A New Beginning for Our Children
On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), our parish church began preparation classes for children to receive their first confession and celebrate their first holy communion. The day was filled with liturgy, spiritual guidance, and the joy of beginning this sacred journey.
The Liturgy and First Lesson
During the Divine Liturgy, the children had the opportunity to sit in the front of the church and actively participate in the service. After the Liturgy, each child received a special welcome gift and participated in their first catechism class.
A Message from Father Andrii
"Dear children, today you are embarking on a wonderful journey—preparation for your first confession and holy communion. You are growing up and now understand what is good and evil. You are beginning this journey to prepare to meet God, to meet Jesus. Confession is meeting Jesus, where you can speak with Him, ask forgiveness, and be just as you are. But do not worry—you will not be alone on this journey. We will all accompany you: through prayer and teaching. You will have our catechists, Mrs. Lyubov and Mrs. Tetyana, who will teach you the truth of Christian faith. They will give you a piece of themselves, their love. Your parents will also be with you, helping you with homework and participating in the services," said Father Andrii, the parish priest.
Learning Kits and First Class
Each child received a special learning backpack containing a workbook, a class schedule with homework assignments, and a Children's Bible. The first class introduced children to important Christian concepts such as honesty, responsibility, listening, and compassion—virtues that will help them both in their studies and in their relationships with others throughout their lives.
Values-Based Learning
The catechism class uses a play-based approach to introduce children to Christian virtues and biblical passages. Through exercises and shared prayers, children learn not just religious knowledge, but also how to communicate and relate to one another with compassion and understanding.
Our Prayer for the Children
We pray that God will guide the catechists with wisdom and fruitfulness in teaching the children, and that each child will open their heart and soul during this journey and best prepare to meet Jesus. This is a sacred time of growth, learning, and spiritual transformation for our young parishioners.
Photo Gallery
Photography by Nazar Khudo and Ann Grape