
The family is the most important place of growing in faith and values. Parents have the first role in educating children and the most important and influential role. It is important that you connect with what your child is learning in school so that home and school learning is connected.
Attendance at weekly Sunday Mass is an essential part of our faith life. If this has not been part of your family practice to date, it is important to start now so that your family may decide if this commitment is right for your family.
Please ensure that you have a Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate for your child at hand to upload before you start to fill in the registration form. If you do not have a copy of the certificate, it may be acquired at the church in which your child was Baptised. This may be requested via the parish website in most parishes.
We are asking each family to contribute a donation of €20 to meet the running costs of the parish and administration involved in preparing for the celebration of the sacraments. If this request causes any hardship, please email sacramentspalmerstown@gmail.com where all will be dealt with in confidence.
First Communion Preparation Programme
First Communion preparation is parish-based. It involves parish and parents working together in order to help the children to play an active part in the community. The parents of the children, along with some members of the parish team, take responsibility for organising the participation of families at Sunday Masses placing focus on the on-going preparation for First Holy Communion.
Power Points for the Sunday Gospel are available on the parish website. The text of the Gospel is presented along with some points of reflection. This should be helpful for preparing your child in the home. Keep an eye on this website.
In brief, what is the Sacrament of the Eucharist/Mass?
The sacrament of the Eucharist/Mass is our family gathering in God’s company where we gather, forgive, listen, reflect, share in the offering of sacrifice for a much greater good, welcome our intimate unity with our Creative and Loving God as we receive Communion. The most important part of the Eucharist/Mass occurs when we take to heart the loving and challenging message of the Gospel out into our lives to build a better and more caring world as we become Christ for others.
First Reconciliation Preparation
First Reconciliation will be celebrated in advance of First Holy Communion. Preparation material will be made available to you through WhatsApp once you have registered for the sacrament of First Holy Communion.
In brief, what is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
The sacrament of Reconciliation is a celebration of God’s unconditional love for each one and a reflection of Jesus’ challenge to us to love one another and to reconnect in love whenever we fail. God is the love that binds us to one another and binds us securely to God.
