First Communion and First Reconciliation 2026-2027
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Welcome to Our Lady of Mercy’s First Communion program for 2026-2027
The Archdiocese of Washington encourages and expects children preparing to receive their First Communion to be properly prepared. Each student preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist should be enrolled in Mercy's religious education program or attend a Catholic school.
All students must register to receive First Communion at Mercy.If you have questions, please contact Angelus Virata, Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at [email protected] or 301-365-1415 x206.
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Important Dates
Parent Information Session: Sunday, October 18 at 10am (School Gym)
Baptismal Certificates Due: Sunday, October 25, 2026Reconciliation Rehearsal: Saturday, January 30 at 10:30am (Church)
First Reconciliation: Saturday, February 6. 2027 at 10:30am (Church)
First Communion Rehearsal: Friday, May 7, 2027 at 7pm (Church)
First Holy Communion: Saturday, May 8, 2027 at 10:30am (Church)
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Documents
- Religious Education Grade K-6 Calendar
- First Communion Parent Packet
- Guidelines for Parents on First Communion and First Penance & Reconciliation
- First Communion FAQs
- Examination of Conscience for Children Using the Lord's Prayer
- Examination of Conscience for Children Using the Beatitudes
- Examination of Conscience for Children Using the Ten Commandments
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About First Communion
Toward the end of early childhood, the young disciple whose baptismal faith has been enriched through catechesis is presented to the Church for admission to Holy Communion. The young Christian then begins a lifelong participation in the source and summit of our life in Christ - the Eucharist.
The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. The Lord said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: " As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me." Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church. Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved in baptism.
What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life: it preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at baptism; it separates us from sin, for the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins; it strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins; in the Eucharist, Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him. Finally, the Eucharist commits us to the service of the poor.
Archdiocese of Washington, Liturgical Norms and Policies, Ch. 5.1 (2010).