First Communion Stories

We Have a Winner!

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:54:36 +0000

And really, how can you possibly beat a secret conversion announced at Mass on Mother’s Day?

Our lucky winner gets either a First Communion dress of her choice or a $100 gift card to Aquinas and More!

Runners up include a new sister for First Communion and an accidentally broken fast.

I will announce the blogger winners tomorrow.

First Communion – The Second Time Around

rbpdan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:16:00 +0000

Close friends of my family offered to send me to a parochial school for a better education. One was Jewish and the other was Protestant. My parents were not churchgoers – my dad left in his youth; my mom came from a broken home, but they convinced my folks it would be better for me. I was already baptized but my very first church experience was that year in parochial school when I made my first communion. All the “smells and bells” – the incense, holy water, stained glass, blessed objects and the beautiful hymns got “under my skin”. I was hooked.

I was “jazzed” and spent many months eagerly preparing for first communion. Palm Sunday came and my mom took me to mass. She had never been to a church her whole life. Then during the mass much to my surprise she told me to get in line for the palms. She had no idea what was happening – and neither did I. Soon I realized I was in line for communion! I was scared. What if the sisters or someone else saw me? I didn’t know what to do. So I just played it cool and stayed in line, keenly watching everyone in turn kneeling at the rail. I had never done it before. I knew I had to watch and get it right or they would know. As I knelt at the rail I turned and looked at each person being given communion to see how they did it. Finally the priest and altar boy came. This was it. I was ready. I don’t remember if the priest said it in Latin or English (The Body of Christ) or if I even said “Amen.” I remember the priest placing the host on my tongue while the altar boy held the paten under my chin, then going back to the pew, anxiously hoping no one noticed. I remember little else about that day except worrying whether anyone saw me or if the sisters would say anything that week. Nothing happened. Not a word. I went on and made my “first communion” in May but it was really Palm Sunday, 1966.

Like so many teens I drifted from the Church. But that year of my first communion left me with fond and vivid memories. I became “homesick”. When I returned in college I told this story in confession. I had agonized over whether this was a sin I failed to confess long ago or if my “first communion” was “invalid”. The worry haunted me. The priest was very kind and understanding and said, “That was how God intended it for you.”

The irony of family friends who were not Catholic giving me a childhood faith experience, and the priest’s advice in confession taught me an important lesson: Be open to the unconventional and surprising ways God enters into our lives.

Daniel Scuiry
Berkeley, CA

Mary’s First Communion

Anne Bender — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:55:43 +0000

I thank God for the miracle that is my daughter, Mary. She gives a glorious witness to God in everything she says and does. I can see God alive in her. She has a way about her that allows her to draw everyone closer to God.

Last year, when she was in kindergarten, she longed to confess her sins and live in God’s peace. When I told her she would have to wait and prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation, she couldn’t stand it. “But mama, I have a lot of sins!” she complained. Thinking that she just wanted to visit with the priest, that she was trying to be like her parents and brothers, I asked the priest if she could come and talk to him and he agreed. How surprised and delighted he looked when he heard her begin to confess the things that were tugging at her conscience. How surprised and delighted I was, when I saw him give her absolution!

I shared this reconciliation story with our Pastoral Associate, who then said, “Sign Mary up for her First Communion. She’s ready!”

Excitement filled our hearts at the thought of our little Mary receiving Jesus while only in the first grade at six years old! We knew this was something really special!

Mary was so eager for Communion, that from that day on, when the family went to receive Communion, Mary joined us with her little arms crossed over her chest, to receive a blessing from the priest. She was always most reverent as she bowed before the bread and wine in a physical sign of respect for the presence of God.

Finally, after much preparation, the big day arrived! Mary looked absolutely radiant in her white dress and veil. She was so excited to finally be able to wear the white clunky shoes that she longed for all winter!

Great joy filled out hearts as we witnessed Mary make a throne with her little hands to receive her Lord Jesus into her heart and her very body.

This day was a cause for great celebration! Everyone wanted to share in Mary’s joy! But, before we could join the party, we had to make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up delicious chicken to feed to our guests. Have you ever seen a little girl in her First Communion dress pushing a shopping cart? She was so filled with joy that she bounced up and down behind the cart, and caught the attention of everyone in the store. Smiles surrounded her joyous witness to the love of Jesus.

Upon arriving back home, the party was already in full swing! The table was loaded with food, the little children were running about and stories and laughter rang throughout the house.

It was a beautiful day with our large family and many special guests including our Pastor and the Associate Pastor in attendance. By the time the party was winding down and the guests were leaving, Mary’s wonderful teacher, Sister Rita and her friend, Sister Doris arrived. We shared a quiet, peaceful visit with them. Mary and Sister Rita sat together on the couch and spent the longest time together quietly looking at the new Bible Mary had received, and sharing all the Bible stories that Mary had learned about in school. Later, Mary said that quiet time with her teacher was her favorite part of the day.

