Milford. First Communion class celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church

With over 200 parents, grandparents, guardians and friends from as far away as Europe looking on, 19 area children received the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time recently at St. Patrick’s Church in Milford.

Celebratory banners, created by the children with their parents, welcomed guests as they arrived in the Narthex of the church. The banners featured images reflecting the meaning of the sacrament, including the sacred host, the chalice and grapes, relating to the bread and wine presented at the Offertory, and transformed into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

The children of the First Communion class were: Savannah Balistreri, Maria Confusione, Ronan Delrio, Chase Ertola, Julia Fidalgo, Colin Gaspar, Angelina Giovane, Jared Kahmar, Sebastian Kratochwill, Alexander Marshall, Angel “Bo” Moreno, Mia Michaela Ochlan, Hailey Annette O’Donnell, Jason Perruso, Charlotte Reynolds, Zachary Saccento, Addison Selneck and Anthony Sposito.

Catechist Mary Caraballo of Dingmans Ferry prepared the children for this important day in faith formation classes conducted at St. Patrick’s Hall. Deacon Tom Spataro offered the homily and Certificates of First Holy Communion were presented to the children, signed by Rev. Joseph Manarchuck, Pastor.