Question on etiquette for inviting no-longer--catholic godmother to First Holy Communion

[junkdz]

My daughter will be receiving First Holy Communion soon. As this is a joyous occasion, we’ve invited friends and family to share in the service and the day.

The complication lies with her godmother, raised Catholic (was even a Eucharistic Minister when she was asked to be godmother). Somewhere over the last 5-6 years, she was recruited & joined another faith (Church of the Nazarene). Now, she thinks that Communion is just crackers and grape juice.

I am concerned that she or her husband (same faith) will line up to receive out of ignorance or just that she really does believe that there’s no harm done by eating a “cracker”

I don’t want to cause a family incident by confronting them, and we may not even see them til we’re in church. ANd we won’t be sitting together.

Would it be appropriate to just enclose the communion guidelines in the invitiation(s)? Any thoughts?

 

[quiet52]

Yes, send her the guidelines.

My opinion is that in addition to doing this, phone the godmother. With charity and with joy, invite her. But mention to her that although you respect her decision about her faith journey, you ask that she show respect to your daughter by not contradicting any Catholic teaching by word or by deed – because this would confuse your daughter and she may not be old enough to understand.