First Communion

Registration Information for First Reconciliation & First Communion

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.

It is the joy of each baptized person to participate in the weekly celebration of Sunday Eucharist. Being ready to share in the Body and Blood of Christ means we are ready to participate fully in the entire celebration of Eucharist. 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.

Children who are baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and have reached the age of reason (7) are prepared by their parents to come and share in Holy Communion for the first time. Those enrolled in the Catholic elementary schools receive formal catechesis through the grade 1 & 2 Religion Curriculum. Those not attending Catholic schools will need to participate in a Parish Catechesis program. Immediate preparation for the Sacrament takes place in the Parish, and involves various activities for parents and children. It includes times for parent catechesis (teaching), prayer, Sunday worship and family catechesis. The primary preparation is attending Mass each week.

If your child has been baptized in another denomination, or not baptized, you need to have a conversation with Fr. Roy.

Each September we invite parents who have registered their children, wishing to prepare their child for first sharing in Holy Communion to attend an information meeting. Please read the Parish bulletin for specific dates.

Adults or children who are not baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and desire to participate fully in Eucharist through sharing in Holy Communion are invited to speak with Father Roy about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

(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. It is also the time to think about your child celebrating and receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and of the Holy Eucharist.

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 Sunday, September 28, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Roy.

Registration

Families with children in at least Grade Two preparing for their First Communion are invited to pick up a registration package from Fr. Roy after any Saturday evening or Sunday morning Mass in September. Please note: registration packages are only available in-person.

Registration deadline is September 28, 2025.

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