First Holy Communion 1 May 2010

Today 16 people celebrated their First Holy Communion, after weeks of preparation in conjunction with St Joseph’s.   Our community of St Pius X school and St Philomena’s prepared the Liturgy, decorated our church with pew adornments, hanging drapes on the walls and rostrum, with a white hanging outlining the doorway. Our Come to the Table banner hung on the front wall.

Fr Craig Butler from St Joseph’s New Plymouth celebrated Mass with Altar Servers Josh D’Ath and Sacha Roylance.

The school delivered the  Readings with David Codd and Daniel Chow., with Prayers of the Faithful by Catherine Butler, Molly Tarrant,. William Johnsen. The school also provided the Greeters and Introduction with Molly Tyrrell,  Louis Tyrrell and William Johnsen doing the honours. The Offertory Procession was in the safe hands of Charlotte D’Ath, Jack Griffiths, Jared Sampson and Alex McNamara.

There was a special significance with this celebration in that mother and daughter Kirsty and Monique Slape received their First Holy Communion together, also Molly Butler, Patrick Butler, Frances Chow, Denay Clare, Nicholas Codd, Benjamin D’Ath, Ethan Griffiths, Jesse Guddopp, Theo Johnsen, Michael McNamara, Raquel Sampson, McGregor Smith, Robson Tarrant.

Fr Craig gave the homily sitting on the altar step with the first time recipients seated around him, hanging on to every word. The church was packed with a congregation over 230.

A sumptuous lunch in  school room 5 capped off a splendid Liturgy.

Click Photos to enlarge.

First Holy Communion Photos