Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a real pleasure to have you all here to share and celebrate in this very important

occasion of her life, the FHC of our darling Elaine. I am privileged to be raising the toast to such a lively and smart child. Twelve years back when Bruno and Emerita came together in holy matrimony, I had raised the toast and they requested me to do the same today for Elaine The memory of this special day lasts a lifetime. That's why it's so important that those memories are good ones... full of laughter and joy, where the person receiving First Holy Communion knows that 'it is their day!' Elaine has been praying to Jesus every day because she wants to make sure her heart is ready to welcome him during her first Holy Communion. And now that he has come, it's time to say thank you and it's a time for everyone to join in and say... hip, hip hurray to the special person who is celebrating her First Holy Communion today! It's also time for fun and happiness. Elaine has waited a long time for this day. Today is one day Elaine will cherish and remember for the rest of her life. It is a day when we all celebrate Elaines commitment to our Catholic Faith in the presence of those who care most about her. So let us congratulate Elaine on this very special day, when she has received our Lord for the first time in communion and let us wish her all happiness in her Catholic life from this day forward. Jesus rebuked gravely with these words: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for of such is the kingdom of God." It is clearly seen how highly He held their innocence and the open simplicity of their souls on that occasion when He called a little child to Him and said to the disciples: "Again, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little

children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven....And whoever receives one such little child for my sake, receives me." Elaine was born on 24th October 2002 and now studies in the 5th Std in St. Joseph School at Abu Dhabi. Her enterprising parents, Bruno and Emerita are well settled there and have also been blessed with the arrival of Asher who is 3 yrs old. Elaine is lucky to have her grandmothers Mrs.Winny Gretta Lewis & Mrs. Cecilia Fernandes who are here to share in her joy. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and raise your glasses to join us in toasting to Elaine. Dear Elaine, from the bottom of the hearts of all who are present here and those who could not make it, especially your late grandfathers Mr. Jerome Valentine Lewis and Mr. Mark Fernandes who are looking down upon you from heaven, god parents Marina & Rudolph Dias, cousins ----------, uncles and aunts, here is a small wish:

For Your First Holy Communion, dear Elaine May God grant you always A sunbeam to warm you A moonbeam to charm you A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you Laughter to cheer you Faithful friends near you And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you. We love you, Elaine! God bless you mightily. We encourage you to continue to receive Christ in your heart and to walk with God for the rest of your life, and each of us will accompany you on that journey. A whole new world unfolds before you from this day on. Let the

faith in your heart, always be your guide. Congratulations on the most sacred of new beginnings! Cheers!
Pope St. Pius X, the "Pope of the Eucharist," is one of the patrons of First Communicants as it was he who especially encouraged frequent and early Communion Another patron of First Communicants is Blessed Imelda Lambertini (A.D. 1322-1333), who died while receiving her First Holy Communion. One day St. Theresa heard someone say if only I had lived at the time of Jesus. If only I had seen Jesus if only I had talked to Jesus To this she responded but do we not have in the Eucharist the living, true n real Jesus present before us? Why look for more. In the presence of Jesus in the holy sacrament we ought to be like the blessed in heaven before the divine essence.

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.