Pros/Cons for 1st Communion

[TAS2000]

What do any of you feel are the pros or cons for having 1st communion as one big separate celebration outside the normal mass schedule, or having a few kids at each regular mass over the course of several weeks?

Is there any documentation from the Church per se to support one over the other?

 

[1ke]

Mostly the decision of when/how to have first communion comes down to logistics.

In my old parish-- large metro city-- we had over 300 first communicants each year. They held FC in a special mass so that the friends & family could all come and all fit (since regular masses were already FULL). With 300+ kids, it would not be “a few kids over a few weeks” it would take months and be problematic for the religious education personnel.

In my new parish-- rural and small-- we had 7 first communicants during the regular mass, and everyone fit fine in the church, the kids did some special things like take up the gifts, etc, and there was no need to trickle them out over time or have a special mass.

 

[SMHW]

I agree. Logistics are usually the driving force whether or not they should be. When possible I am all for making First Communions a parish event at a Sunday Mass.

Our parish usually has about 100 children making their First Communion each year. There are often one or two Saturday morning Masses just for the First Communion kids and the rest make theirs at one of the regular Sunday Masses. Those families who have been in the parish for a while seem to prefer Sunday Masses. (But those with REALLY large extended family in attendance generally prefer a dedicated First Communion Mass.)

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Mostly the decision of when/how to have first communion comes down to logistics.

In my old parish-- large metro city-- we had over 300 first communicants each year. They held FC in a special mass so that the friends & family could all come and all fit (since regular masses were already FULL). With 300+ kids, it would not be “a few kids over a few weeks” it would take months and be problematic for the religious education personnel.

In my new parish-- rural and small-- we had 7 first communicants during the regular mass, and everyone fit fine in the church, the kids did some special things like take up the gifts, etc, and there was no need to trickle them out over time or have a special mass.

Said well.

 

[puzzleannie]

What do any of you feel are the pros or cons for having 1st communion as one big separate celebration outside the normal mass schedule, or having a few kids at each regular mass over the course of several weeks?

Is there any documentation from the Church per se to support one over the other?

there is absolutely nothing in canon law on this, believe me I looked when our former parish made the switch, and when at this parish. it is simply a matter of logistics, local custom, pastor preference, parental preference, and what works in your parish. It has NOTHING to do with the solemnity of the occasion or the validity of the sacrament. NOTHING.

 

[YADA]

Where do those families with the first communion children normally attend mass? In the parish - correct?

Now I realize that grandparents and other family may increase the normal attendance. But when the numbers are discussed it seems like we beleive that the entire First Communion attendance numbers will have to be accomodated and that every First Communicant family will have huge numbers. The reality is much different.

One can assume that each and everyone of those First Communion families is already attending Mass every Sunday. If they are not, then we have bigger problems than not enough pews! Some will have family and friends who are also members of the parish and therefore are already in attendance each Sunday. Some will have family and friends who will attennd from out of the parish - an increase that needs accomodation. Just as likely - there will be family and friends who would like to come but some other conflict will prevent their attendance. Now if all of these out of towners [as in not of the parish] are also not attending their home parishes then the same is true for your parish - as in some people who normally are there are off watching some child make a first communion at another parish [or confirmation, wedding, funeral - some out of town event]

A parish with 300 or more first communions each year, likely has five or six weekend masses and the Easter Season [the typical time for First Communions] lasts for several weeks [6 Sundays - 50 days - Easter to Pentacost]

Therefore you could easily accomodate the first communions 10 to 20 at each mass over a several weeks. 300 children - 5 masses each week - 5 weeks [300 / 5 / 5 = 12 ]

First Communion is one third of the initiation rites of joining the Community of the Faithful - The community [parish] is a part of the process. You are joining the Church, which is us - the community of believers. The parish is the representative arm of that community…

One of the reforms of Vatican II was restoring the initiation rites to the liturgy [the liturgy being the public work of the church] and not private celebrations…

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

As puzzleannie, a DRE of some good fame mentioned, there’s no right or wrong on this.

I prefer having them all in a giant bunch with the relatives in the back and doing all ceremonial stuff with the relatives who haven’t been in church in decades, etc., on one day out of hte year, rather than one here and three on the next weekend, then 2 the following.

But we had 50 kids in last year’s first communion class! Each first communicant sat on the end of a pew, while their family filled in next to them. Leftover relatives who didn’t make the cut for “the” pew sat in the back behind all the first communicants and A list family (parents, godparents, grandparents, sibs). After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was removed from the tabernacle to repose in the side chapel (seldome used) and the photo-taking and filming began in earnest, right after Father blessed all the rosaries, medals, missals and candles.

 

[TAS2000]

We are talking about 60 kids for this parish community. To make it worse, we have a “bad blood” issue. We only recently (less than 2 years) started sharing a pastor with the church 3 miles down the road. We are not “Merged” and not seperate, but are “collaborating” closely. However, there are many groups within the parishes that don’t want to play nice together. We have 4 masses per weekend, so we have 2 and 2 at each parish.

