2027 Sacrament of First Holy Communion – Seeds of Faith
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Parish of Firhouse
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Registration and Request Form to be completed by Parents / Guardians of Catholic Children in 1st Class, attending Schools other than Catholic Schools, requesting the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in 2027 – ‘Seeds of Faith’ Religious Education Classes
Please read the letter below before completing the Registration Form for pupils of Firhouse Educate Together NS, Gaelscoil na Giúise, or Other, presenting for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in 2027.
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16 June 2025
Dear Parents / Guardians,
I am writing to you now in relation to the Registration & Request of your child for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in 2027.
Only children Baptised as Roman Catholic can make the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. We recognise that children may be Baptised in another Christian Church / Denomination who will not be receiving First Holy Communion.
As of the end of June 2024, the After School ‘Seeds Of Faith’ Religious Education Classes became the Official Dublin Diocesan Religious Education Classes for all requesting the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation of Catholic Children attending Schools other than Catholic Schools. It is now a two-year preparation of 28 in-person After School ‘Seeds of Faith’ Religious Education Classes per year (normally 1st & 2nd classes).
All Registrations & Requests are to be made online, by means of a form. I wish to thank Firhouse Education Together National School & Gaelscoil na Giúise, for sending this letter to you. In some family situations, both parents / guardians may wish to ‘Submit’ a Registration & Request Form with contact details.
Please complete and ‘Submit’ this Registration & Request Form immediately or at the very latest by 25 July 2025 at:
Your child’s Baptismal Certificate from the Parish of Baptism will be needed, as evidence of a Roman Catholic Baptism. If you do not have a copy of the Baptismal Certificate, please contact the Parish of your child’s Baptism for a Baptismal Certificate immediately. For children Baptised in the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Firhouse, we will check the Baptismal details of all children Baptised in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Firhouse. If by any chance your child has not received the Sacrament of Baptism, you should contact immediately the Parish you are living in to arrange their Baptism.
Please forward the Baptismal Certificate to me at: firhouseparishsaf@gmail.com by email attachment (scanned copy or a photo); or drop it into the Parish Office between 9.30 am – 2 pm (Monday to Friday) where a photocopy will be taken of it. As the Registration & Request Form requires you to give me a contact email address, I will be able to contact you by email if I need to.
The ’Seeds of Faith’ Religious Educator will be covering the Religious Education Material in the ‘Grow in Love’ Religious Education Programme, and I encourage you as parents / guardians to journey with your child in this ‘Grow in Love’ Programme, and whatever else you may be able to do in helping your child to prepare for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
There will be 28 ‘Seeds of Faith’ After School Religious Education Preparation in-person classes per year, starting on Wednesday, 17th September (commencing at 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm in Scoil Treasa, Ballycullen Avenue) and the payment is €140 for one child, and €240 for two or more children in any one family, partaking in either the First Holy Communion or Sacrament of Confirmation classes. This payment can be paid in total by 30th September, or in two instalments: one in September and the other next February. To make this payment, please use this link.
In order for safeguarding to be protected it will be necessary for two parents to be present in the building where the ‘Seeds of Faith’ classes will occur, and a rota of available parents / guardians will be organised.
We are asking each family to contribute a donation of €20 to meet the running cost of the parish and administration involved in preparing for the celebration of the Sacraments which includes the Ceremony Booklets and flowers on the altar. If this request causes any hardship, please email firhouseparishsaf@gmail.com where all will be dealt with in confidence.
I encourage you, either in your own Parish or another Parish, to partake in Saturday Evening or Sunday Mass as your family, with your child, prepares to celebrate the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
With every good wish.
Peter J Reilly
Fr Peter Reilly PP