St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
June 15,2020
Dear Families,

It seems like it was a very long spring and now it is summer, but we finally have the clearance from the Archdiocese to schedule First Communion dates!  I know that you and your child will be very excited.

This information is for families expecting to celebrate at St. Emily.  For the information at St. Thomas Becket, please contact Renata Sosin.

The celebrations will be a bit different than we expected, but the important thing is that they are going to happen.

Here are the details:
  • The dates for these First Communion masses are Saturday, July 18 at 1:00 PM and Saturday, July 25 at 1:00 PM.
  • There will be a strict limit of 33 maximum candidates at each mass.
  • Each family group can total six people - the candidate and five others.  We need the names of all attendees when you sign up for the date. (There is a contact tracing requirement in the church reopening protocol.)
  • The family and candidate will be assigned a pew, which will be at a required distance from any other family.
  • Sign ups are available here.
Some additional details to note:
  • There will be rehearsals on Thursdays, July 16 and July 23 at 6:30 PM.  (Two days before the celebration you select.)  Only the candidate and one adult may attend the rehearsal.
  • We will have a photographer available to take posed pictures in the Hall, as well as pictures during the ceremony.
  • You can drop your child off in the Hall at 11:45 AM on the day of the ceremonyto begin the photography.
  • If you have items you would like to have blessed, Fr. Presta will do so right before the mass.  Just leave them with your child in the Hall.
  • All persons in your family group will need to come to the church and be checked in by a volunteer.  Everyone over the age of two must wear a mask.
  • Receiving communion will proceed a bit differently.  Please review these guidelines and practice with your child.  It is more complex with a mask on.  I would suggest walking through it several times.  If your daughter will be wearing a veil, have her practice with the veil on, so that she doesn't tangle it with the mask.
  • We will not be able to allow pictures after the mass in the church.  You may take pictures outside as long as you wait in socially distanced lines to gather at our St. Emily shrine or the Blessed Mother shrine.  We will have volunteers in those locations to assist you.
Some answers to anticipated questions:
  • What if we can't make either of those dates?  We understand that this is not the year long notice that you usually get.  We can arrange for your child to make First Communion at another mass, if that is necessary.
  • Why are we so limited on attendance? In order to maintain a socially distant margin in the building, we are limited to an attendance of 200, which works out almost exactly to six persons per family group.
  • What about illness? If anyone in your family group is not feeling well, or is running a fever, it is essential that he or she stay home.  If the candidate is ill, we'll arrange another date for his or her First Communion. 
  • What about live streaming? The mass will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube, so family members unable to attend can still participate from afar.
  • What about the banner?  If you made a banner - or would still like to make one - here are the instructions.  You will bring it the day of the ceremony and we will give you the sticky tack to hang it on your family pew.
As we wait, I would like to underscore that you are more important than ever in preparing your child for the sacraments.
  • You can review the material in the First Communion book with your child.  You might want to view the videos and see the lessons that we supplied.  You can find all the previous newletters linked here.
  • You are the one who can help your child to pray and to follow the mass online. 
  • Your example of patient waiting is the key in helping your child  keep alive the joy and anticipation of receiving the sacraments.
postcommunionPrayer to say after receiving Communion

In this time of waiting, it makes sense to continue to work on a prayer to say after receiving Communion.  It reinforces that the day will come - although we don't know quite when.  These prayers are not that specific, and can be prayed at any time.

Of course, we can pray however we want after communion, but I have found that for children, having something definite 'in reserve' is a comforting thing for them.  

On page four of Prayers, Practices.... (a handbook for parents and families in our program) there is a choice of three prayers. All of these are honored in our tradition. 

Please choose one with your child and say it each night. You can remind your child that they are preparing for something wonderful and that this is a way to both anticipate that event and thank God for it.  

rosary
Rosary
Makes a Wonderful First Communion Gift


We have commissioned rosaries for the parish of St. Emily.  Available with either blue or brown beads, these were crafted in Italy.  The crucifix is modeled on the one that hangs in the church and St. Emily is on the center medal.

This would make a great First Communion gift for any communicant.

These are available at the St. Emily parish office for $25.00 each.


missal missal2Buying a Missal for Your Child

At our meeting, I suggested that you might want to buy a missal for your child now.  It will help him or her to learn the mass prayers as s/he follows along. 

to buy the missal.

Bringing their 'special book' to church is an encouragement and great assist for children in learning the prayers of the mass and how to follow along.

Quick Links
St. Emily Parish
Catherine Crino, DRE
847-299-5865
St. Thomas Becket Parish
Renata Sosin, CRE
847-296-9051
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