First Communion

Welcome to our Our First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion programme! At St Augustine’s, we are blessed to have a large number of children making their First Holy Communion each year. Receiving the Eucharist for the first time is an important step in deepening your child’s relationship with Jesus and the Church. We hope that the period of preparation provides an opportunity for your whole family to grow in faith.

The programme is open to all children in Year 4 and above. We use a resource called I Belong. The preparation is done through: 

• Seven sessions of catechesis given at church.

• Work to be completed by the child at home with their parent/guardian.

• A number of liturgies (mostly Sunday Mass).

Our programme is more than just the imparting of information, it is the handing on of our faith. For this reason, each of these elements are essential for a successful First Communion.

Each catechesis session is run by our team of volunteers in small groups. These sessions are usually held from 6pm to 7pm on Thursday evenings. We ask that Children are dropped off and collected from the Church. While the Children are having their catechesis sessions, we ask that parents remain in the Church for their own sessions with Fr Tony.

Below is a breakdown of each one of the catechetical sessions. Our programme is done in partnership with the Child's parents/carers, so we expect that the chapters you are responsible for reading are completed before the next session with your child’s catechist.

Preparing for Reconciliation

• Session 1 – Introduction to the programme. Catechists will work through Chapter 1 with the children.

  • Parents/Carers must then complete Chapter 2 with their child at home.

• Session 2 – Catechists will work through Chapter 3 with the children.

• Session 3 – Catechists will work through Chapter 4 with the children and practice individual reconciliations with the children. 

Preparing for Holy Communion

• Session 4 – Catechists will work through Chapter 5 with the children.

  • Parents/Carers must then complete Chapter 6 with their child at home.

• Session 5 – Catechists will work through Chapter 7 and 8 with the children.

• Session 6 – Catechists will work through Chapter 9 with the children.

• Session 7 – Catechists will work through Chapter 10 with the children. 

  • Parents/Carers must then complete Chapter 11 with their child at home.

Below you can find the dates of the catechetical sessions, First Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion. If you have any questions, please contact our lead Catechist: Brenda Sanderson (tel – 07900895123).

Programme Sessions for Reconciliation Preparation (Meet in the church at 5.50pm)

• Session 1 - Thursday 9th January 2025

• Session 2 - Thursday 23rd January 2025

• Session 3 - Thursday 30th January 2025 Parents Session

• Mass - Sunday 26th January 2025, 9.15am

• First Reconciliation - Saturday 8th February 2025, 10.00am

Programme sessions for First Holy Communion Preparation (Meet in the church at 5.50pm)

• Session 4 - Thursday 20th March 2025

• Mass - Sunday March 23rd 2025, 9.15am

• Session 5 - Thursday 1st May 2025 Parents Session

• Mass - Sunday 4th May 2025, 9.15am

• Session 6 - Thursday 8th May 2025

• Session 7 -  Thursday 5th June 2025

• Practice for First Holy Communion Mass - Thursday 12th June 2025 at 6pm

• First Holy Communion Mass - Saturday 14th June 2025, 10.00am

• Mass for children to receive their certificates - Sunday 22nd June 2025, 9.15am

Parents to see Fr Tony in church during Session 3 and Session 5