Little did we know that more excitement was still on its way! That evening, we received a phone call from a man asking to speak with Mary. As Mary was listening to the caller speak, I could see her face light up with happiness. I knew this call was from someone very special. When Mary hung up, she said the caller was Archbishop Dolan! He had called to congratulate her on her First Communion. What a great honor this was for Mary!

As our family continues to attend daily Mass, I find the joy to be continuing. Every day as we get in line to receive Eucharist, Mary turns to me and says, “I’m so excited!” After she receives the Body and Blood of Christ, she practically dances back to her pew! When she gets back to the pew she throws her little arms up in the air in a physical prayer of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus within her. Everyone who sees her can’t help but smile at her exuberance. She is alive with the true Spirit of God. We should all receive Jesus with as much joy and delight as Mary does. Her happy nature is a gift from God and she gratefully returns it back to him. When Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” this had to be what he meant. We would all do well to learn a lesson from Mary. We should all be filled with excitement, joy and wonder because we have Jesus inside of us!

The First Eucharist Dress

sjsmak — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:34:51 +0000

I have 4 children – 1 boy and 3 girls. Anyone that has both sexes will agree there are so many differences between raising boys & girls and one of the most distinctive for Catholic kids is the First Eucharist attire.

Steven’s was a no brainer: shirt, tie, vest, dress slacks and dress shoes. DONE! For the girls, it should be so easy too, right? Not so much! Girls need accessories and the most important is THE DRESS!

I made my oldest daughter’s- Melinda, First Eucharist dress, she picked the pattern and we found the material and as the story goes, with family and friends, help it got finished (dog chewed through the sewing machine cord- but that’s another story) When daughter #2, Alexa, was to prepare for her celebration I was also preparing to sew her her own dress that she may one day pass down to her daughters or granddaughters. At this time in my life, I was no longer a stay at home childcare provider, I was working at our church as the Director of Children’s Ministries. And for whatever reason the dress my daughter picked out was not coming together properly, whether it was the pattern, the material or the seamstress – I guess it doesn’t really matter- it just wasn’t working. I asked my daughter what she thought we should do, she said ” I told you, I wanted to wear Melinda’s dress anyway … can I just do that?”

Well, duh? Why not … we already have that dress and even though these two girls have diversely different body types it fit absolutely WONDERFUL! What a wonderfully easy solution. Melinda wasn’t so keen on sharing her dress but then I reminded her, she also had her flowergirl dress that was hers and hers alone, and what an exciting element that is being added to this dress – it is made by me and will be there for any of the future granddaughters to wear knowing that it was worn by all the Stauffer girls on there First Eucharist day!! She liked that idea then. As for daughter #3, she didn’t have a choice nor did she want one, she was excited about wearing the dress and couldn’t wait! We were able to individualize their outfits for them. Melinda had a simple bow barrette with a small veil in her hair and nylons that were replaced 2 because of runs! Alexa chose a wreath with a little veil on it, gloves, tights and shoes with a bit of a heel to give her height. And Kyla wore a little shawl over her, had a little veil on a comb and painted her fingernails.

Little girls and their dresses are just such a precious and blessed site! I know how special I felt in mine and I was quite unique as mine wasn’t white! It was the most beautiful pink with little white polka dots. I loved my dress ! I so hope that my girls have the same special feeling.

We all know, its not what they wear that makes the day important and to be celebrated but to know my daughters were wearing something I created they day they received Christ for the first time is a treasured memory indeed for me!

First Communion For Twins

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:31:37 +0000

My First Holy Communion was special in two ways. First I got to share the joy and beauty of it with my twin sister, Marion. We purchased our dresses and veils at a store where we always bought all of our clothes, because they were willing to order another one of the same outfit. The second reason it was a special day was because it was on Marion’s Godfather’s birthday. We made it in St.Joseph The Patron Church in Brooklyn New York, many years ago.
Marilyn Collins

My oldest son’s First Holy Communion Day

ChristineH — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:08:10 +0000

It was Friday April 19, 1996. It was the last rehearsal before the sacrament on Sunday April 21. It was the last possible day to order a videotape of the First Communion. Our church was very particular about photography during the Mass, so the CCD program always had a videographer tape the First Communion Mass. I wasn’t going to order the tape, but at the last minute I did. I was extremely grateful afterwards. You see, I was nine months pregnant and scheduled for a c-section delivery of my daughter, who was in a breech position, the following Wednesday. She had other plans, however. At 3 in the morning on April 21, 1996, my water broke. At 6:32 that morning, my daughter, who had remained in a breech position, was delivered by c-section. I did not get to attend my dear son’s First Communion Mass. He got the unique First Holy Communion gift of a baby sister. The director of the CCD program announced at the end of Mass that He had a new baby sister. You can see on the video that both she and my dear son are crying. It is a day we will never forget. It is the only First Holy Communion date I can recall. I have recollections of all the others, but not the exact date. To this day, I cannot watch the video without getting a little teary-eyed.

