We are gearing up for First Communion again at our house. This year our youngest will be celebrating the sacrament, and two years ago our food allergic daughter made her First Communion. It is an exciting time, but food allergies add another layer of planning and preparation to ensure one of the holiest days for your child is also a safe one.
If your little one will be making First Communion this year, now is the time to start planning to make the day about the sacrament and not a reaction.
I have said it before, and I will say it again, but most things work out just fine with advanced planning and prep. Waiting until the last minute to raise concerns or make special requests can add to the stress of managing a food allergy- First Communion is no different. Here are the things we did- hopefully with advance conversions and thoughtful requests your First Communion will go as smoothly as possible.
Start the Conversation With Your Church Now
Most churches have someone assigned to manage all the arrangements for First Communion for the parish. If you do not know that person, reach out now and introduce yourself. Explain your child’s food allergies and express the desire to partner with them to make the day safe. Reaching out now, a few months before the event, will give everyone a chance to prepare accordingly and not lead to the stress of last minute requests that fly in the face of all of the planning that has already been done by the church.
Develop a Plan
Work with your church to develop your stay safe plan. First, determine if they have had to manage food allergies in the past for the sacrament, and if so, how has it been handled. There may be lessons learned from those who have gone before you or practices that are already in place.
As we developed the stay safe plan for my daughter, it included calling the providers of the Host and the Wine to check ingredients and processing. The church provided me with the contact information and I made the calls and did the research. Once I had the information, I met with our church and we mapped out a plan- well in advance of the First Communion mass.
Day of Logistics
Often, there are special seating assignments for the First Communion mass. We worked with our church to ensure that my daughter was the first to receive communion. While we had determined through our earlier research that the Host was safe for her, I had major concerns about her drinking from the Chalice after others....what if someone had had peanut butter for breakfast- would that be enough to trigger a reaction?
By talking about our concerns early it was easy to arrange the seating chart so that my daughter would be the first to drink from the Chalice in her aisle.
We also made sure that the Eucharistic minister in her aisle was aware of her allergens and was sure to wash hands before the mass.
Pre-Events
Many churches have special retreats or events leading up to the big day. Be sure to also talk through these events with your First Communion coordinator to understand what, if any food, will be at these events and how to keep it safe.
This is one where I dropped the ball. The invitation we got for our retreat indicated there would be no food served so I assumed we were in the clear. However, when we showed up for the retreat our Priest informed the kids that he was going to make bread during the retreat and when it was ready each child would get to practice taking communion by eating the bread. One of the ingredients he used to make the bread contained one of her allergens. I had to find a time to pull him aside during the retreat and explain that she could not eat the bread. He understood, but I feel things would have been better for everyone if I had been able to have the conversation ahead of time.
After Party
Some people choose to celebrate this special day with a party afterwards. Be sure to think though your menu and prep any special foods ahead of time. I opted to make a simple and safe chocolate chip cookie cake. There are some allergy-friendly bakeries that can prepare special cookies or cakes, but remember to order ahead and factor in shipping time to get it there for your child’s special day. One of my favorite allergy-friendly bakeries is Annie May’s Sweet Cafe.
To everyone out there preparing for First Communion, I hope these tips are helpful in planning a joyful and safe celebration! Thrive On!
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