Please help me with First Communion Banner

[heathernoel]

What should I put on it? It can be anywhere from poster board size to three feet square.

I am in RCIA, so I wasn't brought up Catholic, and haven't seen one in person.

Thank you!!!

[vluvski]

chalice, host, wheat, and grapes are popular

Also, a monstrance (the usually ornate piece that holds the consecrated host during adoration), a cross/crucifix, if text is appropriate you can write Amen or Bread of Life

[Jennifer J]

Here's my son's banner from 2 years ago. There were a variety of styles and types made by the families in our parish, from simple to more elaborate.



Here are some other examples from the web:
http://www.cameoroze.com/interests/c...nionbanner.htm

How to make banners
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTE...GE/BANNERS.HTM

Kit
http://www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=1745

Hope that helps!

Jennifer

[Timidity]

Since when do arts & crafts have anything to do with the sacraments? Personally, I just wouldn't make one.

[kage_ar]

Originally Posted by Timidity

Since when do arts & crafts have anything to do with the sacraments? Personally, I just wouldn't make one.

Agree. My son's 1st Communion Class did not make banners.

[Jennifer J]

*sigh* It's a family activity meant to encourage discussion about the Eucharist. The banner also marks your family's row in Church (at least ours did). It's not like it takes AWAY from learning about the Eucharist and my child LIKED learning about all the Eucharistic (and other Christian) symbols and choosing the ones he liked for his banner. I swear people can find the silliest things to get huffy about....

Jennifer

[OutinChgoburbs]

It is a good project, and as Jennifer said, it is a pew marker. What does it have to do with the Eucharist? That would be whatever the family in question makes of it. Some people are minimalist when it comes to sacramental prep, and some are not.

For this project, we were given a precut banner of felt which I promptly screwed up.

Not to worry.

I surfed the Internet with my granddaughter (who lives with me) and found 3 pictures that pertained to the Eucharist that she liked. She arranged them so that one was wheat and grapes, which were made into bread and wine, and then had a picture of a priest giving children Communion.These were outline pictures. I incorporated these into a Paint document with her name in outline font, which I flipped (rotated until it was backwards). I printed these on an iron-on page from Avery.

I then ironed it on to a piece of muslin, following Avery's directions. My granddaughter colored in the pictures using Sharpies. I hot glued the muslin to the felt banner, over the big blunder I'd made. I taught my granddaughter how to sew a simple blanket stitch, and we stitched it down with gold thread.

And while we did this, we talked about my First Communion, and her mother's, and her uncle's, and about Jesus, and a host of other things.

Beaded crosses are very popular this year with other kids, as are religious stickers, stampers, and LOTS of glitter.

[Timidity]

Originally Posted by Jennifer J

It's not like it takes AWAY from learning about the Eucharist and my child LIKED learning about all the Eucharistic (and other Christian) symbols and choosing the ones he liked for his banner. I swear people can find the silliest things to get huffy about...

It's probably because I have the artistic skill of a blind cave fish, and it's something that I have zero interest in.

But I wasn't getting huffy. I wasn't saying that it should be outlawed and these misguided CCD instructors should be flogged. I was just saying that I, personally, wouldn't make one.

[Jennifer J]

Originally Posted by Timidity

It's probably because I have the artistic skill of a blind cave fish, and it's something that I have zero interest in.

But I wasn't getting huffy. I wasn't saying that it should be outlawed and these misguided CCD instructors should be flogged. I was just saying that I, personally, wouldn't make one.

"huffy" was the wrong word--I'm 6 months pregnant and my brain is on permanent vacation when it comes to word choices for most of the day Sorry about that!

I did post a "kit" that allows those "craft-less" a chance to make something nice and easy. It's really the process, though, and not the product. While we designed and made his banner, I spoke to him about how his dad and I converted and went through this as adults--showed him pictures, and talked about how his extended family is Catholic (on his Dad's side), how proud I was he was taking this seriously and that he had learned so much. It was a really nice thing to focus on.

Jennifer

[LindaS]

Just a little off topic!

When my younger son was First Communion age, his (Catholic school) class made little banners to decorate the Church for First Communion. Alas, on the Sunday, he was sick and couldn't go. What a disappointment. Next Sunday, we all went to Mass, and there was his banner on the front pew! The priest, at Communion time, announced that this little boy hadn't been able to receive with his class because he was sick, so would everyone please let him go first. Of course, they did, and they clapped for him. Many people congratulated him after Church. So his little banner became very important to him.

Peace,
Linda

[BlestOne]

My step daughters class made them. I helped her. I used colored pen (gel, metallic green) for her name and the date of first communion) and did the letters in script font from the computer. I actually put real wheat chaffs on it (hot glue) and we used felt in 2 different shades for the grapes and I found silk grape leaves. We made a challis out of gold metallic fabric and a host out of white satin. I used angel lace on the sides and wedding satin for the background. It turned out really well. People borrowed it to see how it was done the next year and dd was thrilled!


I am not going to comment on whether or not you should do it, but it was a great bonding moment for step and I and all the other kids made them so I didn't want her to feel left out. They did use them to mark our pew as well. The size was the same as the one pictured above in Jennifer's post.

[OutinChgoburbs]

Originally Posted by OutinChgoburbs

It is a good project, and as Jennifer said, it is a pew marker. What does it have to do with the Eucharist? That would be whatever the family in question makes of it. Some people are minimalist when it comes to sacramental prep, and some are not.

I meant to say that it all depends on the family and the people in the family, the various projects or things they do to get ready. I did not mean it to sound as if "minimalist" was just below the standard. If anybody got that out of my post, I apologise.

[puzzleannie]

Originally Posted by Timidity

Since when do arts & crafts have anything to do with the sacraments? Personally, I just wouldn't make one.

when the children make it themselves, following a discussion of the sacramental signs and symbols and their meaning, and it is a learning activity to reinforce concepts in a less.

when the adults take over and make something expensive from a craft store, worse that useless.

you need a piece of paper with the child's name to mark your family's pew. you have a computer. print one.

whatever you decide don't make it so big no one can enter or leave the pew, defeats the purpose.

why are we resurrecting 2 old threads on this lame topic? if your parish requires it, they will tell you how to do it.

[puzzleannie]

Originally Posted by Timidity

It's
But I wasn't getting huffy. I wasn't saying that it should be outlawed and these misguided CCD instructors should be flogged. I was just saying that I, personally, wouldn't make one.

get in line and take a number
I am available for public flogging during office hours Thurs from 1-1:15 pm.

[Jennifer J]

I don't know why this popped up again, I linked to it in the other thread?? Maybe that did it?