First Communion Banner

[Anonymous]

Why is this a thing? I am decidedly not crafty, my husband I both work full time, and my eight year old son could not possibly care less (honestly, I agree with him). I was not raised Catholic and I just do not see what this has to do with receiving a holy sacrament. How did this become a tradition and why? What happens if we don't do it? Excommunication? Burning in hell for all eternity? I'd really rather my kid play outside than force him to sit inside doing a craft project.

[Anonymous]

I'm Catholic and have two Catholic kids and I've never heard of this.

[Anonymous]

My niece had to do one. I agree that it's annoying - not something we had to do 40 years ago! My ds has his first communion next year, but we're moving this summer so I have no idea if he'll be required to or not in our new church. Fingers crossed not!

[Anonymous]

Just buy a kit on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

I have never seen this.

[Anonymous]

No worries OP, our older child forgot about his until the morning of his first communion. The whole thing took about 20 mins max. Younger kid is up this year and if I'm lucky it will be done the day before this time. No big deal....

As a working parent I totally sympathize with the complaint about the proliferation of expectations for pointless extras (constant theme days and spirit weeks at school are my pet peeve.) But this really isn't one of those.

[Anonymous]

I had no idea you could buy a kit - that's awesome! Just looked on Amazon. I still don't get it though, but this makes it a ton easier.

[Anonymous]

My pastor would revolt before he'd have such things at First Communion. I have to agree!

[Anonymous]

It's annoying but you can do it, OP. My family is like your family, OP. We both work full time and we are not crafty at all. But we made the silly banners with all of our kids and still have them, 10+ years later. For one of our kids, a godparent got involved, which was nice.

Here's what I did - I went to Joann's and bought different colored squares of felt and one big piece of felt and a little curtain rod and ribbon. I googled "first communion symbols coloring pages" and printed black and white pictures of a chalice, host, wheat, doves, altar table, grapes (can't remember what else). My kid cut those out and we used them as patterns to cut out the shapes on different colored pieces of felt and used a marker to add lines to each one so you can see what it is. I also bought letters that would stick to the felt to spell my kid's name and the date. Then I let my kid decide where to glue them on the big piece of felt, attached the curtain rod and ribbon at the top -- and done.

Brace yourself for confirmation class. There are a thousand things your kid will have to do then and endless deadlines.

[Anonymous]

Everyone was given one after I think their first confession at Blessed Sacrament. Cute kit...at least from the picture on the box as we have not opened yet!!!!

[Anonymous]

At our church the banner kit is supplied, and it has multiple options. It doesn't have to be elaborate.

It's used to mark the child's family's pew.

On the one hand, yes, it's pointless. On the other hand, seriously it's not that big a deal and they do look nice all lined up. Isn't it nice sometimes to spend 30 minutes (or less) doing something nice? It's just glueing.

Our church also gives a LONG time - we've had our kit for weeks.

[Anonymous]

I'm 40 and had to do this--though not as extravagant as the ones shown in the amazon kit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's annoying but you can do it, OP. My family is like your family, OP. We both work full time and we are not crafty at all. But we made the silly banners with all of our kids and still have them, 10+ years later. For one of our kids, a godparent got involved, which was nice.

Here's what I did - I went to Joann's and bought different colored squares of felt and one big piece of felt and a little curtain rod and ribbon. I googled "first communion symbols coloring pages" and printed black and white pictures of a chalice, host, wheat, doves, altar table, grapes (can't remember what else). My kid cut those out and we used them as patterns to cut out the shapes on different colored pieces of felt and used a marker to add lines to each one so you can see what it is. I also bought letters that would stick to the felt to spell my kid's name and the date. Then I let my kid decide where to glue them on the big piece of felt, attached the curtain rod and ribbon at the top -- and done.

Brace yourself for confirmation class. There are a thousand things your kid will have to do then and endless deadlines.

OP here. Good to know. Can you enlighten me? One of the benefits of RCIA - no crafts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our church the banner kit is supplied, and it has multiple options. It doesn't have to be elaborate.

It's used to mark the child's family's pew.

On the one hand, yes, it's pointless. On the other hand, seriously it's not that big a deal and they do look nice all lined up. Isn't it nice sometimes to spend 30 minutes (or less) doing something nice? It's just glueing.

Our church also gives a LONG time - we've had our kit for weeks.

I got two weeks notice, no kit, no details, nada. Just here's a handout on how to make your banner. Um, what? Chatted with several Catholic colleagues at work today and they were all similarly clueless that this is a thing.

And I guess my idea of 30 minutes doing something nice is different than yours, as is my son's. We'd much rather play a game together, or ideally he'd rather have me do something he wants to do - Legos, wrestling, having pretend Star Wars battles, teaching me his tae kwan do moves, etc - and I'm happy to do that. He's a boy. He'd rather eat a plate full of kale than cut out and glue felt.

[Anonymous]

44yr old, lifetime Catholic from a family of lifetime Catholics and I've never seen such a thing. DD makes her first communion next year but likes crafts so will probably love this.