Notes from the First Communicant Parent Meeting September 2019

These points will be discussed in much more detail during the mandatory February 2020 Parent Meeting:

IMPORTANT DATES

• Mandatory meetings for adults: Parents or grandparents or godparents must attend a meeting in October, January, and February. Meetings happen during class times (5:15-6:30). 
  • Choose one: October 29 or 30
  • Choose one: January 28 or 29
  • Choose one: February 25 or 26

**Your child cannot be absent during the entire month of April 2020.**

• Rehearsals: from 5:15-6:30 on Friday, April 15, and Friday May 1
• Retreat: Saturday, April 25, 2020, from 9AM-12PM in the Parish Hall
  • Adults and children required to attend.
• First Reconciliation: 1:00-2:30 in the main church on Saturday, May 2, 2020
  • Parents, siblings, grandparents, and godparents are all invited to attend.
  • If your child is absent this week, he or she will not be able to receive First Holy Communion with the group!
    
  • Staggered arrival times-- details in February 2020 
• First Holy Communion Mass: Sunday, May 3, 2020, at 12:00 noon.
  • Children need to meet in the Parish Hall dressed and ready to go at 11:30am.
• Certificate of Sacrament: distributed at the reception on May 3
• Recommended: Start your private family party no earlier than 3:00pm.

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS
The proper dress code for boys:

1. Suit: navy blue or black
2. Shirt: white button down
3. Tie: white necktie (do not purchase---this is a gift from the parish)
4. Socks: navy blue or black, to match suit pants
5. Shoes: black dress shoes, either lace-up or slip-on (no loafers, no sneakers (even if they are black), no flip-flops/slides, no sandals, etc.)

The proper dress code for girls:

1. Dress: the white Communion dress must have sleeves. If you absolutely must buy a sleeveless dress, then you must also buy a white cover up, either a jacket or shrug, that must be worn while in the church. A shawl is not a good idea at this age because it will most likely slip off and bare the shoulders in church.
2. Veil: white Communion veil (do not purchase---this is a gift from the parish)
3. Socks: white socks or white tights/stockings
4. Shoes: White dress shoes, which should be flat or 1” heel maximum. For safety purposes, backless shoes and sandals are not permitted. Closed toe dress shoes (pumps) are the safest as the First Communicants will be walking around on the slick marble sanctuary floor.

PARENTS SHOULD DO THIS OFTEN, ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE 2019-2020 YEAR

• Go to Mass.
  • Times are listed on the home page of our website and on the front page of our bulletin.
  • Place an envelope into the collection basket or use the electronic Faith Direct system. These methods help us track attendance/participation. Donating loose money is unidentified and therefore attendance is not tracked.
  • Make sure your child doesn't forget to have a priest or deacon sign the Mass Signature Card. This also helps us track attendance/participation.
• Go to confession so you can be a good example for your child.
  • Confession at Holy Family is every Saturday from 2:45-3:45. Search the websites of other parishes in our area if that day and time are inconvenient for you.
• Bring your child with you so that he or she can see what the sacrament "looks like."
  • During the time you are in the confessional, your child will wait outside. 
  • Ask him or her to pray for you because you want to become a better person, and their prayers help you do that. Be honest and tell them that everyone has challenges in their lives ("a cross to bear") -- so do you, and prayers for another person really help. Tell your child that you pray for him or her, and make sure you do it
• Linger after Mass and take your child into the confessional. Keep the door open while you are in there as a family. Talk about what it looks like, who sits where, what happens, and so on. Remember you are still in the sanctuary, so voices and actions should be controlled and respectful. If any accidents happen, please let me know so I can take care of it.
• Receive communion reverently.
  
  • Do not share communion with your child(ren).
    
  • Have your child(ren) who have not yet received the sacrament walk in the line with you to receive a blessing; use "pretzel arms."