Communion cards provide recognition to students, spark conversation
By Renee Webb, Globe diocesan news editor
Posted February 28, 2002

First Communion is always a big deal for children and it can be even more special when they receive a card from the bishop. The Vocation Office of the diocese coordinates such a project within the Diocese of Sioux City.

"The idea is to let the children know that they belong to a larger church and that their first Communion is important to the whole church," said Father Brian Hughes, vocation director of the diocese.

In October the Vocation Office sends a form to the Catholic schools and religious education programs asking them to return the names and addresses of students who will receive their First Holy Communion. The week of their First Communion, the students are sent a congratulatory card and special remembrance holy card from Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo.

Father Hughes said the bishop encourages the children to recite the prayer printed on the holy card. The prayer asks the children to remember that their gifts and talents be shared with God and others.

The vocation director said he was not aware of any other dioceses offering such a program.

He mentioned that one year they considered not sending the cards, but the teachers and parents were upset. It is such a well received program that they decided to continue with it.

The Diocese of Sioux City has been doing this since the early 1990s. Father Dan Guenther, pastor at Holy Family Church in Emmetsburg, initiated the first Communion card project. It was during the tenure of Bishop Lawrence D. Soens.

"I believed that a card from the bishop would spark discussions in the family," he said. "And that is a key time in the young person's faith life. It is a nice way for the bishop to be putting forth a supportive message."

When he first started the program, Father Guenther recalled how he personally addressed and stamped the cards. It was a lot of work but "was a good investment of time and money."

Father Guenther, who served as vocation director from 1989 to 1996, said he was always looking for creative ways to plant the seed of vocations. He also started the Vocations Creativity Contest in the diocese.

Sister Mary Hermann Platt, curriculum director at Seton Grade School in Algona, said the students are always thrilled to get something from the bishop and that in itself it pleasing to the parents. The school and parish in Algona have participated in the project for about three years.

According to Joyce Galvin, director of religious education (DRE) at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Holstein, the parish has submitted names of their second-graders for a number of years because she sees value in such a program. The DRE believes that it might help the students feel part of a bigger church.

Pat Walsh, DRE at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City, said that the names of the students enrolled in the parish program and school have been submitted since the inception of the program. She finds it a nice way for the kids to have some contact with the bishop. At Blessed Sacrament, the second-graders also receive cards from fifth-graders.

"Cards are a good way to affirm the kids and recognize them during this special time," she said.

If parishes or schools have not submitted names of their students who will be making their first Communion this spring, they should contact Lynne Paulsen, 712-233-7523, at least three weeks prior to date of the sacrament.