Children's First Holy Communion Preparation
A child’s preparation for their first Reconciliation and first Holy Communion is a very important stage on their journey of faith. Parents and carers are the main teachers of faith to their children, and our priests and catechists want to support parents and carers in their faith.
How do I enrol my child for the preparation programme?
Enrolment is now closed for 2021-22. Information on the First Holy Communion programme for 2022-23 will be available in Summer 2022.
When can my child make their first Holy Communion?
Our first Reconciliation and first Holy Communion programme is open to children in school Year 3 and above.
Children participate in the programme to learn about their faith and then they make their first Holy Communion at the end of the programme, in early Summer.
Children participate in the programme to learn about their faith and then they make their first Holy Communion at the end of the programme, in early Summer.
When and where does the preparation programme take place?
- For families attending St Peter’s, Witterings, the sessions take place at St Peter’s Church on Sunday morning.
- For families attending St Wilfrid's, Selsey, the sessions will take place on Wednesday afternoons.
- For all other families, sessions take place on Saturdays at St Richard's, and each session is followed by a first Holy Communion Preparation Sunday Mass on the same weekend.
What happens during the sessions?
We use a programme called Growing Up Catholic. It gives parents/carers the opportunity to teach their own children and discuss their faith with them, with support and guidance from catechists.