My Brothers First Holy Communion
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Saturday 23rd July was my brother, Seamus’s, First Holy Communion. I remember my own First Holy Communion and that I was very nervous that I would not be able to pronounce my reading correctly so I read it over and over again. However, Seamus wasn’t nervous at all because he didn’t know that there was anything to be nervous about as he has autism.
The mass was held in a small chapel attached to St. Joseph’s church in Galway at 11.30am. Three other children from Seamus’s school were also making their First Holy Communion.
Seamus woke at 4.00 am that morning and didn’t go back to sleep. We had our breakfast around 9.00 and we got ready afterwards. My aunt Maureen arrived from Co. Clare but Seamus didn’t take much notice as he was playing a computer game. Our neighbour, Amy, also called to see us and to take photographs. Whenever a boy or girl on our street has his or her First Holy Communion or Confirmation she always takes their picture.
Maureen and Amy said that we looked great all dressed up. Seamus wore white trousers, a white T-shirt and white shoes and socks as he wouldn’t wear the usual clothes that boys wear on their First Holy Communion such as waist-coats etc. If Seamus isn’t comfortable in particular clothes he will take them off straight away.
When we arrived at the church Seamus started whinging. This gradually got worse as we entered the small chapel. We took our seats and shortly afterwards the priest began the Mass. At this stage Seamus had got very loud and angry and wanted to leave the chapel. Mom and Dad were trying to keep him in the seat but he kept jumping up and down. Just before the Readings began, Mom brought Seamus out into the main church because he was so upset and agitated and Seamus’s tutor, Aoibhe, went with them to help out.
While they were gone I did my Reading and Mom was sorry that she missed it. My Reading was through Irish. After the Reading I sat down next to my Dad who was the only person sitting in our seats. He then had to do a Reading and then he went out to the main church to see if Mom and Seamus were alright.. I was the only person left sitting in our seats as the rest of our relations had seats at the back of the chapel. After a while it was time for the four children to receive their Holy Communion. The other three boys received their First Holy Communion.
Afterwards, I saw the school Principal going out to the main church to Seamus with the Holy Communion and I was relieved as I thought that he wasn’t going to receive it. I received Communion and sat in my seat patiently waiting for the Mass to end. When the Mass ended everyone began talking to one another and I had to squeeze in between a lot of people to get to my relations. I chatted with them for a while and then I saw Seamus, Mom and Dad coming into the chapel and I was relieved again. Seamus looked a bit flushed after being so upset but he was happy now and was smiling at everyone. I asked straight away if Seamus took his First Holy Communion and Mom said that he did and for the third time I was relieved.
We took some photographs and waited around for a while after that. Then all the family went to the Menlo Park Hotel for lunch. Seamus was very cheerful at the hotel and he ate bread, chips and ice-cream. The hotel gave him a poster of Lord of the Rings and a box of Roses as a present for his First Holy Communion. We went home after the lunch and I was very happy that Seamus had received his First Holy Communion.
by Cait Neylon (age 12)
