Christmas Appeal 2025 Archeparchy Our faith Offices and ministries News Events Parishes Youth Protection

Archeparchy

    Our faith

      Offices and ministries

      Archive

      Holy Communion 1974

      U.S.

      In our tradition, the Eucharist is one of the sacraments of initiation, given to children along with Baptism and Chrismation. However, in past decades, often due to Latinization, children did not receive the Eucharist until they reached a certain age. Today, our Church encourages parents to bring their children to Communion so they may receive the Bread of Life from an early age. Therefore, we now celebrate not only the first but also the solemn Holy Communion and the first Confession. 

      Perhaps you or your relatives recognize yourselves in these photos.

      May and June are the times when, in our parishes, we celebrate with special joy the first Confession and solemn Holy Communion of our young parishioners. Today, we want to share some First Communion photos from 1974 with you. You can view photos from our parishes of St. John the Baptist in Whippany, St. Paul in Ramsey, and St. Josaphat in Trenton (NJ), St. Nicholas, Annunciation of the BVM, and Christ the King in Philadelphia, and Holy Spirit in Chester (PA), which were printed in the Archeparchial newspaper The Way. 

      Back