“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever.” Jn 6:51
“The Eucharist is such a great gift. That’s why going to Mass is so important. Going to Mass not just to pray, but to receive Communion, the Bread and Body of Christ. It saves us, forgives us and it makes us one with the Father. How beautiful!”
Pope Francis on Holy Communion
This is advanced notice to those parents whose children will be in Year 4 as of September 2026 (8 years rising 9). First and foremost, the First Holy Communion Programme is for those families who are practicing Roman Catholics, which means weekly Mass attendance; and, that you live in the Cathedral Parish of St Mary & St Helen. This is an extremely important time in your child’s life, and their spiritual preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist should be treated with seriousness and total commitment. If you are not practicing your faith, please don’t waste our time.
If you are interested in your child taking part in the 2026/2027 programme, there is a parents‘ information evening on Tuesday, 6th October 2026 at 7.00pm in the Cathedral to explain the First Holy Communion and its requirements
It is important your child is registered on the programme before it commences.
| Dates | Time | Venue | Session details |
|---|---|---|---|
| SESSION 1 Saturday, 16th January 2027 | 9.15 am to 11.30 am | Cathedral, Parish Halls & Conference Centre | Family Mass followed by parent session (10 – 11 am) and children’s session (10 – 11.30 am) |
| Sunday 17th January 2027 | 9:30am | Cathedral | Mass |
| SESSION 2 Saturday, 6th February 2027 | 9.30 am to 11.00 am | Parish Halls & Upper Meeting Room | Children’s session |
| SESSION 3 Saturday, 6th March 2027 | 9.30 am to 10:15 am | Parish Halls & Conference Centre | Children’s session |
| Followed by FIRST RECONCILIATION Saturday, 6th March 2027 | 10.15 am to 11.30 am | Cathedral | Service of First Reconciliation Parents must be present for First Reconciliation. |
| SESSION 4 Saturday, 20th March 2027 | 9.30 am to 11.00 am | Parish Halls & Upper Meeting Room | Children’s session |
| SESSION 5 Saturday, 17th April 2027 | 9.30 am to 11.00 am | Parish Halls & Upper Meeting Room | Children’s session |
The Going Forth Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ at the 9.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday 30th May 2027.
This Mass must be attended by ALL children and families
Payment for the programme is £40.00 made payable via cash or cheque, please hand it into Clergy House, labelled with your child’s name and FHC 2027.
Online payments can also be made – please contact Clergy House for details
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF ALL DATES.
DATES FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION & REHEARSALS 2027
Saturday 15th May 2027 at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm (Rehearsal on Wednesday 12th May 2027 at 6.00 pm & 7.00 pm)
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ARRIVE IN GOOD TIME FOR THE SESSIONS SO THAT WE CAN START PROMPTLY
One of the joys we celebrate as a community is when our parish children receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time in their life. For them, it is the most sacred moment in their earthly lives and marks a deepening of their friendship with Christ.
Holy Communion preparation is for children (year 4 +) who are coming to Mass at the Cathedral with their families and are resident in the Cathedral parish. Applications for the preparation programme for 2022-23 has now closed.
Information about the 2023-24 preparation programme will be available next year.
Please register so that we know you wish to be part of the parish family and its mission. Even if you have registered in the past, we ask you to do so again in order that we can ensure that our parish database is up to date. Once you have registered we will be able to keep in contact with you and to inform you of all that is going on in the parish and how you might wish to be involved in our mission.
If possible, please set up a standing order to contribute to the running costs, work and mission of your parish family.
| Set up Standing Order WITH Gift Aid | Set up a Standing Order WITHOUT Gift Aid |
N.B. If you have any queries or need any help doing this please contact the parish office.
Once these stages have both been completed, please confirm that you have done so with the parish office.
I would ask you to do both these things before your children’s preparation sessions begin. Once these have both been completed, please confirm that you have done so with the parish office. If you have an queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please do not contact the volunteer catechists.
When human beings practice something (for example, playing an instrument, kicking a football or learning to drive a car) they do it repeatedly until their abilities develop and it becomes “second nature” to them. Of course, if you only practice occasionally or intermittently, it is unlikely to make much change to your ability or who you are.
Our human relationships, especially our friendships, call for practice. The more time we spend with a person and engage with them in profound ways, physically, emotionally and spiritually, then, the deeper the friendship is likely to be. This is why married couples often describe themselves as “best friends” or “soul mates”. While the people we spend less time with or are an occasional exchange of a text message are more likely to be described as acquaintances. Those relationships that have been broken by some event or those people we use only when we want something from them cannot be described as authentic friendships.
Our Catholic faith is about our personal friendship with Jesus, the Son of God. We believe that he waits for us weekly at Sunday Mass. It is through this sacred meeting that our friendship with him is nurtured and grows. It is there that Christ speaks to us as friends through his living word, the Sacred Scriptures, and feeds us with his own divine life in Holy Communion. And the reason Catholics call this “the practice of our faith” is because meeting Christ every week in this way, over time, deepens our relationship with him, changes us, and prepares us for that time when we will be with him eternally in heaven.
Please note that these sessions are only for parents who have enrolled their children on the preparation programme for 2022-23. We are not accepting any more children onto this programme.
