E
EasterJoy
Guest
I think one would handle this as one would handle a weddding: you might have a wedding on one day and the reception at a later date, but you wouldn’t repeat the vows on the later date, as if the wedding was taking place a second time. Or like a student who graduates and gets her diploma in the fall, but returns for the graduation ceremony and festivities in the spring.
I would let her get her special FHC dress for the Mass at which she really makes her FHC, then let her wear it again for the weekend at which her class makes their FHC, but have her refrain from actually receiving Holy Communion with the other children who really are making their FHC on that day. She would receive with the rest of the congregation, instead. (If she were in the procession, she would either go first or last, in order to more easily take her seat separately from the other kids.)
It wouldn’t be any different than a child who made their FHC at the Saturday night Mass who showed up for the FHC cake-reception the next day. In fact, at many parishes, FHC and the little reception for it is on a Saturday, and the children wear their FHC attire for whatever Sunday Mass they attend that weekend. It isn’t unusual, in fact, for the kids to wear these clothes throughout the Easter season. IOW, it is not like showing up in bridal attire at someone else’s wedding. She prepared for her FHC with these kids; it is right to include her in the group celebration, so she might also share in the day in which the parish celebrates all those children who made their FHC in the last year.
Also, if there is a “class picture” for FHC, she ought to be allowed to be in it, just as if she would if she were a high school student who graduated in the fall instead of in the spring. Since there is a good reason for exceptional treatment in her case, I would think the DRE and pastor would agree to some version of looking at it in this way.
PS Our FHC class included a child who had made her FHC, but in a foreign country. Her parents wanted her to have the opportunity to go through the FHC retreat, make the banner celebrating the day, and so on. It was handled in essentially the way outlined above. It worked fine.
I would let her get her special FHC dress for the Mass at which she really makes her FHC, then let her wear it again for the weekend at which her class makes their FHC, but have her refrain from actually receiving Holy Communion with the other children who really are making their FHC on that day. She would receive with the rest of the congregation, instead. (If she were in the procession, she would either go first or last, in order to more easily take her seat separately from the other kids.)
It wouldn’t be any different than a child who made their FHC at the Saturday night Mass who showed up for the FHC cake-reception the next day. In fact, at many parishes, FHC and the little reception for it is on a Saturday, and the children wear their FHC attire for whatever Sunday Mass they attend that weekend. It isn’t unusual, in fact, for the kids to wear these clothes throughout the Easter season. IOW, it is not like showing up in bridal attire at someone else’s wedding. She prepared for her FHC with these kids; it is right to include her in the group celebration, so she might also share in the day in which the parish celebrates all those children who made their FHC in the last year.
Also, if there is a “class picture” for FHC, she ought to be allowed to be in it, just as if she would if she were a high school student who graduated in the fall instead of in the spring. Since there is a good reason for exceptional treatment in her case, I would think the DRE and pastor would agree to some version of looking at it in this way.
PS Our FHC class included a child who had made her FHC, but in a foreign country. Her parents wanted her to have the opportunity to go through the FHC retreat, make the banner celebrating the day, and so on. It was handled in essentially the way outlined above. It worked fine.