Your Little Way to First Communion
|
Look above and you will find how many days are left to your Big Day when you will receive for the first time Jesus in the Holy Communion. Below you will find some useful resources that along with what your teacher and parents will tell you may help you to understand one of the most precious secrets of the Catholic Church. The secret of Jesus who is truly present in the Holy Communion. Jesus used to say that children shouldn't have any problem in grasping this mystery. So have a wonderful time in preparing for the Big Day with Jesus! First Communion important dates:
1. Weekend April 9/10 Enrolment Mass – children are asked to express their relationship with Jesus Christ in drawing or painting. They will be asked to present their works during the mass. 2. Friday April 29 10-12pm - Rehearsal in church 3. Sunday May 1 2pm - First Communion Mass |
|
Week 10 (last)
Week 9
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
|
This time we look at the last Video Part 9. It is about the end of the Holy Mass. Well, the Mass doesn’t really end only the part in church because when we leave the church we are supposed to live out what Jesus thought us during the Mass. Jesus wants us to be his ambassadors or better word is disciples. And the last video is about the 12 disciples. There 12 but today Jesus calls us too!
I want to congratulate you on your first confession you were very well prepared. Those who couldn’t attend can come at our confession time, check the schedule please. We will see next time for our final rehearsal Friday April 29 10-12pm in church. But I hope seeing you in church on Sunday. God loves you! Before you receive communion during the Holy Mass you can’t eat any food however you can drink water. We call it a preparation for the Holy Communion or the Eucharistic fast. About fasting and how we should receive Jesus during the Holy Communion, when to bow the head etc is in the Video Part 8.
There are 1.3 billion Catholics all over the world. Everywhere where Catholics are children receive their First Holy Communion even in countries like Egypt. You can watch their First Communion and listen to a song by Justin Bieber “Pray”, sounds familiar? We have to pray for peace when we receive Jesus in the Holy Communion. Watch this Video here. At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer that is when the wine and bread become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ the whole congregation says the Lord’s Prayer. Do you know “Our Father” by heart? Well for this you can gain a point. After the Lord’s Prayer people in church offer each other the sign of peace, usually it’s a hand shake, but it could be expressed in other ways too. After the sign of peace, the congregation sings or recites the “Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” You knew it right? Then the celebrant elevates the consecrated host and says: This is the Lamb of God …” The Congregation responds: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Then the time for Holy Communion comes but this will come next time.
Watch Video Part 7 This song may help you to remember better the prayer “Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world.” Watch this video. The Bread and Wine which was brought to the altar previously becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus during the Eucharistic Prayer. It is not one prayer but several prayers. We again need to learn the response when the Priest says to us: “The Lord be with you”, and we respond, “And with your Spirit”. There is another prayer you need to learn and pray with all of the people in church.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest More about these you will find in the Video Part 6 Easter is coming in a few days, I wish you have a wonderful and Happy Easter with Jesus. Please watch this Easter story and share with friends. Easter Story After the first Part of Mass (the Liturgy of the Word) there is a time for the preparation of the gifts. People are asked to sit and sing a hymn and the collection is taken meanwhile. The altar servers prepare the altar for the next part of the mass, which is …. the Eucharist. We call this moment between the two parts of the mass the preparation of the gifts, or offertory. There is more about it in the Video Part 5._
The offertory procession may vary from church to church. Here is how it looks like in Africa, it is a big feast for all and lots of fun. It is also very nice and it relates to the local culture and customs. Do you have any idea how to make an offertory procession meaningful in our church, let me know. This week we watch the Video Part 4. Sometimes we don’t understand all the readings form the Bible. Therefore the priest will explain them to us in the homily. Consequently we say we believe in what God has told us, and we recite together the Creed. There is a shorter and a longer version of the creed, it can also be done in questions and answers. First have a look at the longer version of the Creed known as “Nicene Creed”. But try to learn the shorter version “the Apostles Creed” which was composed over two thousand years ago, by apostles themselves. There is a nice version of it for children.
Do you know that children can do the homily in church? There is a country, with beautiful churches and long catholic tradition. A boy comes up and preaches the homily and it happens only once a year. What is the feast this tradition happens on? Watch the Video! Now you know that mass begins with the procession, greeting. This time you will learn that before anything else we have to open our Bibles and read what God wants to tell us. The next thing we do during the mass is listen to a reading from the Bible. Michael will explain to you, how we make the readings, where and when. You may need your own Bible to follow his instructions. There are a few responses you need to learn: Every reading the lector ends with the acclamation: The Word of the Lord. And all people in church respond: Thanks be to God! For the Gospel reading all the people stand, and the responses are different: Priest reads: The Gospel of the Lord, and we all respond: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
There is the Video Part 3 After this part you may try to define what the Bible is. This video may help you to formulate the answers. Don’t be afraid to use your Bible! What is the Bible watch the video! You met Michel in the Video Part 1. It was about how we are going to play the game. Michael introduced to you his church, and some parts of it, like ambo, altar, the priest’s chair and holy water font. You are welcome after every video to visit the church and identify these places in our church at St. Mary’s. They may look differently but these things are in every church.
Video Part 2 is about the beginning of the Holy Mass. Every Mass starts from the processing to the altar. You need to learn the sign of the cross, and the response “and with your spirit”. The confession of sins may have different forms, you just need to remember the one presented in the video: “Lord have mercy”, “Christ have mercy”. Watch and collect the points! Here! An extra is about prayer. Children know a lot about prayer. What do you know about prayer? Watch these children, they are little but they seem to be great experts on prayer. Watch here! Hello boys and girls! Welcome to our First Communion “Little Way”. You have learned already that you are a part of the Big Family - the Church! Soon you will receive the Holy Communion. You can check above how many days are left to your Big Day. Holy Communion is part of the celebration we call the Holy Mass. Every Catholic is invited to be in church for the Mass on Sunday. The mass contains of some rituals, readings and responses. We will learn everything here with you. You just need to memorize some prayers and responses.
Trivia Catholic has published a video explaining Mass for children. Every week we will explore a part of this series. It is a game in fact and you can collect points for correct answers. So, let’s start from Part 1. Please follow instruction and watch this movie as many times as you need to remember everything. Holy Mass - Video Part 1 You can get extra scores for remembering to pray before and after meals. Watch this movie and see that even your favourite pets can learn to pray before eating. Have fun! Always Pray Video You must belong to the Community of the Church to be able to receive Holy Communion. You become the member of the Community in Baptism. The Community we also call the Church. Ask your parents about your Baptism. Who was the priest, how you behaved at the baptism etc. You can visit our church and go to the Baptismal Font. This is the place where babies are Baptised. This is where Jesus said to you "I love you, from now on we are best friends"!
Please watch the movie: What is the Church! or this one: Is the Church a building? Or if you want to pray and dance watch this: I will follow Jesus There is also a little tip for your parents and teachers, an article on how to start |
Coming soon ...