In short: Each parish sets the date of First Holy Communion itself. The usual date is White Sunday or a Sunday in the weeks after, mostly between April and May, occasionally later. Here you will find out how the preparation works, what happens on the day and what you should do as a parent, and when.
When is First Holy Communion in 2027?
There is no single answer, because each parish decides when it celebrates First Holy Communion. The date is often on White Sunday, the Sunday after Easter. In 2027 Easter falls on 28 March; White Sunday would therefore be 4 April. Many parishes, however, celebrate on other Sundays in April or May, some even in June or later, for example when several groups celebrate one after another.
How to find your date:
- Ask at the parish office or the catechists of your parish.
- Look in the parish newsletter or on the parish website.
- At parents’ evenings for the preparation, the date is usually announced.
We deliberately do not give dates here for individual places or federal states, because the parishes decide for themselves.
How old are the children?
The children are usually about nine years old and in the third year of primary school. This may vary from parish to parish. Registration often takes place in the autumn or winter before the celebration, that is, in the year before the date (it differs by parish).
How does the preparation work?
In many parishes the preparation begins in the autumn and lasts several months. Typical are:
- Group sessions with catechists, often weekly or fortnightly.
- Parents’ evenings on the order of events, costs and organisation.
- Services with the Communion children, sometimes with the children being introduced to the parish.
- Reconciliation service or confession in preparation for the festive day, in different forms depending on the parish.
- Day of reflection or a weekend for getting to know one another and practising.
Exactly what this looks like depends on your parish. The parish will normally inform you in writing.
Order of events on the day
Here too parishes differ, but it usually goes like this:
- Meeting point for the children, often in festive dress, and a solemn procession into the church.
- Festive service with readings, prayers and hymns, shaped by the Communion children.
- First Holy Communion: the children receive Communion for the first time.
- Blessing and thanks, often with thanks to the catechists and the parish.
- Group photo in front of the church.
- Family celebration at home or in a restaurant.
In some places there is a thanksgiving service the next day or in the following week.
Checklist for parents: what and when?
The timings are guidelines. Go by what your parish says.
From autumn/winter before the celebration
- ☐ Register your child for Communion preparation
- ☐ Note the dates of group sessions and parents’ evenings
- ☐ Ask the parish office for the date of First Holy Communion
About 3 to 4 months before
- ☐ Reserve the venue or guest house for the celebration
- ☐ Fix the guest list, prepare the invitations
- ☐ Sort out clothing (dress, suit or parish robe), arrange fitting dates
- ☐ Order the Communion candle or find out in the parish who is decorating it
About 6 to 8 weeks before
- ☐ Sort out a photographer (ask permission for the church)
- ☐ Plan gifts, ask about the child’s wishes, coordinate with relatives
- ☐ Inform godparents if they are travelling
About 2 to 4 weeks before
- ☐ Order gifts so that they arrive in time
- ☐ Decide on table decoration, menu and order of the celebration
- ☐ Do a final check of hair, shoes and clothing
Last week
- ☐ Lay out the candle cloth, hymn book and clothing
- ☐ Talk through the order of service with the child
- ☐ Wrap the gifts, prepare thank-you cards
Clothing, candle and gifts
The usual things include festive clothing (uniform robes in some parishes), the Communion candle and a candle cloth. The Communion candle cloth with chalice and cross (€9.90) goes with the candle. Which gifts guests bring, you will find in our guide What to give for First Holy Communion: 25 ideas. Our whole selection: First Holy Communion gifts.
For more guidance on coordinating gift wishes: talk early with godparents and grandparents and give them a budget or a direction (for example “a cross for the bedroom”), so that nothing arrives twice.
If the whole group is to receive something
Often the parish or the parents’ representatives would like to give all the children the same keepsake. For parishes, schools and groups there is a quantity discount on the total quantity of your order: 10% from 10 items, 15% from 25, 20% from 50 (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop) – quote on request on +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English) or at hallo@lunexus.world (more on the quantity discount). Parishes can also order by invoice.
Frequently asked questions
When is First Holy Communion in 2027?
Each parish decides that itself. White Sunday and the weeks up to about May or June are usual. Ask at the parish office for your date.
How long does the preparation take?
Usually several months, often from autumn until the day of the celebration. The parish sets the exact length.
What does White Sunday mean?
White Sunday is the Sunday after Easter. It is a traditional date for First Holy Communion, but not an obligation.
What does a child wear for First Holy Communion?
That depends on the parish: some wear festive everyday clothes, others uniform robes. Ask the catechists.
When should I order gifts?
Ideally a few weeks before the date, so that delivery and coordination go smoothly. In the peak season many people order at once.
Can Protestant children take part in First Holy Communion?
First Holy Communion is a Catholic feast. Protestant children celebrate Confirmation, usually at an older age. For families of mixed denominations, a conversation with the parish office helps.
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