If I'm traveling, I should do what RC does and get the 411 on local parishes. Holy Ghost on Federal Hill in RI was beautiful inside, but it turned out they were having first communions. No problem with that by itself, except like I mentioned before even my parish has trouble with first communinions. Apparently, DRE's everywhere think first communion Sundays are times to:
1. Have the first communicants do the readings and general intercessions.
2. Have them sing special songs.
3. Have them bring flowers to their families during offertory.
4. Do some wacky procession or dressing of the altar.
5. Emphasize first communion being a friendly meal.
6. If in May, bring flowers to the Virgin Mary, then sing a Hymn to the Virgin Mary.
The other challenge of first communion Sundays are the families. I saw people come in to church with Dunkin Donuts coffee cups. Flash photography, video cameras, and cell phones were everywhere. A fella behind took a phone call 3 minutes before Mass. I finally couldn't take it anymore when we stood for the Eucharist Prayer and he sang the first few words of the National Anthem. I turned around and asked him to show some respect.
So what are the practical things we can do?
First communicants need to be focused on receiving Christ in the Eucharist. Everything else is just cuteness, or devotions that don't necessarily support the sacrament. One of the things on the list above may be appropriate, but to turn the Sunday liturgy on its head because of first communions strikes me as a misguided effort at participation that detracts from the real reason the kids are there: to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the very first time.
What to do about parents and families? Do they need lecturing at their own kids first communion classes? Do they need a list of norms and guidelines? Should we, like some parishes I know, refuse the sacraments to people who don't attend Mass weekly for a good reason?
The parents seem like a harder nut to crack. The folks who don't attend Mass on Sunday are the ones who want the Church to be there for Christmas, Easter, funerals, weddings, and first communions. How do you make their own kids first communion a moment for them to reflect on how little they may value and understand the Eucharist?
We had first communions at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday: the kids received first, which was beautiful, and I didn't notice any disruptive photo flashes, so I guess the parents were orderly. Of course, these parents are regular members of the congregation, not twice-a-year Catholics.
After the Mass, the kids were vested in the Brown Scapular, which seemed to puzzle a couple of them, and we had a procession for the May Crowning of our Lady's statue. Because of the ongoing rain outdoors, the procession (cross bearer, choir, banners, kids, statue, clergy) took a long and elaborate route within the church so we could sing all five hymns we usually sing for the event.
When the procession arrived at our Lady's altar, one of the girls climbed steps to place a floral crown atop the statue as we sang "Bring flowers of the fairest" (what else?)
By the way, I should have told you to attend the T-Mass at Holy Name. Also, the Cathedral's quite decent-looking.
I'm the DRE at my parish (at least until the end of the month when I officially retire from my two-year stint) and I'm proud to say we did none of that. And we emphasized to both the parents and children at the rehearsal that we are to treat the event with solemnity.
After the rehearsal we spent time before the Blessed Sacrament because it was First Saturday. I think that helped too. One of the parents said she especially liked that.
The memories....I shudder. When I was a 2nd grade CCD teacher I dreaded the class time that we had to put into having the children write the general intercessions. Yeah, right, they wrote the intercessions. Of course, the Lord may have been the only one to hear the intercessions, since even the most gifted of the kids could not adequately project while at the ambo. Then there was the treacly call and response song written by a music teacher at our school. Maybe not her best work. By our fourth 1st Communion, I thought my husband was going to go into convulsions if he had to hear that song again.
Our #6 child made his First Holy Communion at an 8:00am Saturday morning Mass (because we homeschooled him and didn't want to put him thru the parish program so he could process with the rest of the group.) But the lack of extraneous stuff only added to the seriousness and reverance of the occasion. One intercession for the boy and a brief mention by Father at the end of Mass was the only special 'splash.' No children lisping prayers, saccharine songs or (blech) felt banners to mark the family pew. It was beautiful. Not a wild photo op...but special.
(Ouch...now that song has popped up in my mind. Talk about an earworm....)