By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — A batch of 49 communicants from Blessed Sacrament Church Parish who had prepared for the sacrament of Eucharist in 2020, were finally able to receive their First Holy Communion (FHC) recently.
The students from the English Sunday School with ages ranging 10-15, were earlier scheduled to receive their FHC in September 2020, but these plans were shelved due to another outbreak of coronavirus infection in Kuching.
12 Masses that adhered strictly to COVID-19 SOPs for religious activities that only allowed 12 persons to congregate at any one time, were celebrated from 12-23 May to accommodate all the 49 students, who were grouped into small batches of between ‘four to five’ at each Mass.
This resulted in implementing the ruling of ‘one-parent per candidate to act as witness’ and faith formatters multitasking as readers, wardens and photographers.
Retired Mill Hill priest Fr Albert Jacobse presided over two Masses, and the Rector of Blessed Sacrament Church, Fr Patrick Heng celebrated the other 10 Masses. The FHC for the Chinese Sunday School students were done separately, presided by Fr Nicholas Ng.
Fr Patrick and Fr Albert both spoke on the importance of the role of parents and guardians as main catechists, and hence they have to be instrumental in the faith formation of their children. The Church and Sunday School faith formators are only there to offer guidance and to help nurture their journey of faith.
The communicants were prepared and briefed online prior to their FHC by Level 4 faith formators and Fr Patrick.
They received signed First Holy Communion Certificates at the end of Mass, much to the relief and happiness of their parents who expressed gratitude to everyone involved in organising the Masses for their children to finally receive their First Holy Communion.
 in groups of 4-5 from 12-23 May 2021.){kind=link}