November 24th - First Communion
Six weeks of preparation for the reception of the two sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation reached their goal on Sunday November 24th, the feast of Christ The King, when four boys of our parish received Holy Communion for the first time.
All four, Thomas Whitehead, Michael McAvoy, Michael Knight and James Cantley have attended the classes each week, where the teaching from school and the example from home have been augmented by further instruction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation took place for them on Saturday 23rd November, followed by a small celebration in the presbytery.
On Sunday, despite the grey and dismal weather outside, the church was warm and welcoming; the altar bright with candles and adorned with flowers.Let us ask every member of the parish to pray for a deepening of their faith for each first communicant and that this seed of faith in the love of God, shown to us through Jesus, will grow to maturity in each person. These young people are the future of the church, so let us all help and encourage them in their journey of faith through life. We welcome them with great joy into a fuller participation in the life of the family of God. Fr.Pannell presented certificates to the boys who went off happily to celebrate with their families. It was lovely to be able to welcome the relatives into church.
Here are a selection of photographs, if you would like to see larger, more detailed versions of them then please click on the links under 'Larger picture'. The full size versions are nolonger on the web site due to restrictions of space, but if you would like copies of them please contact Kate.
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Big brother David with James, the first communicant | 31KB 10 sec. |
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Michael, the first communicant, with his little brother Matthew | 31KB 10 sec. |
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Thomas Vincent, first communicant | 96KB 30 sec. |
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Father Pannell presenting the communion certificates | 29KB 10 sec. |
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James, Michael, Thomas and Michael | 30KB 10 sec. |
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Welcome to the new communicants | 28KB 10 sec. |
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Michael, Michael, James and Thomas | 35KB 10 sec. |
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otherwise known as the famous four | 39KB 10 sec. |
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The Cantley family... | 41KB 10 sec. |
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....are joined by Father Pannell | 37KB 10 sec. |
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James Cantley with the whole family | 38KB 10 sec. |
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Father Pannell with the two Michaels | 25KB 10 sec. |
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The two Michaels and families | 39KB 10 sec. |