My view with Father Paddy O'Kane: Have first communions become a 'once off' religious occasion for some families?

Tony Blair and George Bush have a lot to answer for.

By invading Iraq on the false excuse of looking for ‘weapons of mass destruction’ as they called them, they destabilised the whole Middle East and this has led to the growth of ISIS and other forms of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism.

Pope John Paul II was among many world leaders who condemned this invasion. The western world has suffered ever since.

News has just come as I write about the terrible bomb attack on the innocent people of Manchester.

I’m told there were eleven young people from Derry there. Thank God, none were harmed.

However there at time of writing this, there are 22 dead and many more injured.

So many others traumatised. So many angry. So many worried, always looking over their shoulders and wondering when and where the next attack will come.

Hurt people hurt people who hurt people and this is how it has been back through the ages with war after war, reprisals and revenge.

When Christ said ‘Repent!’ to the people of his time he also said it for people of all ages to hear.

It comes from the French  ‘re-penser’ meaning ‘Think again. There is a better way’.

On the Cross he was soaking up the pain of the world and offering it a new way to think and live.  ‘Father forgive them’ he said.

Manchester has been home for Irish emigrants over the years and many people from both Derry and Donegal live there.

Let us keep the dead, all those who have suffered and all the people of Britain in our prayers as they try to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.  Mary Queen of Peace pray for us.

First and Last? - Communion

There are many reasons parents of all shades of faith and none are opting into First Communion for their children. Perhaps they see it as a natural expression of their Catholic identity.  Perhaps it is a meaningful spiritual celebration.

Or a harmless tradition keeping them in a club which for all its flaws – they’d rather remain part of.

Or they want to do it because everyone else is doing it.

Or because it’s easier to do it now and let the child decide later.

Or they don’t want their child singled out as different. Or they just want to throw a party. Then it’s reduced to an orgy of sentimentality and materialism with miniature brides and bouncy castles and bursting bank accounts.

It is in this context I have just written the following letter to the families of the children who are making their First Communion this year.

Dear Parent and family friends,

We are all looking forward to your child’s first Holy Communion on Saturday 3rd of June, this special day in the life of your child, your family and our church’s year.  When your child was baptised you promised to bring him/her up in the practice of the faith. That promise will only be kept if this is not a ‘’once off’’ occasion but the beginning of a new stage in his/her faith journey.  Simply put, you must bring him/her to back to Mass again every weekend after his/her First Communion. We normally have a special children’s’ liturgy at the 12.30 Mass which I recommend.

Secondly, a reverential silence will be expected during the Mass. It is not acceptable to engage in conversation at any time but most of all at Holy Communion. Please pass this request on to any relatives you may be inviting. I beg you to use this time by saying your own prayers and thanking God for all his blessings especially your child whose attitude to reverence in church and Holy Communion will be inherited from you and the kind of example you give. Please co-operate with St. Eithne’s primary school and the parish of Holy Family parish by  making this a faith-filled, wonderful day for your child.

Word of Wisdom

Children are like blotting paper – they soak up all they see and hear!

Some alternative definitions.

Vegetarian:   A good salad citizen.

Sarcasm:       Barbed ire

T:                    The difference between here and there.

Pasteurize:     Too far to see.

Net income:  The money earned by fishermen.

Locate:      Nickname for a short girl called Catherine.

Laplander:     An awkward man on a crowded bus.