First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
“For Holy Communion to be administered to children, it is required that they have sufficient knowledge and be accurately prepared, so that according to their capacity they understand what the mystery of Christ means, and are able to receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion”.
First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion Programme (2026–2027)
Our First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion programme is for children in School Year 3 and above who are active members of the Catholic community and regularly participate at Sunday Mass with their families.
As with all sacramental preparation programmes, families are expected to be registered parishioners of Holy Cross Parish, Parsons Green. Families who regularly attend another Catholic parish are welcome to apply, provided they obtain a letter of consent from their parish priest.
Enrolment
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Enrolment opens: September 2026
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Enrolment closes: End of November 2026
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Programme begins: End of December 2026
Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and numbers may be limited depending on the availability of volunteer catechists.
A copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate will be required at the time of enrolment.
Programme Format
The programme consists of 12 Sunday catechetical sessions (with breaks during Christmas, Easter and school half-terms).
Each session includes:
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9:00 am – Family Mass (attendance forms an essential part of the preparation)
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10:00–11:00 am – Children’s catechesis (including a 10 mins break after Mass)
Children are encouraged to participate actively in the Family Mass through the joining our choir, the offertory procession, or by reading the Prayers of the Faithful. Our Family Mass provides a joyful and welcoming environment for all families.
First Reconciliation celebrations usually take place on two Saturday mornings shortly before Easter, while the First Holy Communion celebrations are normally held in mid-May. A full programme, including all dates, will be published when enrolment opens.
Supporting Parents
Preparing a child for the Sacraments is also a wonderful opportunity for parents to grow in their own faith. Throughout the programme we offer three online Parents’ Evenings, providing an opportunity to reflect together on our Catholic faith and our vocation as parents .
Volunteer Catechists
Our sacramental programmes rely on the generosity of parish volunteers. We are always looking for new catechist helpers and assistants. Full training and ongoing support are provided, so no previous experience is necessary. Many parents find that becoming involved not only enriches parish life but also allows them to accompany their own child’s spiritual journey with greater confidence and understanding.
The more volunteers we have, the more children we are able to welcome onto the programme. If you would like to find out more about becoming part of our catechetical team, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For further information, please contact our Catechetical Coordinator, Maria Pepe, at parsonsgreencat@rcdow.org.uk, or come and introduce yourself after the 9:00 am Family Mass on any Sunday.