First Holy Communion and non-Catholics - thinking ahead!

[IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy]

Hoping some knowledgeable Catholics (or others!) out there can help with this question...

Background - DS - baptised CofE - is at a Catholic primary (we've always considered ourselves Anglo-Catholic anyway!). Recently have started going to the RC church attached to the school for Mass now and then, and am looking into RCIA myself.

Question is: what happens if - as is likely - DS gets to 7 or 8 and decides he wants to do First Holy Communion etc at school? I would be happy with this, but would he be able to? Would he need to be baptised RC first?

I am thinking ahead a bit here, but would appreciate any help on this!

I think he has to be baptised first. Your local priest will be able to advise you.

He can't be 'rebaptised' if you know what I mean, I think he can make FHC as he is. (Did a bit of research as i'm chair of catholic pre school and we had an applicant in a similar position, we asked the priest and he said once you are baptised that is fine and they don't redo it). When people do RCIA they are only baptised if they were never baptised before.
Do they do FHC in school? Round here it is organised by the parishes and the school nolonger has an input.

Had a feeling he might - but then read somewhere that Catholics saw CE baptisms as valid (but that doesn't seem to make sense?)

Am attempting to muster courage to talk to priest at next opportunity, just finding it fairly daunting...

If he's baptised then he can't be rebaptised. He'd need to be received into the catholic church before he could make his communion -- if they're little I think it's easier, once they're 7 or 8 probably a bit more complicated.

Communion preparation is generally done through the parishes not the schools these days (unless you're in ireland), so probably best to speak to the priest. If you're doing RCIA yourself I'm sure you'd have a chance to raise it.

I would first start by having a chat with your parish priest or the priest attached to your DS's school.
Normally you would have to be baptised in the Roman Catholic faith prior to First Holy Communion however this requirement is sometimes the decision of the individual priest ... I know my PP would continue with the 1st HC given that your DS is attending mass and at a RC school.

But yes - broach it with your priest and often the baptism will be a small service for your son to enter the Catholic Community.

Hope it goes well !

don't feel daunted about speaking to your priest. Most are more than happy to help "newbies"!

Just x-posted with geogteach - thanks for that.

I don't particularly want him re-baptised, since clearly I consider his a valid baptism and we appointed much-loved godparents etc and it was a very special day. I was starting to see it as something of a catch-22 - have to be baptised RC to take FHC, but then shouldn't re-baptise from CE so can't have RC baptism...it is good to hear that he might be able to go ahead from here iykwim.

As I understand it, in this area FHC was organised through school until this year, they have only just changed it to work on a parish basis as such, if that makes sense.

I can't type fast enough! Thanks for the replies. It feels like a bit of a minefield at the minute.

It is up to the priest - my DD has a COE baptised girl in her class and she took her first communion along with all the others. Her parents made no presumptions but went along and had a chat with the priest. He was fine about it.

Baptism can't be repeated, even if it wasn't a catholic baptism:

Here is the relevant bit from the catechism:

Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated. (Catechism, 1272)

If you read this page it tells you more -- scroll down to the 'preparation for christians' section.