First Communion common practices?

[dianeschlicht]

At our church, a lot of parents opt to have their childs first communion at a mass where they can invite anyone they want to. For the next month there will be numerous first communicants with their families at each mass. They always get to receive communion first, and just before the end of Mass, they are called up to the alter to be given their candle and certificate. This is how our daughter did it nearly 30 years ago too.

 

[helenabear]

I would agree with others that maybe offering to be there would be a good thing. Of course making sure that if there is "no room" that they know you aren't just "fishing for an invitation" to that one. I have to agree with the thought that maybe a religious card & a not so religious gift is a good idea. The last 1st communion I went to (about a year ago), we had a card with money inside. I figured that the boy would receive so much other religious items that he might get doubles (or more) fo the same thing. I was glad we did that because he did indeed get two of a few things. Have fun deciding, Kim

 

[dianeschlicht]

One of the nicest first communion gifts our kids got was a plaque with their name on and a discription of what the name means as well as which saint it was connected too. Both liked that gift.

 

[cgcw]

DS8 will be making his first communion in a couple of weeks. We did have a choice to either do it during a mass or with the group of his CCD class. We chose to have him do it with his friends rather than the entire congrigation.

By making that choice, we agreed that we'd only be able to have 11 people at the church. Here's how we tried to split them out --

3 seats = DH, DS8 and I will be seated in a separate section of the church from our guests.
no seat = our DS3 will be left with a friend.
2 seats = my mom and caregiver (my mom is handicapped).
2 seats = My MIL and BIL will be there -- BIL is an adult, however, he has down syndrome
2 seats = Godmother and SO
2 seats = Godfather, his wife and 2 children (5 years old)

Did you notice that last line -- actually 4 people for 2 seats?? It left us in a really awkward position to invite DS's Godfather but tell him he couldn't bring his children (who are 5). His Godfather & wife decided that DS's Godfather would attend while his wife and children stayed at our house. Then Godfather's wife had a conflict and is required to take a class the day of DS8's communion so that left Godfather with the 2 kids and himself alone for the day eek: they would need 3 seats!!). Although DS's Godfather would like to be there, he decided that he just couldn't do it because of the seating.

No matter how we tried, we couldn't make it work to include DS's Godfather and his family. But, we talked to them about it and tried to work out a solution. It was a nightmare and really awkward to be in that position.

So, sometimes, it's really not something that can be worked out because of other restrictions but it would have been nice if some type of option would have been mentioned to your DH.

We also decided rather than do a Communion party right away, we're going to wait until we're a little more confident in the weather and put one of those jumping things in the yard and have a party here. That way, we can invite more than 11 people!!

 

[goofy4tink]

When my dd made her first communion 3 years ago, her older db and ds (much older!) gave her a gold bracelet with a St. Christopher's medal on it. Her godfather had given her a celtic cross from Ireland just before that, so we put that on the bracelet. She has a silver souvenir charm bracelet too. But the gold one is for 'special' charms. Maybe that would work.

 

[Patrick IL.]

Kim do a search on Religious goods stores in your area. They have a ton of items that deal with First Communion.

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I am Catholic and have two children. Each parish does things differently ... and they can be different each year as well. As a Godparent (if you want to go ... sometimes it can be a circus), you could ask if you "should plan on attending mass, or is space limited to only immediate family?" This way you won't put them on the spot.

As for a gift, if you are the Godparent, I might go with a nice bible or locket or something along those lines. Otherwise, I think any gift that a child of that age might like is appropriate.

I must tell you, my favorite gift when I received my first communion (2nd grade and many moons ago) was a doll (from Godmother). I LOVED that doll.

Good luck!

 

[RUDisney]

Ross Simon's Catalog has a Communion Girl figurine for $65 that is beautiful. We bought that for my youngest sister when she received Communion, 4 years ago. It is by Lladro, so it will be more sophisticated for her collection as she gets older than a Precious Moments figurine, IMO. I doubt that she'd receive two of these.

My sister has it displayed in her bedroom and likes it very much.

