Celebrating 1st Holy Communion at St Cecilia's

A silhouette of a chalice with a cross on top of it.

Your Child's Path to 1st Holy Communion

We're committed to supporting you as you help your child prepare for their 1st Holy Communion at St. Cecilia's.

Resources

Application Form

2027 Course Info Below

First Holy Communion & First Confession


When a child is in Year 3 or above, they are welcome to celebrate their First Holy Communion. 


There is a preparation programme, usually from September to May, and the First Holy Communion Masses take place in May/June. During the programme, the children learn more about Jesus's life and teaching and how they can know him as a Brother, Saviour, and Friend.


The programme also includes First Reconciliation ("First Confession"), usually celebrated in Advent. The children are taught this in a way that emphasises God's forgiveness and love.


The catechists – are very experienced, and the programme is suitable for children of different abilities. 


Parents wishing to register their child for the programme must complete the application form and scan it over to Fr Benedict with their child's original Baptism Certificate and family photograph.


You can download the application form by clicking the button above.


Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions to help guide you through the process of planning your wedding at St. Cecilia’s Church.

  • When can my child receive their First Holy Communion?

    When a child is in Year 3 or above, they are welcome to celebrate their First Holy Communion. There is a programme of preparation, usually from September to May, and the First Holy Communion Masses take place in May/June. During the programme, the children learn more about the life and teaching of Jesus and how they can know him as a Brother, Saviour, and Friend.

  • What is First Reconciliation (First Confession)?

    First Reconciliation, also known as First Confession, is usually celebrated during Advent as part of the First Holy Communion programme. The children are taught about God’s forgiveness and love in a way that emphasises His compassion.

  • Who leads the preparation programme?

    The preparation programme is led by experienced catechists, and it is suitable for children of different abilities. The programme aims to help children understand the significance of the sacraments in a supportive environment.

  • How do I register my child for the First Holy Communion programme?

    Parents wishing to register their child for the programme must complete the application form, scan it, and send it to Fr. Benedict along with their child's original Baptism Certificate and a family photograph. You can download the application form by clicking the button on the right-hand side of the page.

First Holy Communion Course 2027

Purpose & Aims

The course at St. Cecilia's focuses on giving children the opportunity to engage, learn and discuss about their faith in a safe and welcoming environment. By the end of the course, we aim for them to be inspired, confident and respectful of their faith while also feeling

a member of the church community.

Content

Across the sessions, the children will be exploring a variety of key components of their faith. Some of these include:

  • The Trinity
  • The Ten Commandments
  • Easter
  • Miracles
  • Confession
  • The Apostles

Opportunities

Throughout the course, we would like to offer opportunities for the children to involve themselves in the church community.

Some examples are:

  • Engaging with ministries like reading and altar serving
  • Summer Fair

Course Structure

There will be a total of 10 sessions throughout the course. These sessions will help them to learn and discuss about their faith in a variety of group/independent activities.

Session Date
1 Sat 20th Feb
2 Sat 27th Feb
3 Sat 6th Mar
4 Sat 13th Mar
5 Sat 20th Mar
6 Sat 10th Apr
7 Sat 17th Apr
First Confession Sat 24th Apr
8 Sat 8th May
9 (FHC Rehearsal) Sat 15th May
10 Sat 22nd May
FHC Masses Sun 30th May

Attendance

Attendance throughout the course is mandatory for all sessions as it gives the children the best chance and opportunity to engage with and learn about their faith.


This year, we will be running two sessions per week:


  • Saturday 11am – 12pm
  • Saturday 12.15pm – 1.15pm


To facilitate the sessions, you will be asked to sign up to a weekly commitment of which session your child will attend. The numbers will be capped for each class.

Absence

We understand that life can get busy. If your child is unable to attend a session, please communicate with us as soon as you are able. Each absence will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Communication

There will be a church email used to communicate with

you which is:


Please feel free to send any questions to this account.


For smaller announcements, we will be using a WhatsApp group chat for quick and efficient communication

Next Steps

There is a form attached on the website from the 21st September – 31st October.

Please fill this in and you will receive a holding email within three days of submitting.

You will then receive a later confirmation email by the 3rd November if your child’s application has been successful.