To make things worse, they are a physically smaller building, but a larger # of families. Our church can hold about 2x as many people, and we could easily accomodate the entire regular community with 2 masses at our church and one at theirs. If there is any kind of large event (Good Friday, Easter) their church has people standing shoulder to shoulder in the aisles and major fire code violations, not to mention, they have totally inaddequate parking since they are in the middle of town, with no place to expand to. Our church is usually uncomfortably packed for those events (hope the guy next to you remembered his doedorent), but rarely needs to do more than bring in a couple dozen extra chairs so people aren’t standing. And we have tons of parking. We try to alternate so there are some masses and special events at each parish, but there is a lot of fighting over it. As I said, Bad Blood.

There is simply not enough time between the 2 saturday masses to add 1st communion in there, so they are talking about having about 7-8 kids at each of the 2 sunday masses for a 2+ months stretch of time (they have to skip a weekend for some other annual parish event). We could easily have one big first communion at our building, but then the other parish would rasie a ruckus. So I see no way that would ever happen. Mostly likely it would be 1 at each parish if that were the way it went, and it is not an even number of kids so i’m sure it wouldn’t be 1/2 and 1/2, but a mess of kids at one, and a much smaller group at the other.

 

[TAS2000]

Personally, I like the one big service idea, probably because that is what I grew up with. But also, I think it lends itself more to the family event and party afterwards. You know, make it a big event for the kids (and a ton of work for mom and dad)

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

There is no reason why, excepting the preference of the DRE(s) and the priest, to have one big production at your parish. There does not need to be a big production at the other parish. There do not need to be even numbers of kids to have one big Mass at St. Weaintbudging, and another at St. Wewereherefirst. Whatever first communicants there are to be had at each parish could have 1st communion at the home parish. Father could even have it on different weekends, and he would only have to write one homily. This is the way “collaborating” parishes do it here in Illinois and Iowa.

I really hate to see this thing dragged out over a two-month period, but I’m not in charge. Apparently, you aren’t either. If you get a vote or have a voice, make your preferences known.

 

[kage_ar]

From what I’ve seen, the one big service turns into a CIRCUS. Better to do a reverent first reception during the family’s regular Mass. No limos, no pushy loud people, no silly song, no flash cameras, a simple 1st Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

OPs expansion of the story proves my point, the issue at hand in the parishes she is discussing has absolutely NOTHING to do with the sacrament, the theology, the Mass, the families, or the best interests of the children, but is being used as an excuse to act out resentful feelings at the situation existing in these two parishes through sharing a pastor.

 

[John_Lilburne]

What do any of you feel are the pros or cons for having 1st communion as one big separate celebration outside the normal mass schedule, or having a few kids at each regular mass over the course of several weeks?

Is there any documentation from the Church per se to support one over the other?

The 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum has:
“[87.] The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution.[169] Moreover First Communion should always be administered by a Priest and never outside the celebration of Mass. Apart from exceptional cases, it is not particularly appropriate for First Communion to be administered on Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper. Another day should be chosen instead, such as a Sunday between the Second and the Sixth Sunday of Easter, or the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, or the Sundays of Ordinary Time, since Sunday is rightly regarded as the day of the Eucharist.[170] “Children who have not attained the age of reason, or those whom” the Parish Priest “has determined to be insufficiently prepared” should not come forward to receive the Holy Eucharist.[171] Where it happens, however, that a child who is exceptionally mature for his age is judged to be ready for receiving the Sacrament, the child must not be denied First Communion provided he has received sufficient instruction.”
Footnotes:
“[169] Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 914; S. Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Declaration, Sanctus Pontifex, diei 24 maii 1973: AAS 65 (1973) p. 410; S. Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and S. Congregation for the Clergy, Letter to the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences. Episcoporum, In quibusdam, 31 March 1977: Enchiridion Documentorum Instaurationis Liturgicae, II, pp. 142-144; S. Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and S. Congregation for the Clergy, Response to dubium, 20 May 1977: AAS 69 (1977) p. 427.
[170] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini, 31 May 1998, nn. 31-34: AAS 90 (1998) pp. 713-766, here pp. 731-734.
[171] Cf. Code of Canon Law,can. 914.”

I think the last part is particularly important regarding this issue: “the child must not be denied First Communion provided he has received sufficient instruction.”

If there are only a few children each week there should be an elaborate system of instruction so that only a few receive sufficient instruction for that Mass. This would be difficult to achieve in most classrooms. So I think the whole class of students should be instructed together and make their First Communion together.

Logistically this should be manageable. The class size will be about 30, not 300. So schedule the different class groups so they receive instruction at different times, ready for different Sundays.