A Princess of God ~ by Anna Mae Tippett

amaetippett — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:31:41 +0000

I brushed my hand through the layers of fluffy dresses hanging on the racks in the dress store. I was breathless. I had always pretended at home that I was a princess, and I dressed up in costumes, but this was surely her royal highnesses closet! My mom called me over and I examined the long silky dress that she was holding up. It was pretty and had little flowers on the waist, but I shook my head. I wanted one that puffed out like a wedding dress. Finally I settled on a beautiful dress and veil that were just what I wanted. The weeks flew by fast as I looked forward to my first communion day. I had my first confession, and we went out to dinner afterwards. I remember getting dessert, a chocolate cake and a tall mound of ice cream with chocolate sauce poured over it. I dug in to it with vigor, my grandma snapping a picture to catch the memory. Finally the day of my First Communion arrived. That morning I dressed in my beautiful First Communion dress, the folds swishing as I pranced up and down my bedroom feeling like a princess. My mom did my hair up in curls that bounced when I turned my head. She finished adjusting the veil, and then she pulled out the camera and started clicking away to freeze the memory of that day into the camera’s small mechanical parts. Finally, I seated myself into my car seat like it was a throne, and my “royal carriage” swept me off and away. During church I was so excited that before I knew it everyone was quiet, and my mom was nudging me towards the front of the church. I was the only person having their first communion that year, so I walked up alone with my mom and dad. I was shy at first, but as I reached the front of the altar, my fear fell away and I received Jesus into my heart. And in that moment, I knew that I was not just a mere princess that day, I was God’s Princess.

Pauline Smit — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:41:10 +0000

When I made my first Communion Day it was still required to abstain from food and drink from midnight. We had prepared and practised for months and we all had new clothes to wear. It was very much looked forward to event.

On the morning of First Communion day I got up and went to the refrigerator, poured myself a drink of milk and drank it. I then ran to my mother in floods of tears because I knew I wouldn’t be able to receive to Communion. She settled me down and told me we would go to church and I was to go with Sister Bernadette and the other children and she would go and see the parish priest who may be willing to give permission for me to make my First Communion even though I had ‘broken my fast.’ If Mum had not come to get me by the time Father arrived on the altar to say Mass then I would know he had given permission. Imagine my relief when Father appeared on the altar. And do you think my mother went anywhere near the priest prior to Mass?

A Very Special Mother’s Day

larrimore6 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:17:36 +0000

The earliest memory I have of religion is my parents arguing over it. My dad is a cradle Catholic and my mother was not Catholic.

We attended services with my mother when we were little,but then one by one we decided to attend Mass with our dad. Eventually, we all became Catholic. My parents no longer fought over religion, but my mother was still very much against the Church.

Years passed and my dad continued to pray for my mother to accept his love for the Church and the Eucharist. My sisters and brother never imagined that our dad’s love of the Church, love for our mother, and faith in the power of prayer would work a miracle that he wanted so desperately.

One Mother’s Day, my mother announced she would be attending Mass with us, saying it was because my dad’s parents were visiting. During the service, however, our priest surprised us all by announcing, “The prayers of a very special man are being answered this day.”

My dad burst into tears; at that very moment, he knew Our Lord had granted him a miracle. A miracle none of us could have known was in the making. For the past few months, our priest explained, our mother had been receiving instructions from him and now was ready to join the Church. When my mother received Holy Eucharist that day, there wasn’t a dry eye in the church.

The 2010 First Communion Story Contest is Live!

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:30:15 +0000

Last year we started the First Communion Story website so you could share the fond memories of your First Communion day.

With First Communion season approaching again we are running a new First Communion Story contest!

Here are the rules:

Submit a First Communion story about you or your children by 3/31/10.
Story must be true and a GOOD memory.
You must own copyright on any photos you use in your story.
Voting on stories will run through 4/30/10.
Voters may vote for more than one story but please only vote for a story once.
The winners will be announced on 5/03/10.
The first prize winner will receive a First Communion dress or a $100 gift certificate at Aquinas and More Catholic Goods!
Two runner-up prizes for $25 gift cards to Aquinas and More Catholic Goods will be awarded as well.
First Communion dress must be chosen from the selection available on the Aquinas and More website.

Now, we really want the word to get out about the contest so we are also announcing a…

Blogger Contest!

Here are the rules:

Write a blog post about the contest and link to the First Communion Stories website and our First Communion gift store.
Send an email to ianataquinasandmoredotcom to let us know about your post.
On May 3rd, 2010 we will choose two random winners of $50 gift cards.
On May 3rd, 2010 we will also choose our favorite post and award another $50 gift card to that blogger.
As a blogger you are welcome to enter the contest.
If you are an Aquinas and More affiliate you will earn referral fees just as you would for any other link.

All award decisions will be made by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods and are final.

If you want to use one of our cute First Communion graphics, just copy the code below each image: