First Holy Communion 2026 A view through the lens

Our parish at Brandon, joyfully celebrated its First Holy Communion Mass on 20th June 2026 at 11am, marking a special milestone in the faith journey of our young parishioners. Children who had prepared diligently through months of catechesis received the Holy Eucharist for the first time during the Mass. The church was filled with families, friends, and parish members who gathered to witness and celebrate this sacred occasion. The Mass was led by Fr. Anil Zachery, who encouraged the communicants to continue growing in faith, prayer, and love for Christ. The young communicants participated actively in the liturgy through readings, prayers, and hymns. The beautifully decorated church reflected the joy and significance of this important sacramental celebration. Parents, catechists, and volunteers were thanked for their dedication in preparing the children for this memorable day. The congregation joined together in prayer, asking God’s blessings upon the children as they received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time. The celebration concluded with fellowship and photographs, creating cherished memories for the communicants and their families. This First Holy Communion Mass stands as a joyful reminder of our parish’s commitment to nurturing faith and strengthening our community in Christ. 

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 First Holy Communion - Class of 2026    

Congratulations to our First Communicants who received the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Saturday, 20th June.

Alex, Amelia, Cosette, Diego, Hailee, Isla, Jan, Julia, Logan and Nikola

         Our First Holy Communion programme, which ran from January to the end of June, was a wonderful journey of faith shared by these 10 children - aged between 7 and  12 years old. 

From the beginning of this project they showed enthusiasm and a real desire to learn about God and their Catholic faith. Their questions were thoughtful and they showed an impressive ability to remember what they had learned from week to week. They embraced every aspect of the programme with joy - singing  wholeheartedly, learning their prayers with confidence, while developing an understanding of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are proud to  have taught them all. 

 The First Holy Communion Mass on Saturday, 20th June was a fitting celebration of all they had achieved. Fr. Anil led the children in the renewal of their Baptismal Vows. They carried their Baptismal Candles to the altar and made firm, clear responses -  affirming their faith. The Bidding Prayers we had worked on were truly memorable, and were delivered  by each child with confidence and enthusiasm.   

 Later, the children received Holy Communion with reverence, making this a meaningful occasion for everyone present. 

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the commitment of the  parents, who supported their children throughout the programme and prepared them so well before the course even began. 

We are also very grateful to Elizabeth, our wonderful altar server who gave her time to support us. And thanks to several parishioners from both our churches, who came forward offering generous amounts of time and talent to lead the inspiring music and singing  of the Mass of Corpus Christi, and to our photographer who memorialised all  aspects of the morning’s celebration with care and attention to detail. Finally, thanks to those from our parish who supported the children and families with their  presence at Mass on such a special day - adding to the joy of the occasion.