What to Write in a First Communion Card
The child is seven or eight. Write to them, not over their head to their parents — a sentence they can read themselves is worth more than a paragraph of theology they cannot.
- Who you are writing to
- A seven-year-old. Short sentences, plain words, their name at the top.
- The tone
- Warm and celebratory. This is a happy day and the card should sound like one.
- If you are not Catholic
- Congratulate them on the day and on the work they did to prepare for it. No theology required.
- The keepsake point
- These cards get kept for decades, often in the missal. Sign and date it.
The whole card
Four short lines. Sign and date it — these are kept.
Dear name,
Congratulations on your First Holy Communion.
Something about the day or the preparation: you looked wonderful / you worked so hard for this.
A blessing or a wish, in your own words.
With love,
Your name — date
Short, and readable by the child
- 1
Congratulations on your First Holy Communion. What a special day.
- 2
Happy First Communion! We are so proud of you.
- 3
Congratulations. You looked wonderful and you did it beautifully.
- 4
With love and every blessing on your First Holy Communion.
Naming the preparation
Months of classes went into this. Very few cards mention them and children notice when someone does.
- 5
You have worked hard at your lessons all year and today it showed.
- 6
You learned all of it and you remembered all of it. That was not easy and you did it anyway.
- 7
Congratulations on your First Communion, and on all the Saturday mornings that went into it.
Religious, and simple enough for a child
- 8
May God bless you today and every day.
- 9
Wishing you God’s blessing on your First Holy Communion and always.
- 10
Today you joined the family of the church properly. We are all very glad about it.
- 11
May this day be the beginning of a long and happy life of faith.
From grandparents
- 12
Your grandfather and I have waited for this day. You did us proud.
- 13
This is the same day we watched your mother have, in the same church. Now it is yours.
- 14
We have a photograph of your father on his First Communion looking exactly as smart and twice as nervous.
From godparents
This is the day the role means something concrete. Say what it means to you.
- 15
Being your godmother has been one of the best jobs I have had. Today made me very proud.
- 16
I promised to help you with this when you were a few weeks old. I meant it then and I mean it now.
- 17
Any time you want to ask me anything about any of it, I am here. That is what a godfather is for.
From a family friend or a neighbour
- 18
Congratulations on your First Communion. Thank you for inviting us — it was a lovely morning.
- 19
With warm congratulations on your First Holy Communion, from all of us.
- 20
You looked very grown up today, and you behaved better than several adults present.
If you are not religious yourself
You can be entirely warm without saying anything you do not believe.
- 21
Congratulations on your special day. You worked hard for it and everybody could see that.
- 22
What a lovely day, and what a lot of people who care about you in one room.
- 23
Congratulations! Enjoy every bit of today.
A line about the gift
- 24
Something to keep. Put it somewhere safe and you will still have it when you are old.
- 25
For your bookshelf, and for years from now.
- 26
A keepsake for today. There is no rush to understand all of it.
To the parents
- 27
A beautiful morning and a very proud pair of parents. Congratulations to all of you.
- 28
She was word perfect and you must have been beside yourselves. Well done to all three of you.
From one child to another
If a child is signing it themselves, let them. This is the section to read to them and let them pick from.
- 29
Congratulations! You looked really smart.
- 30
Happy First Communion. See you at the party.
- 31
Well done for learning all of it. I would have forgotten.
If you cannot be there
- 32
Sorry to miss your special day. I will be thinking about you all morning.
- 33
We cannot be there and we are sorry about it. Photographs please, and lots of them.
- 34
Missing it, not forgetting it. Congratulations.
A line that ages well
These cards are read again at eighteen and at forty. Write one sentence for the adult they will become.
- 35
Whatever you decide about all of this when you are older, you were loved on this day by a room full of people.
- 36
Keep this card. One day you will want to know who was there.
- 37
You will not remember much of today. This is here to tell you it happened and that it was lovely.
Confirmation, which is a different day
A common mix-up. Confirmation comes years later and the card is written to a teenager, not a child.
- 38
Congratulations on your Confirmation. This one you chose yourself, which makes it the more important of the two.
- 39
With every blessing on your Confirmation and on the years ahead.
- 40
Congratulations. Taking a saint’s name is a good excuse to go and read about somebody remarkable.
Questions people actually ask
What do you write in a First Communion card?
Congratulations, something about the day or the months of preparation, and a blessing or good wish in your own words. Keep the sentences short — the child is seven or eight and should be able to read it themselves.
What do you write if you are not Catholic?
Congratulate them on the day and on the work they did to prepare for it. Warmth does not require theology, and a plainly-written card from outside the faith is entirely welcome.
What do godparents write in a First Communion card?
Something about the role. This is the first day the promise made at the baptism means anything concrete to the child, and saying you intend to keep it is the point of the card.
Should you date a First Communion card?
Yes. They are kept for decades, frequently tucked into the missal or the album, and an undated card loses half its value as a record.
Is a First Communion card the same as a Confirmation card?
No. First Communion is written to a child of seven or eight in short plain sentences; Confirmation comes years later and is written to a teenager who chose it, which changes the tone entirely.