Family and Youth Ministry

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion 2024-2025

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Preparation Programme AD 2024-2025

The North Bedford Catholic Community provides a united sacramental programme for the combined parishes of The Holy Cross and Saints Philip and James. This is a very important time for the parents and all the family members. It will be a time of growth in your child’s faith, and in your own faith as you are expected to play an active and leading role in helping your child through every step of the way. The parish will assist you by providing classes for your child and sessions to aid you in helping your child, but you must commit wholeheartedly to this time of preparation and participate weekly in Sunday mass and attend all the classes on the programme with your child.

Dates for the Sacramental preparation Programme:

Saturday, 21st September 2024

Saturday, 19th October 2024

Saturday, 16th November 2024

Saturday, 30th November 2024

Saturday,11th January 2025

Saturday, 25th January 2025

Saturday, 8th February 2025

Saturday, 15th March 2025

Saturday 29th March 2025

Saturday, 3rd May 2025

Saturday, 17th May 2025

Saturday, 7th June 2025

Enrolment Masses: Dates to be confirmed.

Rehearsals: There will also be a small number of rehearsals, dates to be confirmed.

First Reconciliation: Saturday, 1st March 2025.

Celebration of First Holy Communion Masses: Corpus Christi, Saturday, 21st/Sunday, 22nd June 2025.

If you would like to enrol your child onto the Sacramental Preparation Programme, AD 2024-2025, enrolment forms are available in the narthex of both churches or via the link below:

Enrolment Form

Completed and signed enrolment forms must be returned with your child’s original Baptism certificate to Sheila Allen, Parish Secretary, parish.holycross@northamptondiocese.org or by post. The deadline for returning enrolment forms and Baptism certificates is Wednesday, 11th September 2024.

Further details of the programme will be discussed and confirmed at the first meeting with parents and children, which will be held on Wednesday, 18th September 2024 in Saints Philip and James Church at 6:30pm.

Fr Alex, Deacon Crispin, Deacon Tony and our sacramental team look forward to getting to know you and your family better prior to the start of Sacramental Preparation. In the first instance, parents are asked to introduce themselves to Fr Alex after any Sunday Mass.