My child is just beginning instruction for First Communion at school, but I’ve not been to church for years. I’m worried that either pressure will be put on me to go to church or that my child will be made to think that I’m not as good as the other parents who go to church.
Just to put you at ease, all good teachers today are sensitive to the fact that many parents and children are not regular church attenders, they will do their best to ensure all children feel accepted, whether or not their parents go to church.
Having said that, it is surprising how many parents find their child’s first communion an opportunity to look into what they themselves believe. Many people who drift away from church as teenagers find new meaning in their faith when they have to bring up their own children. If you do have questions about belief, then most priests are only too delighted to find time to have a chat with parishioners about faith issues.
