Fr Leonard Dollentas
On Sunday, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, ten boys received Jesus for the first time. The parents were excited and overjoyed that after almost two years of preparations, they finally witnessed their boys receive the Holy Eucharist. Health restrictions of last year had limited the gathering inside the church and first communion was not possible. Fr Leonard Dollentas, chaplain of the English-speaking community who supervises the Sunday school catechism for the English community and preparation of the children for the first communion, celebrated the Mass. Fr Valnei Pedro Reghelin MCCJ and the Reverend Deacon Stephen Morgan were also present during the celebration.
The long preparation, however, has given the boys ample time to understand more the Sacrament they are receiving. The Eucharist is a gift that takes a lifetime to understand; it is a gift that requires a significant response from us, and therefore the Church takes care to make sure children are well prepared.
As one parent said: “This is a very important occasion for us because my son is receiving, for the first time, the body of Jesus Christ. He will receive Holy Communion every Sunday with us. Before, he would always complain why he is not allowed to receive Jesus.” By receiving Jesus during the Mass, Catholics become one with Christ and believe they will share in His eternal life.
In Catholic teaching, for the faithful to receive communion, he or she must be without mortal sin and in a state of grace. Traditionally, young Catholic children will make their first confession, or the Sacrament of Penance, at least a week before receiving their First Communion. At confession, the child will detail sins and misdeeds to a priest and receive a penance. The penance is usually in the form of prayers to be recited immediately after confession. Once one is absolved of sin, he is ready to make his First Communion.
Just before the confession day of the boys, one parent proudly declared: “My son spent long hours memorizing the steps of confession, that even during his sleep he prays the act of contrition.”
There is more to a child’s first communion than a nice outfit and a family party. While it is a cause for celebration, that is not what the occasion is about. The event means that the children have studied and understood, to the best of their ability, the mystery of transubstantiation, the changing of the substance of ordinary bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s body and blood. A child should also be able to tell the difference between Eucharistic bread and regular food. (Photo by David Ritchie)
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