Underprivileged children dressed for their First Holy Communion through the goodness of others

About 76 girls and 70 boys of the Archdiocese of Newark received First Holy Communion outfits and accessories through the St. John the Baptist Collection Drive in Hillsdale. Another 50 children received Communion outfits through The Mercy House this year.

The Church encourages children to wear the color white when they first receive Christ in the Eucharist to represent purity and connect this sacrament to their Baptism, when they were first welcomed into the Church wearing white. But not every child in the Archdiocese has the means to purchase an outfit.

For 17 years, the drive at St. John’s has served poor families who want their children to participate in the sacramental ceremony but can’t afford the attire.

St. John’s parishioner Kathleen Bisi publicized the drive to 12 parishes within the Archdiocese and invited parishioners to donate gently used or unworn outfits and monetary gifts. In addition to individual donations, local businesses such as Axia Creations in the Township of Washington and Little Nikki’s in Ho-Ho-Kus donated First Holy Communion items. Rose Brue of the Township of Washington also donated 32 lace-trimmed veils with crosses attached.

The outfits and accessories were mainly distributed in Newark to St. Rose of Lima Parish, New Community Corporation, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Mercy House distributed its Communion outfits to anyone in need, said director Cheryl Riley.

When asked why she started this collection, retired nurse Bisi could not remember the exact reason but knew the Holy Spirit had moved her to work with this section of the poor. “It’s very important that all children are able to be dressed appropriately for their First Communion … to receive Jesus for the first time.”

Pictures of boys and girls wearing special attire on their First Holy Communion date back to the early 1900s, but culture is what ultimately drives the styles that boys and girls will wear. For example, in Scotland, boys will wear kilts, and in Switzerland, children will wear white robes with crosses around their necks. Some families will choose to pass down Communion outfits from generation to generation, while others will add accessories to a fancy outfit they already own.

Regardless of what a child wears, the day of his or her First Holy Communion is special. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Having become a child of God clothed with the wedding garment, the neophyte is admitted ‘to the marriage supper of the Lamb’ and receives the food of the new life, the body and blood of Christ” (1244).

At The Mercy House in Newark, Riley said all children deserve beautiful Communion wear. The resource and referral center, operated by the Archdiocese of Newark, also collects outfits year-round to give to clients whose children are making their Holy Communion. At its three locations in Newark, Jersey City, and Elizabeth, each serves roughly 300 people every week.

Maria Peponias, who donated eight dresses from Axia Creations to St. John’s, was humbled when asked to contribute. During her childhood in Greece, she wore clothes sewn by her father and hand-me-downs for special occasions. “Now that I am more established, I figured, why not give back to girls who could not afford a dress?” Peponias said.

Each year, Bisi begins her collection of First Holy Communion outfits and accessories the weekend after Valentine’s Day and distributes them before the end of April. She will also call local businesses to gain new sponsors, such as Little Nikki’s. Owner Herma Friedman has been donating Communion attire for 20 years, but after a call from Bisi, she added St. John’s to the list. Overall, Friedman donated 24 pairs of white shoes, 132 pairs of white socks, and 24 pairs of white gloves.

When asked why she donates every year, Friedman said, “I feel so fortunate in the business I have, and I know there are families out there that can’t afford them.”

Bisi selects families who need donations through phone calls and recommendations from catechists who work directly with children in need. From there, Bisi will match what she has in her inventory to the sizes of the children. If she doesn’t have the correct size, she will use the monetary contributions to purchase a dress.

This year, through private donations and Sara’s Boutique in Rutherford, The Mercy House was able to outfit 50 children with suits, dresses, veils, shoes, and gloves, said Riley.

According to the Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of Newark, the number of children making their First Holy Communion is back on the rise after falling due to the pandemic.

In the time leading up to First Holy Communion, which will partake throughout the weekends of May, Bisi has connected with families struck by the unfortunate circumstances of death and poverty. But she says the poor have touched her in return. “I wanted to give, but these wonderful friends gave to me. We have so much to learn from each other, especially the poor,” Bisi said.

Bisi encourages families wanting to donate their gently used or new Communion outfits to save them for next spring. She expects St. John’s to have another one-day collection in March next year. The Mercy House in Newark also takes donations of Communion clothing all year long.

Jaimie Julia Winters, editor of Jersey Catholic, contributed to this report.