First Reconciliation

Directly inspired by Angie’s post of More than 40 First Communion Banner Examples, I took pictures of the First Communion Banners at our church last year.

I’ll start with a list of ideas to put on First Communion banners, then move onto the pictures.

Your Name
The Date of your First Holy Communion
Other phrases (see examples below)
Grapes, wheat, chalice
Crosses
Lamb
Church
Stained glass window
Hearts
Hosts
Dove
Monstrance
Rosary

When you’re ready to make your First Communion banner, be sure to check out my directions on How to make a First Communion Banner

Ok, that’s enough brainstorming. Let’s see what this class turned up with. Here are the close ups. (You can click the pictures to make them bigger.)

(above) Love the dove with the hand print! Lots of churches and crosses, and a monstrance. Chalices and grapes- classic.

(above) In the top right corner, I like that one with the pieces of felt like stained glass.

(above) I really like the blue one with all the crosses, and I also LOVE the one all the way to the left. It’s purple and says “Laura”. So cute, simple, and I love the sparkly felt.

(above) the one that says “Joshua” is a great example of actually purchasing felt letters that are already cut out. Gives it a very professional look, if that’s what you’re going for.

(above) Love the one that says “This is my Body”. There’s another one that says “Thank you Jesus” which I think is really sweet. I also like the green one (right bottom corner) with the bread, chalice, grapes, and cross.

The most important thing to remember is that this is your child’s project, not your own. Let him/her design and make the banner how they want. I know you could do a better job than them, but that’s not really the point.

For more First Communion Banner ideas, check out Angie’s pictures of more than 40 samples. She also has a First Communion ebook that’s fabulous, and comes with tons of gorgeous templates for making your own banner.

Also, the First Communion Promenade is still going on today! Liz has posted a First Communion Gift Guide for you all on Catholic Deals today- a post you won’t want to miss! If you missed Lisa’s post yesterday about remembering the sweetness of First Communion, be sure to check that out.

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Today I decided to tackle a reader question from Julie in Minneapolis:

I have a 2nd grade son making his first reconciliation soon..do you have any ideas or gifts (do you give gifts for that???) on how we can celebrate it? document it? they are just doing it during the school day so there is nothing sponsored by the church ..just wondering what people do for that..thank you!!

I was reading this email and thinking that as Catholics, we tend to wait for first communion to celebrate. I consulted this topic with my favorite Catholic forum and on my facebook page. I got some response that first reconciliation was more of an “inward accomplishment” so therefore not calling for the same celebration that other sacraments do. Given that I’ve never heard of a “First Reconciliation Party”, I thought most other Catholic must feel the same way. Even so, first reconciliation is a sacrament, and could still be recognized as a mile stone… no?

Have you guys heard of first communion banners?(I’m pretty sure I was the last Catholic on the planet to hear ofthem). Anyway, I think it would be super cool to give your child acraft set to make his or her own First Communion Banner as a gift aftertheir first reconciliation. That way, it can be a gift, but becausethey also use it at the First Communion it becomes a memory item for both!Catholic Child Catalog has quite a collection of first communion banner kits you can order. I like this “Lamb of God” one! Isn’t it beautiful? Everyone can be a successful crafter with these easy-to-use kits!

A First Reconciliation certificate would certainly be a nice way to commemorate this special occasion, and you can print a free first penance certificate here! (Isn’t it great to find stuff for free online?!)

I got sooooo many replies from families that went out for ice cream after their child’s first reconciliation that I’m going to go ahead and proclaim it a Catholic tradition! (Do I have the authority to do that?) No matter. Whether you spring for Baskin Robbins or make Sundays at home with the kids, take it to the next level by making it symbolic- eat vanilla ice cream because it’s white for “purity”.

Ok, I’m excited about this first reconciliation gift idea that came from a facebook fan- Give your child an eraser! I thought this was such a cute idea! I’ve seen these erasers “for big mistakes” at the Dollar Tree. This is a great way to recognize the sacrament in a symbolic way without filling your house with more dust collecting trinkets, or breaking the bank. This might be a cute gift idea to send to your God child for their first reconciliation. Let them know you haven’t forgotten their important religious day!

If you’re more of the “trinket kind”, (and I know us Catholics like our trinkets) I like this Act of Contrition Wall Cross. It’s classy looking and keeps the Act of Contrition in mind, which is awesome.

Anything with the act of contrition on it would be a great idea (such as a holy card or a wall plaque).

If nothing else, make your child a special dinner. You know, lay down a nice table cloth, put out some pretty china, the works! Just because you’re waiting to break out the cake and balloons for your child’s first communion doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate your child’s first reconciliation. Anyone have one of these red plates?Crack that baby out of the china cabinet! Whoo hoo!