HOLY First Communion

This past weekend, my nephew and godson made his First Holy Communion.  

It was especially poignant for me since this celebration was held in the church of  my childhood.  The church where I have shared many family celebrations.

 
 
It is the church of my youth and young adulthood.  It's the church where I was married and the church that has celebrated the funeral Masses of two of my grandparents.

And although it is the same church, it is much different.  A few years ago, they underwent a major expansion and remodel.  The church went from a traditional altar in the front of with the pews lined up on either side with a long aisle to a church in-the-round configuration with pews surrounding the altar on three sides. 

I love that they maintained the original design integrity.  This church had some of the most beautiful stained glass windows.  Even though they bumped out one side of the church completely, they kept the original windows and reinstalled them with the new design.  

 
 

I'd forgotten just how beautiful they were.  This is the old Altar area (and the background for all of my wedding photos in the church.)  It is now considered the back of the church and this area is reserved for the  handicapped accessible area. 

The wall behind the altar used to be completely tiled.  A part of the design of the wall was a prayer that I would recite every time I attended Mass and I still say that very prayer every day of my life.  The wall looks a little bare to me now, though.

This is the current Altar.  That is the same Crucifix that hung above the old Altar (in front of my tiled prayer.) 

The priests of course where new to me as well.  I have to say, I've attended a great many First Communion services in my day, and this really was one of the best homilies I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.  This Pastor really made the significance of the event for these children come alive and he made it accessible to them.  It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Proud family.  That's my baby sister and her boys (all of them!) 

Proud grandparents, too.

 

The other great part of a First Communion Celebration- is the party afterwards!

Lots of good food and drink.  Time spent with friends and family.

All in all- it was a great weekend.  I hope all of the "Mother's" out there- had a beautiful day! 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

Comments

[lam]

Very nice post. Your nephew and youngest look like they could be siblings! And your parents look great. Florida must agree with them.

[Katie Nicoll]

I used to attend the first communion back when I was a kid - I was around 7 or 8 then. That was the first time I became interested in stained glass windows. I was amazed by our church's windows. Regards to your nephew and your grandson, and tell them to keep the faith strong.