Birthday parties, hugs, and God’s Love: Preaching First Communion to children

“What does it mean to receive Jesus in Holy Communion? It’s like Jesus is giving us a big hug, saying, ‘I love you so much. I want you to be close to me always,’” says Russell Pollitt, S.J., pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Johannesburg and chaplain to Catholic elementary and middle schools, to the children preparing for their First Communion.

Russell uses vivid, everyday examples—birthdays, friends, hugs and gifts—to help children grasp God’s particular love for them. His First Communion homily avoids the often abstract sacramental and Eucharistic theology, inviting all in the parish community—children, parents, guardians and catechists—to “imagine Jesus giving you a big hug today” and encounter God’s love in the Eucharist.

Part of the Preaching for the Sacraments series, in this episode “Preach” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., talks with Russell about how this accessible approach helps the entire community experience Jesus as a friend. By engaging the congregation as a whole in deepening their faith alongside the children, “we can together form future disciples whose hearts are on fire with the love of Jesus.”

00:00 Why First Communion is Really About God’s Love

01:30 Meet Father Russell Pollitt, Jesuit Priest in Johannesburg

03:39 Helping Kids Understand God’s Love for Them

07:12 Sacraments Are About Community, Not Checking Boxes

08:37 Preaching: Sacrament, Scripture, or Feast?

11:11 A First Communion Homily That Connects with Kids and Adults

19:53 Talking Directly to Kids: Why It Matters

25:21 Do We Celebrate Sacraments or Receive Them? Why It Matters

31:54 Preaching Sacraments in Schools vs. Parishes

35:00 A Message for Life: “You Are Special, God Loves You”

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