Not in the group in May, but individually, during the ordinary Holy Mass in any month – this is what the first Holy Communions of children in the Poznań parish Jesus look like. – We meet with family at dinner or for coffee and we just talk about what the meaning of communion is, why all this and what will happen – says her priest Radosław Rakowski.
In May, in most Polish parishes, children from the third grades of primary school are the first to receive communion. The adoption of the sacrament is usually preceded by several months of preparations in religion lessons at school and during catechesis in the parish.
It is different in the Poznań parish, the name of Jesus, where the first Holy Communions of children take place individually, throughout the year.
“In our parish, your child can receive communion when you want – he does not have to be eight years old, he does not have to do it in the third grade of primary school. The most important thing is that your child would like and is ready to receive Jesus” – we read on the parish's website where you can save yourself or your child on the first Holy Communion online.
This approach is the decision of the priest, Fr. Radek Rakowski. – I don't know why communions are organized in May. In our parish we decided that we would not organize group communion, during which children proceed to the Eucharist for the first time with the whole class – he said.
I want to introduce children naturally in a community
Father Rakowski pointed out that as a vicar, he watched in many parishes a repetitive pattern in which children were preparing for the first communion throughout the year, after which many of them disappeared from the church after white week. – I started to wonder what to do so that these children would not disappear. I didn't want to create some artificial creation. A special first -communion group that will cease to exist after receiving the sacrament. I wanted to introduce these children naturally into a parish community – he said.
As a result of these thoughts, Fr. Rakowski decided that in the parish in Latin, children would join the first communion individually. He explained that parents who want their child to receive communion for the first time in a given year simply report to him at any time of the year.
– We do not have group preparations, collecting stamps or signatures that are proof that the child had the first confession or passed the participation in the Sunday mass – he reserved.
He added that preparations are also conducted in an individual way and are adapted to the situation of a specific family.
– There are deeply believing in the parish, which are every Sunday at the Holy Mass, they understand what the Eucharist is and here I do not see the need for any great preparations. Parents are able to perfectly explain to the child what communion is and why they go to it. However, there are also families who need more help in preparation – he noted.
At the same time, he stipulated that in the parish in Latin there are no group catechesis for children preparing for the First Holy Communion. – Most often, preparation boils down to the fact that we meet with family at dinner or on coffee and just talk about what the meaning of communion is, why all this and what will happen – he said.
Alba? Not necessarily
He emphasized that the moment of joining the First Holy Communion also looks different than in most parishes. He noted that most often the child joins her during the Sunday Mass. – The same one he goes to every week with parents. It can be dressed festively, he may have an alb, but it doesn't have to.
– It is amazing that during such a mass the whole family prepares the liturgy. Parents read reading, and my aunt sings a psalm, grandmother brings gifts, and cousins and godparents form a music band that sings during this Holy Mass. And then the family goes to a solemn dinner – said Fr. Rakowski.
He added that sometimes his parents ask him to celebrate a special Holy Mass, for example on Saturday, only for the family and friends of the child who joins the sacrament.
Encourages family to confess. “You don't have to remember the formula”
According to the clergyman, it is very important that the whole family gives the child an example of how important it is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and join Holy Communion with his child.
– That's why I often urge my aunts, uncles and grandparents just before the start of the mass, so that they would confess and be able to accept Holy Communion together with his nephew or grandson. I explain that you do not have to remember the formula and that at me that someone has not been 20 years at confession is not impressed. That is why this mass often starts half an hour later, only when everyone willing to confess – he said.
Father Rakowski admitted that some people have bad experiences, which results in fear of confession, but in such cases he tries to talk to such a person and often manages to overcome this fear.
According to Fr. Rakowski's change of the formula of joining the First Communion to a more personalized brings good spiritual fruit.
– When we finally believe that in the parish we can really be a community, that as a priest I do not have to control anyone and check the stamps, then miracles begin to happen. Anxiety disappears, formulas, poems in honor of the priest disappear, artificiality and stiffness in relationships disappear. And the children do not disappear after the white week, they are simply part of the community, just like parents. They come because they want, not, because someone checks the stamps – said the priest.
Author/author: FC/GP
Source: PAP, tvn24.pl
Source of the main photo: Tvn24