Special Occasions

First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion is celebrated within Mass, often on a Sunday, so the Mass follows its usual order and the readings of the day. The music should be songs the children know well and can sing themselves, with Eucharistic hymns at Communion and a song of thanksgiving afterwards.

First Holy Communion songs for each moment

6 songs in the library. Each song is placed under the moment it is written for; songs not yet marked for a moment are listed after the order of the celebration.

  1. Entrance

    The children often walk in procession with their catechists.

    No first holy communion song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Entrance song →

  2. Responsorial Psalm

    No first holy communion song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Responsorial Psalm song →

  3. Gospel Acclamation

    No first holy communion song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Gospel Acclamation song →

  4. Presentation of the gifts

    Children may bring up the bread and wine.

  5. Communion

    The heart of the day. Eucharistic hymns the children know.

    No first holy communion song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Communion song →

    Also suitable: Corpus Christi (13) →

  6. Thanksgiving after Communion

    No first holy communion song is marked for this moment yet. Browse every Post-Communion / Thanksgiving song →

    Also suitable: Corpus Christi (13) →

    Also suitable: Eucharistic Adoration (101) →

  7. Recessional

Mass parts (Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy), Gloria, Holy, Holy (Sanctus), Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen, Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)): any Mass setting in the library can be used, ideally one the people already know. Browse Mass settings →

More first holy communion songs 3

Not yet marked for a particular moment: open a song to read its words and choose where it fits.

All "First Communion and Confirmation" songs Request a song

Readings

Scripture references only: read the texts from the Lectionary or a Catholic Bible, and check the verse numbers against the Lectionary your parish uses.

First Reading

  • Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a (Year A)
  • Exodus 24:3-8 (Year B)
  • Genesis 14:18-20 (Year C)

Responsorial Psalm

  • Psalm 147 (Year A)
  • Psalm 116 (Year B)
  • Psalm 110 (Year C)

Second Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (Year A)
  • Hebrews 9:11-15 (Year B)
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (Year C)

Gospel

  • John 6:51-58 (Year A)
  • Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 (Year B)
  • Luke 9:11b-17 (Year C)

On a Sunday the readings of the day are used; the planner fills them in from the date. When the readings may be chosen, the Eucharistic readings of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) are listed here.

Plan the order of service

Choose the songs for each moment, add the readings, names and your own rows, then print the programme or save it as a PDF. The song lists start with first holy communion songs. Nothing is saved on this site: the link holds your whole programme, so keep it to share or change it later.

The celebration

The readings below are filled in from the Lectionary for this date — check them against your parish lectionary and change them if needed.

Your programme

Each row is printed in this order. Rename any heading, move rows with the arrows, remove what you do not need, and add your own rows (announcements, intentions, events, a note) anywhere. For music, choose a song from the library or type a title we do not hold yet. Rows left empty are not printed.

Other special occasions