First Communion

"The Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: 'Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.'" (CCC 1327)

We are very excited that you are interested in having you or your child receive the sacrament of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Guadalupe!

On this page, you can find more information about what Holy Communion is and the process for your child to receive first Holy Communion at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

If you are an adult who would like to receive the first Holy Communion, please call the Parish Office at 562-691-0533 for more information.

  • What is First Holy Communion?

    First Holy Communion, or first Eucharist, is a beautiful sacrament of initiation in which "Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism ... participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist" (CCC 1322). 


    First Communion is the first time that a Catholic receives the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith (CCC 1324). As Catholics, we believe that during the Mass the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ, while still maintaining the appearances of bread and wine. 


    As such, it is important that those who consume the Eucharist have been initiated into the Church through Baptism and have received proper formation to understand the teachings of the Church.

First Holy Communion at OLG

First Holy Communion takes two years to complete at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Elementary students can start the process as early as six years old, as long as they are in first grade, or entering first grade.


If your child has not already been baptized, he or she will undergo a process called Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC).


For more information about OCIC and for information about first Holy Communion for those in high school, please call the Parish Office at (562) 691-0533.

Registration for first Holy Communion

Registration for all sacrament preparation for the 2024-25 year is open now! The deadline to register is August 30, 2024.


Visit the Parish Office anytime Monday – Friday, 9am – 5:30pm to register. 


Please bring your child’s baptismal certificate and be prepared to fill out a few forms.  


Registration fees for 2024-25: 

 

First Communion Year 1: $175 

First Communion Year 2: $175 

Confirmation Year 1: $300 

Confirmation Year 2: $400 

Preparation for first Holy Communion

At Our Lady of Guadalupe, first Holy Communion preparation is a 2-year process. We use a program called Pathways for all of our sacrament preparation for those under the age of 18. 


Pathways is a program focused on the formation of the entire family. To honor the parents' role in their children's lives, we want to ensure that parents are included in the formation of their children. 


As such, parents and children will both attend sessions during sacrament preparation. Parent sessions and children sessions will be held concurrently in separate rooms, and both groups will come together in prayer at the end of the session.


The program also includes 2 mini-retreats per year that both the children and parents attend, as well as weekly attendance at Sunday Mass.


We will invite all parents to meet with someone on our faith formation team throughout the course of the year so that we can get to know one another better!

The Day of First Holy Communion

For those that are in grades 1-8, first Holy Communion will take place at a Sunday Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Those completing their second year of formation for first Communion Preparation in 2025 will receive first Holy Communion on June 22, 2025.


In advance of June 22, 2025, we will have a rehearsal for all who will be receiving first Holy Communion and their parents. During this time, we will go over all that will occur during the Mass. 


Information about attire for those receiving the Sacrament can be found below. 



Mass Attire for First Holy Communion:


Girls' Attire

  • A white dress WITH sleeves
  • Dress must be mid-calf in length 
  • Closed shoes and white socks or tights

Girls' Attire to Avoid

  • Sleeveless, backless, thin strapped, or halter-style dresses 
  • Off the shoulder or hooped dresses 
  • Gloves, purses, candles, missalettes, or rosaries to hold, as hands should be free from distractions

Boys' Attire

  • A white button up shirt with sleeves 
  • Dress pants - dark colors only 
  • Tie – dark color 
  • Dress shoes or neat, clean-looking casual shoes

Boys' Attire to Avoid

  • Sleeveless shirts, T-shirts 
  • Jeans, baggy pants, or shorts 
  • Candles, missalettes, or rosaries to hold, as hands should be free from distractions


Certificates and Records

All certificates will be ready for pick up within 6 weeks of the Mass, along with the photos from the First Communion Mass. We will contact all parents once the certificates and photos are ready for pick up. 


We will keep records of your child's first Holy Communion in our parish record books.