Second graders journey towards first Communion with prayer partners

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 5, 2007

Second graders throughout the Diocese of Sioux City and the country are preparing for first Communion. Some of them have had the help of prayer partners along their journey.

Part of the first Communion program for St. Patrick's Parish in Sheldon involves members of the parish as well as the first Communion students. A prayer partner journeys spiritually with the student as they prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time.

Sister Anne McCormick, second grade teacher at St. Patrick's, mentioned that she has been providing the prayer partner program at St. Patrick's since she started there.

"I explain it as a person who journeys spiritually with the first Communicant and their family," said the sister. "I hope it helps the students see the church in a broader sense and that we are all one."

The program is introduced at the weekend liturgies about two months before first Communion. First Communion this year is April 15 at St. Patrick's. There are 11 students, Catholic school and religious education students combined, that will receive first Communion.

The process begins with interested parishioners drawing names and becoming a prayer partner to one of the second graders. The parishioners choose a chalice with a student's name, address, birth date and the date of the first Communion on it.

"I speak at the Masses," said Sister Anne. "The people don't know who they are picking because that is the way they get to meet the kids and the kids get to meet different people in the parish."

Sister Anne added that she asks that a student's immediate family, parents and grandparents, do not choose a name. It is assumed that the family is already praying for the students. She requests that any message given to the students from their prayer partner be of a spiritual or religious nature. The partners send the students cards or drop them off at school.

"I don't want it to be a big gift giving," said Sister Anne. "I want the children to realize that their prayer is a gift."

A prayer partner may also visit the school to have lunch with the student and then the student might give them a tour of their classroom and talk to them about what they are doing in the classroom.

"They really get the chance to develop a friendship with their prayer partner," said Sister Anne. "Some of them have gone on communicating for years."

The prayer partner program is also provided for the students at Spalding Catholic Grade School in Hospers and for the religious education students in the Pilgrim Cluster including St. Anthony's in Hospers, St. Joseph in Granville and St. Mary's in Alton.

This program is run differently than the program in Sheldon. The students do not find out who their prayer partner is until the weekend before their first Communion. First Communion is April 29 this year and there are 28 first communicants all together.

Nancy Penning, second grade teacher at Spalding Catholic in Hospers, pointed out that there is one person at each parish that is in charge of assigning a prayer partner or a prayer family to the second graders. She commented that the program has been going for many years.

The program begins in the first part of January.

"While they are preparing for reconciliation and the Eucharist, they send the second graders notes or cards saying they are praying for them and encouraging them," said Penning.

On April 22, the Sunday before their first Communion, Bread Sunday, the students are called up and introduced to their prayer partner or prayer family. The students receive a loaf of bread.

"This is a very exciting time for them. It helps them feel special that they know someone is praying for them and sending good thoughts their way," said Penning. "They love getting things in the mail. They bring them to school to share with the students. It is fun for them to make a new friend."