24th April 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians and Children preparing to receive First Holy Communion
I hope you are all keeping well and staying safe while children are at home from school.
I know how disappointed you feel that we will not be able to celebrate your First Holy Communion on the date that was originally planned. I appreciate how hard you have worked in preparing for this special occasion with the help of your teachers, your family, your parish and it is only natural that you feel disappointed. We are also disappointed because First Holy Communion is an important celebration not just for you and your family but it is also an important day in the life of your parish and indeed of our diocese.
When restrictions are lifted and we are told that it is safe for us to do so, we look forward to celebrating this special occasion with you as you welcome Jesus who will come to you in Holy Communion for the very first time. We are not in a position at this time to say when that will be but please rest assured that you will have the opportunity to celebrate your First Holy Communion when it safe for us to gather together again.
Until then I ask you and your families to pray together, remembering those who are sick, all who are caring for them and all who are working so hard to keep us all safe. There are various prayers and resources on the diocesan website, see link below.[1] Your prayers have great power and they are a wonderful way of being close and connected to the people you love when you can’t visit them or meet with them. I encourage you to pray the ‘Prayer to our Guardian Angel’ each day with your family as a way for all of us to be united in prayer even when we can’t come together to pray.
May God bless you all and keep you safe in His great love.
Yours sincerely
✠ Fintan Gavin
Bishop of Cork and Ross
http://corkandross.org/diocesan/families-and-schools-continue-childrens-faith-education/
Prayer to our Guardian Angel
O Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day be at our side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.