Parish of St. Wilfrid, Burgess Hill

and St. Edward the Confessor, Keymer

First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

Application Form 2020/2021

Child details

* If baptised at a Catholic Church other than St Wilfrid’s or St Edward’s,

a copy of the baptism certificate should be attached or forwarded. This

must be received at the parish office before preparation can begin.

Parent / Guardian details

Address

All information will be held on the parish database in accordance with the provisions of the Data

Protection Act under which the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton is covered. Please be aware that details

may be shared with the First Holy Communion Team.

Surname First Names Date of Birth M/F

School Year group at September 2020

Date of Baptism Place of Baptism*

Additional support needs (if any) Relevant medical conditions (e.g. asthma)

Mother’s Surname Mother’s First Name Denomination

Father’s Surname Father’s First Name Denomination

Post Code:

Telephone number

Mobile contact number

email (please write clearly)

First Holy Communion Preparation 2020 - 2021

For children in Year 3 or above

Parish of St. Wilfrid, Burgess Hill and

St. Edward the Confessor, Keymer

Station Road Burgess Hill West Sussex RH15 9EN

01444 232358

burgesshill@abdiocese.org.uk

The Mass and the Holy Eucharist are the source and summit of

Christian life. The Eucharist is God’s greatest gift to his people, for

in the Eucharist we find the fullness of the spiritual good of the

Church, namely Jesus Christ Himself.

This is why Holy Mother Church asks us to attend Mass every

Sunday and encourages us to receive Holy Communion regularly

and worthily.

Every baptised Catholic who wishes to receive their First Holy

Communion should prepare properly so they can receive the body

and blood of Christ with as much understanding and devotion as

possible.

In St. Wilfrid’s and St Edward’s parish, our First Holy Communion

course is designed to equip parents with the necessary formation

and resources so that they may be key figures in teaching their

Christian faith to their children. For this reason, we require the

parents’ attendance and involvement in all preparation sessions.

We also expect regular attendance at Mass on Sundays or

Saturday evenings.

Unforeseen emergencies or circumstances may mean an occasional

absence from course sessions, but we ask parents to agree any

absences with the catechists. Please be aware that we may review

or reassign your child’s place on the course if you or they are

repeatedly absent from course sessions or Sunday Mass.

We would remind you that a First Holy Communion certificate

is no longer a prerequisite for admission to St. Paul’s Catholic

College. Parents should not feel obliged to enrol their children for

First Holy Communion preparation for that reason. We hope you will

feel obliged, compelled even, to enrol them for the sake of receiving

the Body and Blood of Christ and a closer relationship with our Lord

Jesus Christ.

For admission to the course, at least one parent must be a

baptised Catholic, or already be participating in the RCIA

programme.

In the event of oversubscription for the FHC course, we follow these

criteria:

• Catholic children who are regularly (usually weekly) attend

Mass at St. Wilfrid’s or St Edward’s Catholic Churches

(or St. George’s Park).

• Catholic children at St. Wilfrid’s Primary School who

frequently attend Mass.

• Catholic children at other schools, who live in Burgess Hill/

Keymer, and who frequently attend Mass at St. Wilfrid’s or

St Edward’s Catholic Churches.

• Catholic children who live in Burgess Hill/Keymer, who are

not regularly at Mass.

• Catholic children who live outside Burgess Hill (in another

parish) and who are not known at St. Wilfrid’s or St Edward’s

Catholic Churches. These children will be admitted only if

there is space at the time of the first meeting of the

preparation groups, and if they have the permission of the

parish priest where they live.

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We confirm that we attend Mass at St Wilfrid’s or St Edward’s Catholic Churches: (please tick)

- usually weekly

- regularly

- once a month

- infrequently

The children’s preparation begins with work for First Reconciliation

(Confession) and continues after the children’s first confessions to

be ready for First Holy Communion in the Spring/Summer of 2021.

The dates of all sessions will be published before the beginning of

the preparations, and as previously mentioned, all parents and

children are expected to be present for every session.

The application forms for FHC should not be completed until the

previous pages have been read. If a child was not baptised at St.

Wilfrid’s or St Edward’s, it is essential that a copy of the baptismal

certificate is forwarded to the parish office before sessions begin.

Confirmation of your child’s place will be sent by email mid

November 2020 or sooner.

If you require any clarification or additional information, please

contact the parish office : contact details on the front of this leaflet.

Please ensure your email address is clearly written.

There is a fee of £20 to cover the cost of materials - payable at the first Parents’ Session.

Please do not return the fee with this form.

Please return this form to the Parish Office,

Priest’s House, by Sunday 4 October 2020

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Please complete the grid below and the application form - which is overleaf. Thank you.