First Communion

Riley

First Communion class. Celebrating with cousins.

Ed and Joanne with Grandchildren. Riley with Godparents.

All done!

Riley made his First Communion today! He was a little nervous, but after a three hour warm-up yesterday I think he was glad for the real thing. The Church did a drawing to determine which family sat in each pew, and we lucked out and were seated three rows behind the children. I managed to hold back my tears numerous times as the Mass went on.

Riley was the second child to enter the church, and he held his candle as far in front of him as he possibly could while slowly making his way down the aisle. Once he got near the front of the Church he started zig-zagging a little as he began scanning the pews for his family. Once he saw us he smiled and made his way up to take his seat. As he later told us, "I had the best seat of all!" (Was this because he was in the very front middle, closest to the Priest? No.) "I was right next to all of the candles!"

He did a great job of sitting still and only had to receive a couple of prompts from the diligent girl that sat beside him. She had to remind him to kneel once, and then had to viciously shake his arm to get him to let go of her hand after the "Our Father." He often turned around to wave or wink at us or his extended family, and only appeared nervous when it was time for him to actually receive the Eucharist.

He was about the eighth (out of 32) to go up and take his communion. They paused in front of their pew as the child before them went, and Riley held his pause a little longer than most. Finally, he approached Father, but stopped about two feet away from him. Father finally encouraged him to come a little closer, and Riley took the communion wafer. Then he paused again, thought about it, and made a dramatic exaggerated sign of the cross before he went back to his seat.

More confident after having survived the Eucharist, Riley bravely went up again as they offered the wine. I was so proud that Riley simply swallowed it and made his way back to his seat without the "Yuck!" grimace that so many of the other children had made. He told us later that the drink didn't taste as good as it did in practice (it was wine this time, not juice,) and mentioned that he would be passing on receiving it in the future. "Besides, that's a good way to get germs," he explained. Good thing it's optional, I guess!

Toward the end of the Mass, after being preoccupied by his cousins, his aunt and his Papa, Corey made his way down the pew to me. Suddenly he realized Riley was missing, and a little whining ensued. I pointed out where Riley was and Corey said a little too loudly, "Riley, you're supposed to be with US in Church." A little explaining and a few distractive measures later, Corey calmed down and found something else to concern himself with.

After Mass we took some family pictures and had some cake and fruit in the Church Hall. Shannon made sure to ruin his fresh white shirt by smooshing raspberries all over the front of it, but now we know he doesn't really like raspberries! Corey, however, ate an entire piece of cake, so I think he is finally on the mend.

While snacking, one of Riley's CCD teachers pointed to an extremely large paper chain that extended all the way across the hall and asked if Riley had told me about it. I replied that I knew all about the chain, completed throughout the school year, in which each link was an item the children in his class were thankful for. The teacher then said, "Yes, but do you realize that Riley completed half of them by himself? He really is such a sweet, good natured kid!" I must say, I am very proud of my boy!