 

[VAC]

Where do those families with the first communion children normally attend mass? In the parish - correct?
Now I realize that grandparents and other family may increase the normal attendance. But when the numbers are discussed it seems like we beleive that the entire First Communion attendance numbers will have to be accomodated and that every First Communicant family will have huge numbers. The reality is much different…

Not around here. 2 years ago FC mass was held during a regular mass time. There were over 900 in attendance in an area designed for 600. about 70 first communicants.The normal attendance for that mass is about 300 on a good week. 150-200 in the summer, and up to 400 on a CCD week.

Last May, they held a seperate mass on a Saturday morning. about the same # of kids… the place still packed with standing room only.
This year, they plan to hold FC with one of the less attended masses, because that’s when we can get the space (no building of our own yet.)

It’s all about logistics, although I did think that processing 60-70 kids in one at a time was NOT very practical

 

[dranzal]

It’s all about logistics, although I did think that processing 60-70 kids in one at a time was NOT very practical

Yeah, VAC, what’s up with that. The children are literally sent up the aisle one at a time like at a wedding. This is done for both the processional and the Eucharist. For Eucharist it is done so the professional photographer can get a good shot. But why the processional? It takes forever and the number of FC’s is only increasing.

 

[puzzleannie]

I think a more productive discussion, and one that does take recent instruction on the sacrament into account is not when do children make first communion and how many at any given Mass, but how do they approach communion.

The thinking behind “any regular Sunday Mass, with their family, not as a class” is that the child comes forward with his family, who have been preparing him and are bringing him to the sacrament. This view I heartily endorse. Sadly the whole thing falls flat when the parents themselves do not receive, for whatever reason, and it is this dire condition we are trying to address in changing somewhat the focal point of our sacramental preparation so that the parents are directly evangelized and taught the primacy and true nature of the Eucharist. I also heartily endorse the rule in this diocese, no photography or videos during Mass.

 

[Kielbasi]

One can assume that each and everyone of those First Communion families is already attending Mass every Sunday. If they are not, then we have bigger problems than not enough pews!

Why would you assume that? Polls indicate 3/4 or more of Catholics are in absentia on Sunday, families of First Communion kids are probably somewhat better than average but assuming that virtually all are in attendance is really assuming a lot.

And you’re right, the church does have a problem in this area, attendance at mass is significantly lower than it was 50 years ago in the US.

 

[VAC]

Yeah, VAC, what’s up with that. The children are literally sent up the aisle one at a time like at a wedding. This is done for both the processional and the Eucharist. For Eucharist it is done so the professional photographer can get a good shot. But why the processional? It takes forever and the number of FC’s is only increasing.

Oh, Yeah, Dranzal… you know how much clout I have, righ???t:dts:
If I plan the music, there will be 2 processional songs (with 3-4 verses each) for the kids’ procession and 3-4 communion/meditation songs. If you can’t beat them… plan more music.

 

[TAS2000]

St. Weaintbudging, and St. Wewereherefirst.

I LOVE THAT!!! Too funny. And sadly a bit too true. Forgive the platitude, but CAN"T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG???

OPs expansion of the story proves my point, the issue at hand in the parishes she is discussing has absolutely NOTHING to do with the sacrament, the theology, the Mass, the families, or the best interests of the children, but is being used as an excuse to act out resentful feelings at the situation existing in these two parishes through sharing a pastor.

Well, I’m not sure excatly what your point is, since everyone pretty much says there IS no difference as far as the sacrament or theology goes to either method. Which was the original question. (I was rather hoping there was something that would push it from a sacramental standpoint one way or the other to try to avoid the potential battles I see looming)

So if in all reality it comes down to mere logistics, then I can say with a pessimism that comes from dealing with these groups, that we probably WILL be having the in-fighting and attitudes of selfishness from some quarters. But I guess you never know. Sometimes I think it is just the “power groups” that are the problem, as every once in a while I am pleasently surprised. I think the general population is much more accepting than the groups I deal with. When we talked about where to hold Religous Ed classes, the discussion in the council chambers was filled with pessimism and rather lengthy. But when they got all the teachers together and said what do you guys think would be best, it was very short, civil, and straight forward. “This makes the most sense.” Period.

So anyway, if we try to be practical (silly me) it looks like we are saying thus:

Small groups each weekend:
PROs: Don’t have to schedule extra lectors, etc. Don’t have as many extra people cramming in at once.
CONs: drags out for over 2 months. People not related to the kids will complain mass is too long (believe it, they WILL complain about having to spend extra time in church).

One big special mass:
PROs: gets it done and over with in one shot, outside the regular mass schedule.
CONs: Parking and seating space may be an issue. Makes one very LONG ceremony if they do all 60 kids at once. Or possibly have to do 2 “big” masses, one at each church.

For both methods I see possible issues with certain people wanting to be at a particular building, but again, maybe I’ll be pleasently surprised.

Any body else got any other practical thoughts one way or the other?? I’m trying to get the main points all laid out so I can get a discussion or letter going to the other parents of all the 2nd grade kids.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

My vote is a First Communion Mass at St. Weaintbudging, and on another weekend, a First Communion Mass at St. Wewereherefirst- Flip a coin fairly to see who will be the first parish after Easter to do so.