First Communion and First Reconciliation

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First Holy Communion 2023
First Holy Communion will take place this Spring and parents may choose from several dates and times: May 13 at 10:30am or 12:30pm; May 20 at 4pm during Mass; May 21 at 9am or 11am at Regular Mass. Check your email for the sign up genius. Opportunities are available for individuals with special needs, who are unable to celebrate with a group. For families with special requests, please reach out to us at sosreligioused@staroftheseamarblehead.org.

First Communion Retreat
We will be holding a Retreat on Saturday, May 6 from 9:30am - 12:30pm in the Parish Center. If you can volunteer to help on this special day, please reply. If your child cannot make the retreat please let us know.

First Communion Attire
Girls: White dress, white shoes and head piece. Head pieces are available for purchase at the Parish Center for $10 each.
Boys: Navy blue jacket, tan/khaki pants, button down white collared shirt, white tie and dress shoes (no sneakers, please). White ties are available for purchase at the Parish Center for $10 each.
Parish Center hours: Monday - Wednesday, 9:00AM - 2:00PM

Banners
At the May 6 First Communion Retreat each child will make a banner that he/she will carry in and then display on their family's designated pew. Kits may be purchased online if you are not able to attend the Retreat. 

May Crowning
On Sunday, May 14, Mother’s Day, all First Communion students are invited to return in their First Communion clothes for the 9:00am Mass for the May procession and the crowning of the Blessed Mother in the Grotto outside (weather permitting). At the conclusion of Mass, the children process outside to the statue of the Blessed Mother and a crown will be placed on her head. What a beautiful ceremony!

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a requirement in order for students to take their First Communion.
First Reconciliation for our 2nd graders took place on Saturday, December 10, 2022. 
If your child was unable to attend First Reconciliation in December, you may bring them to the start time of any Saturday Confession in the Church at 2:30pm. Please make sure you let the priest know that your child is there for 1st Reconciliation, and once done, please email the Religious Education Office at sosreligioused@staroftheseamarblehead.org so we can update our records. Please reach out to the Rectory by calling 781-631-0086 (Monday - Thursday, 9am - 3pm / Friday 9am - 12Noon) if you are unable to attend at any of these times. 

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First Holy Communion 2022
First Holy Communion was held at Our Lady, Star of the Sea on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
​Please click here to see 2022 First Communion pictures.

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What is Reconciliation?

Reconciliation is the 2nd of 7 sacraments. The 1st is Baptism, and the 3rd is Communion. Sin is like carrying around a backpack all the time. Each time we sin, it is like adding another stone to the backpack. Sin weighs us down and makes it hard for us to feel good about ourselves. Carrying sin can make it hard to make good decisions and to be kind to others. To successfully do reconciliation, we must first reflect on your actions. We should ask: “What would Jesus like me to do?” Some examples of sin are lying, holding a grudge, or stealing. After we identify things we are doing wrong, we can then ask for forgiveness. Even though God knows what sins we have committed, He gives us free will, and a conscience, so when our conscience is heavy, He wants us to talk it over with him and ask Him for forgiveness. It is a very important part of holding ourselves accountable, because our private sin is public to God.
 
There are 5 parts to complete Reconciliation:
1 – Conscience  (Examine yours to identify your sins)
2 – Contrition    (You feel bad because you have done wrong)
3 – Confession    (Tell God or a Priest)
4 – Consequence    (What you  must do to make things right and be forgiven)
5 – Change    (Try to do better in the future. Remember to forgive others, because you know others are not perfect either)
 
How to Confess to a Priest
Plan in advance what you want to confess. It’s OK to write down what you need to say. After Confession, remember to go back to your seat, kneel, pray and reflect for a while.

What is First Communion?

Communion is the 3rd of 7 sacraments. The 1st is Baptism, and the 2nd is Reconciliation. First Communion is a sacred moment for our second-grade students. In celebrating the Sacrament First Eucharist (First Communion), our Communicants receive, for the first time, Jesus, in Holy Communion. They are sheep joining Jesus’ flock, in a new way. In preparation to meet Jesus in Holy Communion, our young Communicants ask Jesus’ forgiveness of their sins during their First Reconciliation. The cup of blessing that we share during Holy Communion makes us one in the very life of Jesus; the bread that we eat together in memory of Him is also a sharing in His life. There are many of us, yet we are one body because we all share the same wine and the same bread.​