MAJOR CHANGES in how children are prepared for First Communion in
Dublin will see a shift from the school to the parents and parish. A new Catholic Church policy document to be published today also seeks to curb the excessive spending and celebrations surrounding the event.
Greater parental involvement will mean more regular attendance at Sunday Masses for families during the preparatory year and mandatory production of a child’s baptismal certificate by the previous September 30th.
It is also likely that smaller groups of children will receive their First Communion, and at Sunday Mass in their own parish.
The changes will be announced by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin later today with children from the First Communion classes at St Columba’s national school on Glasnevin’s Iona Road in Dublin.
The new policy will root First Communion and First Reconciliation (Confession) more firmly in the parish and will, in general, take place at Sunday Mass. This is to stress First Communion is not a private celebration but a welcome to the parish liturgical community.
Parishes will also actively encourage families to avoid extravagance in the celebrations.
It is accepted the changes will take time to introduce, but today’s announcement is intended to start a process of changing attitudes to what is a major event for children and their families in Ireland.
The First Communion, First Reconciliation diocesan policy document identifies an 11-step programme, beginning the previous summer with consultation between the parish team and school staff.
In September, baptismal certificates must be produced and a First Communion, First Reconciliation team comprising parents and parish team members is to be formed.
This team will organise a programme of Sunday Masses throughout the year especially focused on the children and their parents.
In September/October there will be an enrolment programme where children will be committed to prepare for the sacraments at school.
In January/February of the following year a special meeting of parents will take place ahead of their children’s First Reconciliation in February/March.
As the date for First Communion approaches a further meeting with parents will take place, with the celebration of First Communion in May spread across weekend Masses.
Thereafter there will be a concerted effort to build on the previous year’s experience with the development of a weekly family Mass in the parish to encourage continuing participation.
A copy of the new policy document, which is being distributed to all schools and parishes in the Dublin archdiocese, will be available to download at dublindiocese.ie