First Holy Communion 2027
These are the arrangements for the next First Holy Communion preparation programme:
Baptised Catholic Children who will be in School Years 3, 4 or 5 from September 2026 will be invited to ‘sign up’ for First Holy Communion 2027.
Our ‘sign-up Sunday’ will be on 13th September and takes place after 9.15am and 11.15am Masses.
We can accommodate 40 children and our over-subscription criteria for places will give priority to children in this order:
Those children who attend Sunday Mass at St Joan of Arc and live:
- In the geographical boundary of St Joan of Arc.
- In the geographical boundary of the HUB of Heath End and Ash.
- In the geographical boundary of the wider Guildford Catholic Parish*.
- Across the Diocesan Border, in the Diocese of Portsmouth (i.e. Hampshire)**.
- Any other Catholic children***.
*your community Parish Priest may be consulted.
**you may be sent to your Parish Priest for his permission.
***subject to places and at Fr. Simon’s discretion.
If you think you are ready for First Holy Communion, make sure now that Sunday Mass is the ‘source and summit’ of your week, as the children and the Catholic parent will need to be at Mass each Sunday and from 20th September, you will sign in each week. Each child will be issued with a ‘Sunday Mass passport’ to be signed and stamped each week to show attendance. These will be returned after Mass on Sunday 6th December. Those showing at least 75% attendance will be accepted onto the formation programme beginning in January 2027, comprising of two Parents-only Sessions, catechetical sessions and coursebooks.
What does the First Holy Communion Programme Involve?
It involves preparation for both First Confession and First Holy Communion.
The children and the catholic parent should be at Mass every Sunday (The 9.15am Family Mass is recommended).
There will be 3 or 4 sessions with a team of catechists running from January to Mass, these will follow the 9.15am Mass on specified dates which will be given to you when you come to ‘sign up’ Sunday on 13th September.
For more information, please contact the parish office farnham@abdiocese.org.uk or Tel: 01252 716711.