You can see this at http://www.rosssimons.com/cgi-bin/s...T1=CPEF N0236&UREQA=2&UREQB=5&UREQC=7&UREQD=8

We're going to a Communion party on May 4th, and we'll be giving cash. But, it's for a friend's son. For friends and not-close relatives, we give cash, but for close family we give a religious gift and card.

 

[mom2boys]

DS2 will be receiving his 1st Communion soon - June if I get my act together. His brother did it last year. DS1 opted for the group ceremony with 59 other children receiving at the same ceremony. Our church is large & historic in the "city" but it was still packed. We had to "move along" through the e ntire ceremony because there was a wedding scheduled 2 hours after the start of 1st Communion. (Saturdays in May are prime time for the chruch.) DS2 wants his at a regular Sunday Mass. In fact, he doesn't even want it in the regular church. Our parish is so large that it is about to spin off another parish. The priest who always says the Masses at the spin off is much more appealing to the kids. So DS2 will recieve his 1st Communion in the auditorium of the local community college. I imagine we will have a few reserved seats & any "extra" guests can sit anywhere they like.
DS1 received cash, bibles, rosary, crucifx necklace as gifts.

 

[Disney Doll]

My goddaughter just received her First Communion last year. Her name is Mary Allison, so I gave her a whole "Mary" ensemble...a statue of the Blessed Mother, with a book about the story of Mary's life, a rosary and a little card with instructions how to say the rosary, and a savings bond.

If your godchild is Irish, a Celtic cross necklace might be nice.

 

[MerryPoppins]

The ribbon/charm Bible bookmarks make a great gift. I still have mine in my Bible. If you paired that with a new Bible with her name it would be a lovely gift.

My daughter got a beautiful necklace at Baptism. It is engraved on the back with the date. It has her inititials on the front. Very pretty, and she'll never forget the date.

 

[KimRaye]

WOW, I'm impressed you guys/gals! Not surprised but, Impressed! You've given me so many options and opinions and choices and, I'm Impressed!

snoopy: I agree, I'd hate to 'repeat' PM stuff.

diane: Old idea as far as ceremony but, nice, imo! And, again the Saint name comes up. Which service is it? Confirmation or 1st Communion?

Elaine: That's kinda my thinking already. I already have a Goddaugther 1st communion card but, if I fill it with cash---How much for this occasion, this age?

cgcw(Cindy): I understand the limits imposed but, dh (Godfather) has not been informed of any seating whatsoever. Godmother won't be there so, he's only 1 person. And, I'm already counting in their immediate family: SIL, BIL and 2 sons plus 4 grandparents. That's 8, dh would be 9. I'm NOT attending myself, the communion or the party so, I'm not counting me.

Thanks Patrick, I actually have a store like that right on Milwaukee Ave. near my home Church.

T-P: I think you have phrased the question the best! I'll try that while letting SIL know that it'd be only dh and maybe DD but, no more than that.

RU, mom2, D D and, MP: All good ideas and good thoughts!

THANK YOU ALL!!!

 

[rbuzzotta]

When DD made her First Communion we were very limited as to how many people we could invite to the church!! We had one pew and could only invite enough to fit in that pew. Our church had 3 different communions that year with about 70-100 per communion class!!

DD got alot of religious memorabilia. My mom gave her a photo album that said my First Communion on the front. We gave her a Daughters ring (her birthstone in the middle, ours on the ends). She also got some jewelry (bracelets, earrings, chain with cross).
Also, a few savings bonds................

 

[Princess Dot]

Just a thought about the non-religious gift. My daughter had her First Communion last year and she would have been thrilled with a "non-religious" gift like a CD or something. She did get a bunch of PM statues, rosarys, prayer books, jewelry, $$$$(always appreciated!). But the suggestion about a religious card with a non religious gift is a pretty good one. Or you could get both.

I am laughing as I write this because my babysitter gave me a David Cassidy album for my first communion! (ok it was 1972!) It was hands down my favorite gift!