By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted April 3, 2003

Fifth grade students at Mater Dei School's Immaculate Conception Center in Sioux City helped to make a fellow classmate's special day all the more meaningful.

Jamie Buchmann, a fifth grade student at Mater Dei, made her first Communion at an all-school Mass March 21.

"Our class was in charge of the Mass - the singing, the readings and so forth," explained Karen Fry, fifth-grade teacher. "We were really excited to do this as a class."

The idea for Jamie to make her first Communion at a Mass apart from second-graders came from the school's head teacher, Carol Happe.

As excitement built for this special sacramental event, Immaculate Conception's pastoral minister, Sister Joellen Price, suggested that fellow students make unleavened bread for the occasion. She was aware that Immaculate Conception had called upon parishioner Charlotte Sweeney to make bread every year for Holy Thursday. The parishioner didn't hesitate in offering her services.

"Charlotte came to school and worked with us in the kitchen. She had everything ready for us to make the bread," noted Fry. The fifth grade students took turns stirring the mixture and then, after it was baked, helped to cut the bread into bite-size pieces.

Made on March 19, the unleavened bread was used for Jamie's first Communion. Father Gerald Feierfeil celebrated the Mass.

Having her classmates involved in her first Communion "made it easier for me because they told me what to do," noted Jamie. She pointed out that her mother is presently going through RCIA.

Molly Uhl, a fifth grade student, said she liked helping to make the bread for her friend's first Communion.

"It was a real exciting day for her," said Uhl, who noted that she had trouble remembering her own first Communion. "I am glad that it was."

Tanner Choquette, another classmate, pointed out that he was one of the readers for Mass. Many of the fifth-graders played significant roles in the liturgy.

"I was excited for her (Jamie) because I made my first Communion in third grade and that was really special," he said. Choquette made his with the second-graders.

Millie Niggeling, a fifth grade student, said she liked all aspects of helping Jamie celebrate her first Communion - from helping to make the bread to being part of the Mass as she delivered the introduction at the liturgy.

She described the student involvement in Jamie's first Communion as "really cool."

Jamie and her parents dressed the altar and were the gift bearers.

Along with students from Mater Dei's Immaculate Conception Center, Jamie's parents and other family members attended the Mass as did numerous parishioners.

She pointed out that it made her feel good to know that her classmates wanted to be a part of her special day. The students participation in the preparation and the Mass itself was a special gift to Jamie from her peers.

"I like it that they did so much for me," noted Jamie. "They were really nice to me, they gave me cards and stuff."

The support and involvement of her classmates was not only meaningful to Jamie, but the teacher said it was good for the students.

"Some of the students have a hard time remembering their own first Communions. It made it even more special that they got to make the bread. It was pretty exciting for them," said Fry. "The students will all remember this. It was a real special day."

The students all signed a card for Jamie and after Mass they enjoyed donuts and juice.