First Holy Communion

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Please see below the information from St Mark's Parish re First Holy Communion 2020.

Kind regards,

Deirdre NI Bhroin

The Parishes of

St. Mark’s Springfield / St. Aidan’s, Brookfield / St. Thomas the Apostle, Jobstown

St. Mark’s Church, Maplewood Road, St. Aidan’s Church, Brookfield Road St. Thomas the Apostle Church Church of the Incarnation, Kilcarrig

Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tallaght, Dublin 24 Jobstown, Dublin 24 Avenue, Fettercairn, Dublin 24

Tel: (01) 462 0777 Tel: (01) 4523595 Tel: (01) 4523595 Tel: (01) 4620777

Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s),

We pray you and your family are finding a way through these difficult days. You may know that our parish team operates across three parishes with four churches and works with twelve primary schools in our gathering of parishes. We are exceptionally grateful to our school communities (especially our principals) who have co-operated so generously with us in putting this schedule of First Holy Communion Masses together.

We ask you to pray each day with your child as they prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time. Due to the large number of ceremonies, our limited resources and current covid-19 regulations First Holy Communion Masses will be simpler, but no less beautiful than previous years. Please remember the heart of First Holy Communion (and every Mass) is receiving the living presence of Jesus in the Sacrament.

Please Read and Observe strictly the following information:

• All ceremonies are contingent on the current regulations still being in place. Unfortunately, changes in regulations may mean Masses being changed or postponed again, but hopefully this won’t happen.

• Strictly only two adults will be permitted with each child. Parents and child will be guided to seat and will sit together in a ‘pod’ of three. Please be seated at least ten minutes before Mass.

• First Holy Communion Masses will be held for each school on a class by class basis. Please note times / dates for Masses are being allocated on the basis of the children’s CURRENT class group (third class), according to the third class teacher’s name.

• Please check carefully for the time/ date/church of your child’s Mass.

• We are not in a position to change/swap the dates/times of any child’s allocated Mass.

We look forward to celebrating this beautiful occasion with you and your children in the coming weeks. Please God, for all of us, it will be a beautiful faith celebration of light in the darkness.

Yours sincerely,

Fr. Pat McKinley

(Moderator-Springfield, Belgard, Fettercairn, Brookfield, Jobstown)

On behalf of the parish team

P.S. – if you go to the I-Catholic website and select ‘Sacraments’ from the menu, you will find three useful videos to help your children prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion