First Communions

Any child in Year 4 or above, who has been baptised, is very welcome to take part in our preparation programme for first communion. You can join the programme at any time of the year. (If your child is not baptised and would like to receive Holy Communion they will need to be baptised first. Please click here to get in touch with our baptism co-ordinator, Chris Myles.)

The first step is to have a word with one of parish volunteers (catechists) at one of our Masses and ask for a registration form. 

Complete the registration form and return it at Mass to one of the catechists. You will also need to bring a copy of your child's baptism certificate. This can be obtained by contacting the parish where your child was baptised. If they were baptised at St Mark's or Holy Family you can click here to obtain a copy of the certificate.

You are invited to make a £20 donation when returning the registration form which will help to cover some of the cost of the booklets and worksheets that we will give you to help with the preparation. This is a suggested donation. Don't worry if you can't afford it.

When you hand in your registration form you will be given a booklet that will help your child to understand and follow the Mass.

You will also be given a resource for you to work through with your child. The resource is broken down into parts (3 leaflets and a booklet) that you collect as you come to Mass with your family. Once you have worked through one part of the resource with your child you will be able to exchange it at Mass for the next part. At a certain point your child will be ready to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation (First Confession).

When each part of the resource has been completed your child will be ready to receive their first communion and you can make a booking for them to receive their communion at a Mass of your choice. This can be for any time of the year and at any of the Thursday evening, Saturday evening or Sunday morning Masses that we celebrate each week in the parish - click here for the Mass times. The only restriction is that up to three children will be able to make their communion at any one Mass, so you may need to have a couple of dates in mind when you get to this point.