First Communion Preparation

Session 1:  Belonging

October 27, 2002

Each year the youth of our parish prepare with their parents for the celebration of their First Communion when they receive the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus for the first time.  Parents and candidates meet once a month from October to April.  The following are some highlights of this preparation:  

to view each picture in a larger format, please click on the thumbnail:

When the children are dismissed from Mass, they come directly to class.  Here they mix plaster of paris as a sign of their diversity and individuality united by the waters of baptism to become part of the Church.		Saliendo de la misa, los niños vengan directamente a la charla.  Aquí estan mesclando una arena con agua como símbolo de su diversidad y unidad en las aguas bautismales a pertenecer a la Iglesia.
Mrs. Bousquet measures the water into the premeasured cups of plaster mix for the children to mix themselves.		Señora Bousquet medida el agua dentro las copas de los niños para mesclar con la arena.
While the children are busy at their lesson, Sor Estella instructs the parents at an adult level.		Con los niños ocupados en sus estudias, Sor Estella enseña a los padres al nivel de los adultos.
Fr. Peter shares the story first with the children in the Spanish class for them to leave in time for their liturgy.		Padre Peter cuenta el cuento con los niños primeramente que ellos pueden salir y llegar a la misa al tiempo.
Mrs. Ortiz instructs the group in Spanish on the meaning of the story and its application to our lesson.		Señora Ortiz enseña al grupo en español que significa el cuento y su aplicación a la charla.
Music for our sessions is provided by the very capable Mrs. Goodnow.		La música en ingles esta providado por la Señora Goodnow.
Mrs. Goodnow teaches the children a new song, We Are the Church.		Señora Goodnow enseña un nuevo cantico, Somos la Iglesia.
When the large group arrives after the 10 AM Mass, the story of The Ugly Duckling is told again to the group.		Con el grupo llega después de la misa a las 10 AM, Padre Peter cuenta el cuento del Patito Feo.
To reinforce the lesson, the parents help the children to cover their hands with paint to make handprints.		Para ayudar la enseñanza, los padres ayuden los niños a cubrir sus manos con peinture.
There is a variety of colors to pick from as each child makes their individual selection and the parents assist.		Hay una variedad de colores y cada niño los selecciona y los asisten.
One of the dads assists his child in keeping the hands steady and make a clear handprint on the cloth for the altar.		Un padre ayuda a segurar las manos claramente con peinture sobre el mantel.
As parents and children come forward the cloth fills.		Los padres y niños se presentan a pintar el mantel.
Each pairing of parents and child take a turn.		El mantel se llena de las manos de los niños.
The cloth becomes filled with the handprints of our children, each an individual, each a unique gift to the Body of Christ.		Llenado con las manos de los niños, nos recuerden que cada uno es un individual y un regalo al Cuerpo de Cristo.

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