First Communion Programme for 2021-2022 Schedule – (see below for links to resources)
We are pleased to announce that the First Communion programme will start on November 27th 2021. We plan to meet at St Swithun’s in the Church on Saturdays at 1:30p,m for those children who are being prepared for this wonderful sacrament. Brian & Linda McCreesh will be leading the programme for the Parish. You can find their contact details below. There will be a WhatsApp group started for parents once the programme gets underway.
You can register your child for the programme by either contacting the parish office or by using the online form below.
The full programme with topics is published below. You can also print off a copy here. The programme can also be found on the events section of our website. Please ensure you check the website as we will be updating topic information for download as well as any changes in times or venues. www.stswithuns.org.uk
Please can you make sure that your child knows the following prayers before we start:
o “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
o “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen”
o “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen”
If you worship in this Parish, please be sure to check this newsletter for further information. Attendance at Mass is an expectation and requirement.
Many thanks Fr Simon, Brian and Linda
Contact details for Brian & Linda McCreesh :
- B.mccreesh@ntlworld.com
02392 786 986
07450439274
WhatsApp group when we have clarified contact details - Download a copy of the programme here: First Communion 2022
Messages from Brian and Linda:
Dear parents We shall be sending you short videos throughout the programme. Baptism is the beginning of our Christian faith throughout our lives. This video is entitled “Reborn: You, Your Child and The Heart of Baptism”. It would be good if we all could view this before we meet for the first time. Each First Confession/Communion programme is an important step on our journey to Heaven: children, parents, priest and catechists. It is our opportunity to learn more about our faith. It is not just about the children. If your partner is not a Catholic it would be great if you could share these videos with them.It is so important to be united as a family and on that theme, we would be delighted to run a short course for non-Catholic parents to help you in your understanding of the Catholic perspective. Please let us know if we can be of help in any way. Yours Brian & Linda
Links:
Reborn: You, Your Child and The Heart of Baptism – FORMED
The Programme Dates
| Session | Date | Time | Topic | Comments & Links | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday 27th Nov 2021 | 1:30pm | Welcome to the programme: Communion of Saints; | Why pray for the dead? | St Swithun's Church |
| 2 | Saturday 4th Dec 2021 | 1:30pm | Our church, Advent | Sign of cross; How to genuflect etc; what can you see? | St Swithun's Church |
| 3 | Saturday 11th Dec 2021 | 1:30pm | Sacraments; Christmas | St Swithun's Church | |
| 4 | Saturday 8th Jan 2022 | 1:30pm | Baptism: entry into the church | Reborn: You, Your Child and The Heart of Baptism - FORMED | St Swithun's Church |
| 5 | Saturday 15th Jan 2022 | 1:30pm | Prayer “Let’s pray” | St Swithun's Church | |
| 6 | Saturday 22nd Jan 2022 | 1:30pm | Rosary | St Swithun's Church | |
| 7 | Saturday 29th Jan 2022 | 1:30pm | Bread of life | St Swithun's Church | |
| 8 | Saturday 5th Feb 2022 | 1:30pm | 10 Commandments | St Swithun's Church | |
| 9 | Saturday 12th Feb 2022 | 1:30pm | Precepts of the Church | “YouCat for Kids” | St Swithun's Church |
| 10 | Saturday 5th Mar 2022 | 1:30pm | Forgiven | Prayer of contrition | St Swithun's Church |
| 11 | Saturday 12th Mar 2022 | 1:30pm | Sacrament of Confession | Examination of Conscience | St Swithun's Church |
| 12 | Saturday 19th Mar 2022 | 1:30pm | Parents’ session | St Swithun's Church | |
| 13 | Saturday 26th Mar 2022 | 1:30pm | Walk through Holy Mass pt 1 Penitential & Readings | Vestments | St Swithun's Church |
| 14 | Saturday 2nd Apr 2022 | 1:30pm | Walk through Holy Mass pt 2 Offertory; Eucharistic prayer | Easter Week: Palm Sunday; Holy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter Day. | St Swithun's Church |
| 15 | Saturday 14th May 2022 | 1:30pm | Following in His footsteps | St Swithun's Church | |
| 16 | Saturday 21st May 2022 | 1:30pm | You are special | St Swithun's Church | |
| 17 | Saturday 11th June 2022 | 1:30pm | 1st practice | Readers; prayers; receiving Communion; | St Swithun's Church |
| 18 | Friday 17th June 2022 | 6:00pm | Final Practice for First Confession + Communion | St Swithun's Church | |
| 19 | Saturday 18th June 2022 | 11:00am | First Confession 11am | St Swithun's Church | |
| 20 | Sunday 19th June 2022 | TBC | First Communion Sunday | St Swithun's Church | |
| 21 | Sunday 26th June 2022 | 10:15am | Certificates at 10.15am Mass | St Swithun's Church | |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
we will be adding Resource Links here as the Programme begins but please check out our Sacraments section on our Website
Read more here about the Sacrament of First Holy Communion
https://stswithuns.org.uk/holy-communion/
or you can download this form and return it to the Parish Office
[icon name=”file-pdf-o” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Application Form for the First Communion for children
Photographs and video images of children
It is the policy of this parish to allow members of catechetical team and others working with the children in parish programmes to take photographs and videos showing children taking part in the programme activities. The photos and videos will be used in parish publications such as the newsletter and the website, and on noticeboards. Children will not be identified by name without their parents/guardian’s written permission.
We hope that you are happy with this policy.
- If you DO NOT want your child’s photograph to be taken please write to us confirming this.
If you DO NOT want your child to be included in any videos please to us confirming this.
If you do not attach a letter to this application form, we will assume that you are happy with this policy.
Finally please enclose the following, when submitting your application:
- A copy of Baptism certificate (ESSENTIAL if your child was baptised outside this parish);
- A donation towards the cost of books and course materials; first communion rosaries; Mass book; Medal of the Immaculate Lady; first communion albs/dresses; engraved certificate of the First Communion.
(£50 is suggested – which is almost half of the cost; the second part [£57] is funded by the Parish);
NB. The Application form must be given personally by the parents of a child to Canon Simon Treloar during an appointment made for this dates and times:
Please, notice that if the rules and expectations for which you have agreed will be not fulfilled, a child can be asked to start again in the next year of preparation for the Sacraments.
Thank You for your understanding, support and cooperation. Fr Marcin
