Mixed blessing
It is ironic that a country 'on its knees' should allocate millions of euro to funding the excesses that arise from First Holy Communion and Confirmation events.
As a Christian myself, I would remind the participants in these ceremonies that Jesus chose, very deliberately, to be born in a stable and as such I believe the clergy should do more to discourage the lavish disco-style dressing, hair-dos, make-up and pastries that revolve around these events and are carried out largely by parents and their children who only enter a church for baptisms, First Holy Communions, confirmations, weddings and funerals.
It is immoral that such extravagance should be encouraged when our health service is now of third-world standard.
Although my own First Holy Communion took place nearly 50 years ago, I recall a very happy day when all the boys wore their school uniforms and the girls wore a simple white veil.
After the service, all the children and parents were invited to the school canteen for tea, sandwiches and cakes, and all had a wonderful day without any element of competition creeping in.
David Bradley
Drogheda, Co Louth
Irish Independent
