Wednesday's Homework
Spelling - Backpack page 54 and continue to study for Friday’s test.
Math - Flashcards
Communion - The Communion book will be coming home this week. Keep this at home. We will continue with the red Religion book next week.
Tomorrow - 1:00 May Crowning and 2:00 Dismissal
*iReady Spring Diagnostic Testing - Monday and Tuesday mornings. Eat a good breakfast!
*Starting Monday, May 5th, Room 32 can come out of uniform in Spirit Wear for the remaining Mondays of the school year. Thank you to those who brought in pop tops!
*Have a great day!
Please read over the following information from Mrs. Petrash:
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
May 3, 2025
SJS: 10:30 AM RE: 1:00 PM
Arrival and Seating
- Please arrive no earlier than an hour before your scheduled Mass if you’d like to take pictures beforehand. Mass should last about an hour plus. Students will sit with their parents in their family pew. The pew can fit about 5-6 people. Your child’s First Communion certificate will be in the pew to help identify your family’s spot in the church.
- Please refer to the seating chart to see in which pew your family will be sitting. Here is the First Communion seating chart.
- Additional family members will be welcome to sit on the two farthest sides of the church. This is also indicated on the seating chart.
- Ten minutes before Mass begins (10:20 SJS and 12:50 RE) please send your child across the street to the Ahearn Activity Center (gym) hallway. They should not have anything with them ie no coat, purse, prayer books, flowers, rosaries, etc. Their teachers/catechists will be there to line them up. If it is STORMING rain, the children will meet in the choir loft upstairs in the church 10 minutes before Mass begins. Parents and family should then find their seats. The children will be processing into church in front of the priests and then they will process around the church so that those in side aisles will be able to see them and take pictures from their seats.
The Big Moment
- When it is time for the students to receive the Eucharist for the first time, they will be guided by their teachers/catechists to the altar.
- Parents will not receive communion at this time.
- Once all of the First Communicants receive Communion, families are welcome to process to Bishop John and the other Eucharist Ministers to receive the Eucharist just like a regular Sunday Mass.
- Please do not get out of your pew to take pictures. The photographer does a wonderful job capturing this precious moment.
Photography-
- We will have a professional photographer at the First Communion. Hopefully, it will be a nice day and you can take pictures outside. The photographers will arrive one hour before the SJS First Communion at 9:30am and be available throughout the day including after the RE First Communion Mass.
- The photographers are offering portraits of each First Communicant by themselves with a beautiful background. These portraits are of the First Communicant only, no siblings or families. No cell phone pictures allowed in the Bride’s Room. The portraits will be taken in the bride’s room in the back of the church across from the Ladies restroom.
- They will also take candid pictures outside and in the vestibule as you arrive. Do not hesitate to ask the photographer to take pictures with your family or your child’s friends before Mass.
- The photographers will take individual photos while the students are receiving Communion.
- All of the pictures will be available to purchase online when the website becomes available in a couple of weeks. If you pre-purchased a group photo, these will be delivered to school or the parish office. I will notify you when they come in.
- There will also be the St. Juliana backdrop in the back of church for you to take pictures.
- Please do not get out of your pews or go to the front to take photos during Mass.
Religious Items Blessing and other items
- Students are allowed to have religious items in the pew with them, Fr. John will bless them at the end of the Mass.
- Please remain in the pews until the closing song is over and the priests have recessed down the main aisle. At that time, all first communicants will come to the altar for the group photo.
- Your child’s First Holy Communion certificate will be in the pew for you to take home. Also, if your child made a banner or writing page, please remove it from the back of the church before you leave.
- We will not have a reception after the First Communion.
If you have any further questions, please call me 760-519-0290 or email me at [email protected]
Thank you,
Mary Petrash and
2nd grade Teachers and Catechists
*Please read the letter from Lifetime Treasures Photography. It gives information about the professional photographs that will be taken at the First Holy Communion and how you can access the photos. Lifetime Treasures Photography Link