First Holy Communion Programme 2026
Holy Communion
The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, nourishes us for the rest of our days on earth. As Christians together we make up the mystical Body of Christ; in celebrating the Eucharist we unite ourselves with Jesus Christ our Head. Jesus said: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever.'
The Eucharist is described as the source and summit of the Christian life. It is the origin for all our prayer, worship and activity, and it is the goal of everything we do. This is because in celebrating the Eucharist, we enter into communion with Christ himself, whose body and blood, soul and divinity are given to us under the form of bread and wine.
Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. On the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus took bread and wine and spoke of them as being now his body and blood: signs of a new and everlasting Covenant between God and people which he was to establish by his death on the cross the following day.
Faithful to Jesus' command to 'do this in memory of me', the Church continues to take bread and wine and to speak Christ's words of consecration over them.
Children are prepared for their First Holy Communion when they reach Year 3 or above at school. We run a preparation course for children and their parents each year from January until June.
Details for First Holy Communion Programme 2026
Our First Holy Communion Mass will take place on Sunday 7 June 2026 at 1400hrs.
The course proper begins with the children’s enrolment at 10.30 Mass on Sunday 11 January 2026 and the first session will be that same afternoon on 14.00 starting in the SG Hall. There are six sessions in total, each lasting 2 hours. While the children are attending their session, parents are expected to attend a session held in the church meeting room at the same time.
During the course, the children and their families will have a day of pilgrimage to Walsingham with our Bishop and other young families from across the diocese on Tuesday 26 May 2026. This is an integral part of the preparation programme and not optional. Note this date falls in the summer half term.
Children being prepared for First Holy Communion and their families are expected to attend one of our Sunday (or Saturday vigil) Masses each weekend. Mass times can be found on our homepage and in our newsletter.
Registration
Years 3 - 6
Registration for our First Holy Communion preparation programme is now open and should be done online. Children should be in Year 3 or above (up to and including Year 6) for the current academic year (2025-26).
There will be a meeting for registered parents and children on Sunday 14 December at 14.00 in the SG Hall. Registration must be made online prior to this meeting as we need to order books.
Years 7 and 8
For children in Years 7 and 8 please contact the parish office directly or Fr Walter for a separate arrangement.
Years 9 and above
If your child is now in Year 9 or above and has not yet made their first holy communion kindly talk to Fr Walter.
Registration costs is £20 per child. Kindly bring the registration fee on the 14th of December when you come for the first meeting.
You will be asked to upload a digital copy of your child’s baptism certificate. If you are unable to do this make sure you show a copy to the parish priest by the end of the second session once the course has begun.
Late registration
Late registration will not be permitted and should you miss registration, your child will have to wait until the following year’s preparation course.
Registration priority is given to children living in the parish or regularly attending one of our churches.