Ladies and Gentlemen,It is a real pleasure to have you all here to share and

celebrate in this veryimportant 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 holymatrimony, I
had raised the toast and they requested me to do the sametoday for ElaineThe memory
of this special day lasts a lifetime. That's why it's so importantthat those
memories are good ones... full of laughter and joy, where theperson receiving First
Holy Communion knows that 'it is their day!'Elaine has been praying to Jesus every
day because she wants to makesure 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 iscelebrating her First Holy Communion today!
It's also time for fun andhappiness.
Elaine has waited a long time for this day. Today is one day Elaine willcherish and
remember for the rest of her life. It is a day when we all
celebrate Elaines commitment to our Catholi
c Faith in the presence of those who care most about her. So let us congratulate
Elaine on this veryspecial day, when she has received our Lord for the first time
incommunion and let us wish her all happiness in her Catholic life from thisday
forward.Jesus rebuked gravely with these words: "Let the little children come tome,
and do not hinder them, for of such is the kingdom of God." It is clearlyseen 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 thedisciples: "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 24
th
October 2002 and now studies in the 5
th
Std in St.Joseph School at Abu Dhabi. Her enterprising parents, Bruno and
Emeritaare 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.WinnyGretta Lewis &
Mrs. Cecilia Fernandes who are here to share in her joy.Ladies and gentlemen,
please rise and raise your glasses to join us intoasting to Elaine.Dear Elaine,
from the bottom of the hearts of all who are present here andthose who could not
make it, especially your late grandfathers Mr. JeromeValentine Lewis and Mr. Mark
Fernandes who are looking down upon youfrom heaven, god parents Marina & Rudolph
Dias, cousins ----------, unclesand aunts, here is a small wish:For Your First Holy
Communion, dear ElaineMay God grant you always A sunbeam to warm you A moonbeam to
charm you A sheltering angel so nothing can harm youLaughter to cheer youFaithful
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 walkwith 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 mostsacred of new
beginnings! Cheers!
Pope St. Pius X, the "Pope of the Eucharist," is one of the patrons of First
Communicants as it was hewho especially encouraged frequent and early
CommunionAnother patron of First Communicants is Blessed Imelda Lambertini (A.D.
1322-1333), who died whilereceiving 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
seenJesus
 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 beforeus?
Why look for more. In the presence of Jesus in the holy sacrament we ought to be
like the blessedin heaven before the divine essence
.

If you plant honesty, you will reap trustIf you plant goodness, you will reap
friends.If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.If you plant perseverance,
you will reap contentmentIf 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.