In May, several Highland Lakes families celebrated a special milestone in the Catholic faith: the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.

Catholics prepare for First Holy Communion through religious education and often receive the Sacrament in the second grade. Traditionally, children receiving the Sacrament dress up — boys in suits and girls in white dresses — and receive First Holy Communion during a special Mass attended by family and friends. Afterward, the First Communicants may gather with loved ones and receive gifts to commemorate the occasion.

“This is not only a special day for them and their families, but a joyful moment for our entire parish,” Father Jonathan Wilson, the pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Westerville, wrote in a newsletter to parishioners.

Along with fellow second-graders at St. Paul School and children in the Parish School of Religion program, Grant Wessinger was one of 147 children to receive First Holy Communion at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville. For Grant, whose family has lived in Highland Lakes for more than eight years, the best part of his First Communion day was being at a special Mass with all of his family and receiving Communion for the first time. His parents, Danny and Lindsey, say that watching Grant strengthen his faith and grow in his relationship with God has been the highlight of the experience for them.

For another St. Paul second-grader, Marley Powell, the opportunity to have her hair beautifully styled and to put on a stunning white dress was her favorite part of the occasion. Marley’s parents, Jennifer and Aaron, have lived in Highland Lakes for 15 years. When asked what the best part of the First Communion day was for them, they said, “Watching her get so excited in church for her first Communion.”

Isla Lucente and Maci Lakas, two of Marley and Grant’s classmates, also received their First Holy Communion at St. Paul. They are the granddaughters of Lakes Golf & Country Club member Jeff Lakas. Isla’s parents, Vinnie and Erica, treasured seeing the excitement on their daughter’s face during her First Communion day, while the experience of receiving Communion for the first time was the most meaningful part of the occasion for Isla.

At St. John Neumann parish in Sunbury, another 98 children received their First Communion on May 3. Among them was Simone Reiber, a second-grader at Walnut Creek Elementary whose family has lived in Highland Lakes for four years. Simone was excited to finally be able to receive Communion during Mass. Her parents, Noelle and Joe, said their favorite part of their daughter’s First Communion day was, “Watching her take such a meaningful step in her faith and the joy she showed afterward.”

As they continue to grow in their faith, their First Holy Communion day will remain a special memory for these children and their families for years to come.