June 19, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com
OUR PARISHESI 9A
Celebrating first Holy Communion ELKIN — The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ this year marked the First Communion of eight children at St. Stephen Mission in Elkin. As a remembrance of their baptism, the children all wore white to mark the next step on their faith journey. After the Communion rite, Doris Watson, their catechist for the past three years, presented them with a gift from the parish. After Mass, all the families gathered in the Family Life Center for a brunch prepared by the families of the previous year’s group and other generous parishioners. Pictured are: (first row) Nancy Espino, Isabella Estrada, Morgan Orta, Eric Barrientos and Susana Martinez; (second row) Jovanny Lopez, Emma Golden and Nancy Espino; and (third row) Sister Janis McQuade, SSJ, Father John Hanic, pastor, and Doris Watson, catechist. Photo provided by Sister Janis McQuade, SSJ
LINVILLE — Ethan McCormick, Kamryn Lavelle, Samantha Solis Ayala and Gian Marco Solis Ayala recently received their first Holy Communion at St. Bernadette Church in Linville, during Mass celebrated by Father Christopher Gober, pastor.
Jeanine Russell | Catholic News Herald
LENOIR — Twenty-six children received their first Holy Communion at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir May 31. Father Julio Dominguez, pastor, spoke in his homily about the Holy Trinity, and told the youth how excited they should be in receiving the second person of the Holy Trinity, our beloved Jesus Christ. First Holy Communion recipients were: Adam Baker, Zaine Faw, Daniel Kreahling, Abby Russell, Nathan Smith, Christina Rose Tassinari, Dominic Casey Tassinari, Trinity White, Connor Wilson, Izack Almaraz, Angel Arroyo, Jannet Belmontes, Yvette Belmontes, Junior Castillo, Christian Estrada Hernandez, Jhoana Michael Reyes Flores, Joseph Granados Rivera, Ricardo Ruisanchez Hernandez, Nathalie Ibarra, Nicole Diaz, Luis Humberto Macias Trejo, Juan Carlos Martinez, Alexa Nieves, Edgar Pena, Maria Jazmin Robles-Guerrero and Ashley Urbina. Their teachers were Karen Matthewson, Bianca Rodriguez and Roger Perez. Also pictured is Deacon Stephen Pickett.
Photo provided by Cindy Giarrusso
Photos provided by Marty Schneider and Jennifer Noto
CHARLOTTE — At St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, 150 children celebrated their first Holy Communion on May 9 – the largest class of first Communicants ever at the parish. Father Patrick Hoare celebrated the Masses and was assisted by Father Peter Pham, Deacon James Gorman and Deacon Joseph Denzler.