By Rachel Curry
A group of children have made their First Holy Communion at East Fremantle parish for the first time in 15 years.
Eleven students from East Fremantle Primary School, and one student from Richmond Primary School, received the sacrament at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Pentecost Sunday.
Parish Priest Father Steve Astill SJ said, initially, he thought only one child would be making First Holy Communion, but the numbers grew through word of mouth.
“It started out as one mother ringing me up. She was surprised when it ended up being 12,” he said.
Fr Astill added that the parish had gone through a difficult time after the Catholic primary school closed in the 1980s, but recent trends showed it was entering a new period of growth, with more people attending Sunday Masses.
He prepared the children for their big day through 14 catechism classes and said it had been an enjoyable experience.
“I’ve been teaching them myself because we haven’t got any catechists in the parish. We haven’t needed them before but East Fremantle is becoming a young suburb and it’s rubbing off on the parish,” he said.
“It’s been a delight to teach the children. They’re terrific kids.”
The children made their First Holy Communion at the 9am Mass, in front of a large congregation, and were very involved in the liturgy.
Aside from participating in the readings, general intercessions, offertory and collections, the children also sang a special hymn led by Trish Spencer on the guitar.
Unusually, the group contained two sets of siblings: Oscar and Finn McIntyre and Tom and Chloe Stokes.
Addressing the congregation during his homily, Fr Astill said the passage describing the Pentecost was full of powerful symbolism, particularly the tongues of fire which descended on the apostles.
“While fire can mean all kinds of things, it can mean scary or, another word, awesome. And that’s indeed what God is like. God is awesome,” he said.
“Sometimes we might be so afraid and fearful to actually believe that God could love forever and ever, that God could love us in such an unconditional way.
“Totally unconditional is the love of God for us and, when we muck it up, it’s OK. As wise parents know, we are to say ‘OK, we’re together. You might do something I disagree with, but all the same, let’s always believe in our unity’.”
After the Mass, East Fremantle parish continued the celebrations by holding its Easter Luncheon, a new annual event which replaces the Christmas Luncheon.
For more information about the parish, visit www.eastfreoparish.org.au.