The sacraments
First Holy Communion
Two years of catechism, usually from Standard II. Registration for the new year opens in June.
All seven sacraments- What is it?
- Children receive Holy Communion for the first time, after two years of catechism, and from then on receive it with the parish at Mass.
- Who is it for?
- Baptised children of the parish, usually from Standard II.
- When is it celebrated?
- At a Mass in the parish, at the end of the second year of preparation. The month is announced each year.
- How far in advance?
- Register in June, when enrolment for the new catechism year opens.
- Preparation
- Two years of Sunday catechism, with the parents coming to the sessions held for them.
- Who should I contact?
- The catechism team, through the parish office.
- What happens next?
- The catechist confirms the class and gives you the dates. The date of the First Communion Mass is given during the second year.
- Documents to bring
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- The child’s baptism certificate
Common questions
- Can a child or adult with an intellectual disability receive Communion?
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Yes. What matters is that they can tell the Body of Christ apart from ordinary food, and receive it with reverence. Speak to a priest, and the preparation will be shaped around the person.
- Can I ask for a Mass to be offered for someone?
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Yes, for the living or the dead, and for any good intention. Ask at the parish office, which will tell you the offering the archdiocese sets. Each intention offered in this way has a Mass of its own.
- What is a collective Mass intention?
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A single Mass offered for many intentions at once. There are two kinds. At a box intention Mass, people put an offering of any size in a box, knowing that one Mass will be said for all of them. At a pluri-intention Mass, several people each give the usual offering, and agree that one Mass will be said for all their intentions together.
- Only the Archbishop can allow it, and only where individual requests cannot all be met
- At most two such Masses a week
- You are told beforehand that your intention will be joined with others, and you agree to it
- The day, time and place are announced publicly
- The priest keeps one offering; the rest goes to the purpose the Archbishop sets
You may always ask for a Mass for your own intention alone instead.
Start here
Ask the parish office.
Tell us a little about yourself and we will take it from there. Everything for First Holy Communion begins with this one conversation.
The office is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. You can also write to po at olof.in.