Nineteen children received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Mandalay Archdiocese on Sunday, November 1, the Feast of All Saints.

The group included 11 boys and eight girls.

The Mass began at 8:00 a.m. and was presided over by the cathedral’s parish priest, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Nay Myo Swe, who administered the Eucharist to the children.

In his homily, Rev. Fr. John Aye Kyaw stressed that receiving the Eucharist should be done with reverence, faith, and proper spiritual preparation. He warned against treating Holy Communion as a mere routine without examining one’s conscience.

“Therefore, we need to examine ourselves and live by asking: ‘Am I worthy of God’s grace? Am I experiencing God’s grace? Am I living a life aligned with God’s grace?’” Fr. John said.

He encouraged the faithful to receive the Body and Blood of Christ with deep reverence and firm faith, preparing their hearts to experience the fullness of God’s grace.

Fr. John also spoke about Christian unity and solidarity, calling on people to share in one another’s joys, sorrows, and hardships.

“If someone lacks food in their home, we should feel it as though we have no food in our home; if someone has no place to live, we should feel it as though we have no place to live,” he said.

He added that Christians are called to share in the suffering of others and to live together in compassion and mutual support, becoming witnesses of God’s grace through their daily lives.

After the administration of First Holy Communion, parish priest Fr. Aloysius Nay Myo Swe addressed the parents. He explained that the children had undergone three months of catechetical instruction during the summer break, followed by about eight days of review during the Thadingyut period. He said the children had shown sufficient understanding of Church teachings, along with interest and reverence, to receive the Sacrament.

Fr. Aloysius urged parents to continue guiding their children in faith and Christian moral values. He stressed their essential role in helping children remain close to God.

“Since there will be subsequent programs such as preparation for Confirmation after receiving the Holy Eucharist, the role of parents is crucial in bringing your children closer to God,” he said. He encouraged parents to introduce their children more deeply to God and help them find joy in their faith.

Parents shared their gratitude and commitment. Daw Mary, mother of one of the children, expressed joy and thanked the priests, sisters, and catechism teachers who patiently prepared her son. She explained that her son could have received First Holy Communion the previous year, but family work commitments had prevented him from attending catechism classes.

“We resolved that no matter what, we would make sure he received the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist this year,” she said, adding that they began bringing him to catechism classes from the start of the summer program.

U Joseph, father of another child, also expressed happiness and reflected on parents’ responsibility in nurturing their children’s faith. He acknowledged that even adults sometimes receive the Eucharist carelessly, despite frequently hearing about its sacredness during Mass. Recognizing his duty to guide his son toward a more reverent and faithful life, Joseph said he hoped to help his child grow in love for God and find joy in his faith.

The celebration highlighted the importance of the Eucharist in the life of the Church and the shared responsibility of priests, catechists, and parents in nurturing children’s spiritual growth and Christian formation.

By RVA Myanmar Service