By Mary Lackie

First Holy Communion is held all year ‘round at Immaculate Heart of Mary church in a program that involves the whole parish community—priests, sisters, and families.

Introduced in 1964, the program differs from the traditional communion by emphasizing that parents are responsible for their children. “When the children constantly make their first communion and confession as a part of school it becomes something done in school,” said Sister Robert Therese, G.N.S.H. Religious classes are still held in school, but preparation for communion and confession are not stressed. The well-outlined material is presented to the child by his parents, and it “draws that family closer together,” Sister Robert Therese said.

It also draws the families closer to the sacraments, said Sister Ann Gerald, G.N.S.H. Since the parents are preparing their children, the experience is a spiritual renewal for them. The children go to confession three times before first communion. The third time, the parents come with them. “A family confession is what we present as an ideal,’ said Msgr. Michael J. Regan, pastor.

In most cases the children have a deeper understanding of the sacrament of confession. “They are more coherent, and I am sure this is provoked by the formation and the questions that their parents ask them,” the monsignor said, “You can almost see the parent’s thinking reflected in the child. This quality of confession is so different.”

The children do not hesitate to come up to the priests and ask, “Father, will hear my confession now?” “We certainly wouldn’t have done that as children,” said Msgr. Regan.

And in the traditional preparation, the priest has little time to give individual attention to the child. “In this way, confession is certainly more personal, and it involves a lot of care,” he said.

Most of the urgency to receive first communion comes from the child, who encourages the parents. “They will sit down with the book when they wouldn’t sit down with anything else,” said Sister Robert Therese. The book involves no memory work, but the child must have an understanding of the sacraments. When the children have completed their studies with their parents, and sometimes with the help of older brothers and sisters, they are questioned by Sister Robert Therese.

“We have learned from this program too, said Msgr. Reagan. “We threw away the original instructions, although we appreciated them at the time, and use a book we think is superb and it only costs 35 cents.”

The child chooses his communion day and the priests and sisters arrange the schedule to suit the child. Two South American children chose the Feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe; some children choose their birthdays or their mothers’ birthdays and work toward that day as their goal. “And they always remember it,’ Sister Robert Therese said.

On the first communion day, families and children are in the front row of the church. The father of the first communicant and his child bring the offertory gifts to the altar. “And it is an ideal, at least in my mind, that the first communicants with their families lead the people to communion,” said Msgr. Reagan.

Following the Mass, the priests visit with the families when the children renew their baptismal vows. The program is appreciated by the children, Msgr. said, but 99 per cent of the work is done by the sisters.

The sisters quickly disagreed. Scheduling the first communions and confessions, and arranging to question the children takes 10 to 12 hours a week, said Sister Robert Therese. Without the cooperation of the priests, it wouldn’t be possible “and if we weren’t really convinced of the value of this program we wouldn’t take the time,” she said.

Since September, 120 public and parochial school children have made their first communions. “We don’t emphasize the program; it is part of the community, almost casual” said Msgr. Regan. “And we still have respect for the old system. We just prefer this because of the involvement of priests and sisters with the people, because of the care, and look at this—because of the happiness. It is a special favor—we have first communions every week.”