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By: Nidhi Elezabeth Thomas
Pope Francis said "First Communion is above all, a celebration. We celebrate Jesus, who wants to remain always by our side".
On August 16th, seven young members in the SMCB community celebrated Jesus by receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion. This was made possible only through the wholehearted efforts of our Achan, CCD teachers and their parents during a year when uncertainty continues to reign supreme.
On any other year, the First Communion would have been held in May. With the surge in the COVID-19 cases during that time, there was no way that the celebration could go ahead as planned. As the state started seeing a decline in cases, it was decided to celebrate the First Communion in August via live streaming. This was a welcome announcement to the anxious parents and first communicants alike. Everything from spiritual preparation to the Communion day's agenda was restrategized. It was all hands on deck! The support and guidance provided by the SMCB community was overwhelming. Achan, Fr. Pinto, Fr. Jilson, Sisters of St. Martha's convent, CCD teachers - Sr. Lincy & Tresa deserve a special mention in making this event a memorable one. The ceremony of First Communion, 2020 unfolded beautifully on Aug 16th, filled with joy and gratitude!
This feature introduces you to the First Communicants of 2020 and most importantly communion moments they will hold onto dearly.
Austin K Ajai will always remember his First Communion as the first time he received God wholly into his life. As part of the ceremony, Austin liked wearing the mask for the communion, as it was the most distinguishing characteristic that set apart his communion from the others before this year. He also enjoyed recording the videos which were telecasted as part of the live mass. After so many months in lock-down, Austin was grateful for the small family get-together that was held to celebrate his milestone moment.
Parents - Ann and Ajai , remember the preparation period as a walk in faith together as a family. With remote guidance provided by the CCD teachers, they took it as an opportunity to recite prayers and read the Bible together. This was a great source of support for Austin.
By the Act of receiving communion for the first time, Gabriel Joseph Jose realized that Jesus was a part of him now. It was a day of celebration! Gabriel loved the fact that his older cousins from India sent him screen captures of the YouTube live mass telecast, every time he was on. He also enjoyed an evening out with his family, a first after so many months.
Parents - Shiju and Jyothis, really appreciated the way the events were organized. Both of them had wished for their moms to grace this occasion with their physical presence. Nevertheless, they were filled with immense joy when Gabriel was able to speak to and receive blessings from his doting grandmothers before he went to Church for the Communion Mass. Those moments will be etched in their hearts forever.
By receiving the First Communion, Joshua John Kannalil got this beautiful awareness of being closer to God’s steadfast love. How precious is that! Joshua knew that he could take comfort under His protection. He was extremely happy to have received personal prayers, wishes and lovely gifts from his near and dear ones.
Parents - Binu and Mellu were amazed by the joy and calm disposition shown by Joshua while going through the ceremonial steps on the day of the First Communion. They knew something had changed within Joshua.
Michael Joseph has always been curious to know the importance of being called to the Lord’s Table. The preparation for Communion revealed the sanctity and importance of the sacrament. He was excited to join the line with the rest of the parishioners, from that day forward.
With a 6 month old baby, Parents - Anil and Tijna had their hands full. Yet, the moments of Michael receiving his First Communion were filled with peace and calm. Michael is the first child in the family to receive this sacrament, making this a much awaited occasion.
Nile Joseph Kantamkulathy had been eagerly waiting to receive Confirmation and Communion ever since he saw his 2 sisters - Ashna and Nia receive the sacraments. Apart from the learning and video shoots, he also liked stepping into his formal attire for the final day. Nile was so happy that his friends and cousins were supporting him from afar, by watching the live telecast of the First Communion Mass. It truly made his day special.
For parents - Joymon and Printa, Nile’s first communion marked a milestone as Nile is the youngest of their three children. It felt as if the family had completed a rite of passage.
It was during Confirmation that Rhea Maria Valantra started feeling the presence of Christ and was moved by this spirit of holiness within her. While partaking the bread for the first time, she felt more than ready to welcome His presence.The captivating hymn “In Christ Alone” has a special place in Rhea’s heart. This song became even more memorable for her when the same song was chosen for a group video to be telecasted out, as part of her First Communion celebrations. She got to share these sweet moments with her CCD classmates.
Parents - Anthony and Teresa, were so touched by the helping hands in the SMCB community, to make this ceremony an unforgettable one. They had the most memorable experience!
For Rian K Sebastian, the preparation for First Communion engaged him to address his questions and reflect on why this sacrament was important for his walk with Jesus. When he received communion for the first time, he was prepared to welcome the Lord’s presence in his life with open arms. Rian felt happy that he could now always receive the Eucharist from this time forward.
Parents - Rexy and Anu had very much hoped to have a social gathering to celebrate Rian’s rite of passage. However, they could not be happier about the fact that their extended family was in full attendance for the virtual Communion celebrations. Rian’s first communion was probably the first in their families’ history to record such a big online turnout.
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