First Communion

Before First Reconciliation, kids must memorize four basic Catholic prayers:

• Our Father
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be
• Act of Contrition

They will be quizzed on these prayers during the months of February and March. Keep practicing them at home! You can find the words to these prayers at agnesandrose.org/first-communion-prayers

First Communicants are required to one First Communion Rehearsals before their First Communion Mass. A parent must attend rehearsal with their child. Families can attend rehearsal at either location regardless of where their child will receive First Communion.

Rehearsal times will be posted here in March.

This is the most frequently asked question :)

Short Answer: Plan on leaving the church about 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start of your first Communion Mass.

Long Answer: First Communion Masses are regular Masses. Most Masses are 30-60 minutes long, but the length depends on how many people are there to receive Communion and how long the priest speaks during his homily. First Communion Masses are usually 45-60 minutes long, but still depend on those two factors. After Mass, you will probably want some time for pictures. A good guess is that you will be at the church for about an hour and 15 minutes after the start of your First Communion Mass. But, we cannot give a definitive answer on this.

• First Communicants must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of Mass. 
  • Volunteers: All children who volunteered for a specific role during Mass must arrive 1 hour before the start of Mass.
• Kids will gather in the hall and process into the church together.
• Due to earlier Mass times, guests (including parents and immediate family) will not be able to get into the church more than 30 minutes before Mass. Guests should stay outside until an usher seats them in their family's pew.

• Each child will have 1 pew. You can comfortably seat about 6-8 people in each pew. 
• If you have two or more children receiving First Communion at the same Mass, you will have one pew/child.
• Additional friends and family may sit in the overflow seating in the back of the church (if there is space) or in the church hall, on a first-come basis.

We want children to look nice for this special day, without being uncomfortable in or distracted by their clothing. Dress code for First Communion is "Sunday Best" for all in attendance.

Traditional Attire:

Girls

• White dress
• Veil
• Dress shoes
• Gloves may be worn to the church, but must be removed before getting in the Communion line.

Boys

• White or solid, neutral-colored suit
  (blue is fine too!)
• Tie
• Dress shoes

If children have rosary beads, purses, bibles, or gifts with them, please be sure they put them down before getting in line to receive Communion. Our priests will be happy to bless any special items (jewelry, rosary beads, bibles, etc.) after Mass.

• To maintain reverence in the church, we ask that guests refrain from taking pictures during Mass.
• A photographer will be present at all Masses to take photos of your child receiving Communion. She will also be available to take photos after Mass. Please submit your order form before First Communion. Order forms will be made available in April.
• You may NOT bring/hire another photographer to photograph the First Communion Mass.

Masses at St. Rose will be live-streamed for loved ones to watch at home.
The live-steam link is agnesandrose.org/live.

Unfortunately, St. Agnes does not have the ability to live-stream.

None of the Masses will be recorded.

We invite you to practice receiving communion with your child at home, with an "invisible host." Children will receive communion before everyone else and return to their seats before others get in line.

Watch these videos together before practicing: 

• How to Receive Your First Holy Communion
• Sacraments 101: How We Receive Communion

How to Receive:

• Kids will be sitting with their families during Mass. They will sit in the seat closest to the center aisle. When entering the communion line and approaching the priest, children keep their hands folded in prayer.
• When children are next in line, they bow as a sign of reverence.
• If receiving in the hands:
  • When at the priest, children will place their dominant hand under their other hand and create a throne for Jesus. Their "throne" should be flat enough that there is a place for the priest to place the Eucharist, but not so flat that the Eucharist may fall out of their hands. 
  • The priest will hold up the host and say "The Body of Christ." 
  • Communicants respond, "Amen" and then the priest places the host in their hands. 
  • With their dominant (bottom) hand, children reach into their top hand, pick up the host, and place it in their mouths immediately.
  • If receiving on the tongue:
    • When at the priest, children should keep their hands folded in prayer.
    • The priest will hold up the host and say "The Body of Christ." 
    • Communicants respond, "Amen" and then open their mouths and stick their tongues a little bit out of their mouths. 
    • The priest places the host in their mouth. Communicant should close their mouth immediately.
• After the Eucharist is in the Communicant's mouth and while still standing in front of the priest, kids should make the Sign of the Cross and fold their hands in prayer again.
• Children will return to their seats with their hands folded in prayer. They will walk around the outside of the pews back to their family.
• When back in their seats, they should kneel on the end closest to the outer aisle, so they are not climbing over other family members. After all children receive Communion, the rest of those gathered will be invited to come forward to receive Holy Communion or a blessing. 

Please remind kids that this is their special day and they are allowed to take as much time as they need to remember all the steps when they get up to the priest - they do not need to rush.