First Communion

Registration Information for First Communion & First Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Eucharist:

Sunday Eucharist (Mass) is the highlight of the entire Christian week.

The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word meaning "thanksgiving". On the day of the resurrection we gather to give praise and thanks to God for the amazing deeds that God has done and is doing.

Each and every Sunday, God calls us to come and gather for the weekly celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In the Church a liturgical day begins at sundown; therefore, when we gather for the celebration of Mass on Saturday evening, we are celebrating the first Mass of Sunday. The primacy of the Sunday Eucharist cannot be overstated. Weekly participation in Sunday Eucharist is a hallmark of a Catholic way of life, and certainly an expectation of those preparing to come to the Table for the first time.

It is the joy of each baptized person to participate in the weekly celebration of Sunday Eucharist. The Church reminds us that we are called to "full, oncscious and active participation in the liturgy". Being ready to share in the Body and Blood of Christ means we are ready to participate fully as the Body of Christ. Participating fully includes singing, listening, watching, responding to the prayers, hearing God’s Word proclaimed, coming to be nourished at the table of the Lord and being sent to love God by loving and serving one another.

Registration in our Parish

Children who are baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and have reached the age of reason (7) are eligible to prepare to receive first Eucharist. Registration forms are available during the month of September. The last Sunday of September is the due date. You can pick up the registration form at the Church following any of the Sunday liturgies (which includes the Saturday evening Mass.) It must be completed and handed in on the last Sunday with a baptismal certificate attached (please note that a photocopy of the original is sufficenet)

If your child has been baptized in another denomination, they may still be enrolled for First Communion, so please fill out the registration form and include a copy of the original baptismal certificate. You will need to have a conversation with Fr. Roy.

If your child has not yet been baptized, they can still enroll for First Communion. They follow a different journey on their way to the Table of the Lord. Depending on their age, they are prepared for baptism, confirmation and first communion. The Church envisions them celebrating full initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Once they reach the age of reason (7), they celebrate all three sacraments of Initiation at once. Again, use the registration form and hand it in before the last Sunday of September.

(We would like to thank Catherine Ecker, who is the principal author.)

Dear Parents/Guardian,

This is a very important year for you and your family as well for us as a Parish. The nature of the preparations is such that your child will be prepared both for the sacrament of Reconciliation and the sacrament of Eucharist. It makes for a busy time.

The Church maintains and celebrates that the family is the ‘primary teachers of the children in the ways of the faith’, an obligation the parents accepted at the celebration of the child’s baptism.
“It is your duty to being them up to keep God’s commandments."

Enrollment of your child at our Catholic Schools does not mean that he/she is registered to celebrate and receive the Sacraments. If you would like your child to participate in the preparations for First Communion, you need to register your child at the Parish where you celebrate each Sunday. For our Parish of St. Margaret of Scotland, you need to pick up and register your child at Sunday Mass (which includes the Saturday 5:00 pm Mass) and provide a copy of your child’s Baptism certificate. Registrations close on the last Sunday of September.. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Roy.

Registration

Registration does not take place at the School. Families with children in at least Grade Two who would like to have their children welcomed to the table must pick up the registration package in person following one of the Sunday masses in September.

Registration deadline is the last Sunday of September.

Registration forms are available throughout the month of September.

Future Communication:
All future information will be available through our church bulletin, our parish website and email correspondence.

We encourage you to please click the link on our website homepage, or visit our St. Margaret's Facebook page, to sign up to receieve the bulletin electronically each Saturday morning in your inbox.