2021 Communion and Confirmation
Fr. Tod dropped in to Newport NS today with an update on Communion and Confirmation for last year's 2nd and 6th classes - see below (also available to download as pdf)
September 6th 2021
Re. First Communion / Confirmation 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this note finds you well and settled back into some sort of normality.
As you are probably aware today, Sept 6th, sees the lifting of several Government Covid 19 restrictions.
In terms of Church life, the easing of restrictions allows for the celebration of the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation and for congregations of up to 50% capacity to attend in churches. The raising of the capacity means that only one ceremony of First Communion and one Confirmation Ceremony will need to be celebrated in Newport.
We propose to go ahead with First Communion in Newport Church for students of Newport NS and Cuilmore NS at 2pm on Saturday September 18th. . First Communion for students of Mulranny NS will take place in Mulranny Church on Saturday, September 25th at 1pm.
Confirmation for all children will be celebrated in Newport Church at 2pm on Sunday, September 19th.
I am aware of the short notice and that these dates may not suit everyone but taking into account the availability of churches I think it is important to allow the children to celebrate the Sacraments as early as possible in the school year. Where families find themselves with previous commitments on the proposed dates alternative arrangements will be made for the sacrament to be celebrated during Sunday Mass at some point in October.
Covid restrictions still mean that the ceremony will be much simpler than in previous years. Movement within the church will be limited and children will not be invited to read or bring forward gifts or symbols. The children will however come forward as a group to the sanctuary after communion to sing ‘This is the Day’. In keeping with public health guidelines masks must be worn by all adults in the Church.
A short meeting will be held in Newport Church on the evening of Thursday 16th to run through the seating arrangements and the ceremony itself. Each child and one parent/guardian is invited to attend. Those making their First Communion in Newport will meet at 6.30pm with those making their Confirmation meeting at 7.30pm. A meeting for First Communion children in Mulranny will take place on Thursday 23rd at 6.30pm.
In celebrating both First Communion and Confirmation we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep everyone safe. Numbers permitted to attend will be limited to 7 per family ie. the child receiving the Sacrament plus six others. Each family will be assigned a particular pew and families are asked to remain in their own 'bubble' for the duration.
It has been a year of starts and stops, of hopes and disappointments. Thank you for your patience and your continued cooperation.
God Bless,
Fr Tod
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