What will happen please ? First communion

It will be fine, smart attire, no requirement to cover your head, you cannot take part in holy communion and it might last a while as many are confirmed at a time often. Gifts and cards appropriate and it’s a great privilege to be invited.

Enjoy your day

Wear whatever you feel comfortable in Floradora. You wont need to cover your head and there aren't going to be any pitfalls.

You'll be given an order of service booklet to follow and you can follow the service silently, if you don't want to join in.

PS I'm referring to the responses during the normal service and those asked of the congregation during the communion.

Your trouser suit sounds fine, most people don't bother anymore about head covering and haven't for many years, the service will be a little longer that the normal Sunday mass so probably about one and half hours, all depends on A) how many children / adults are receiving communion for the first time, B) how long winded the priest is. The children will usually be led into the service once everyone else has arrived and are seated they usually sit at the front of the church, sometimes afterwards there is a little party in the church hall afterwards or the parents may organise something at home or in a local restaurant. A card and a small gift are great.

If it’s a normal service first, don’t forget to take some money for the Offering. I didn’t know there would be one and didn’t have anything on me except my emergency £20 note. They did well out of me that day😬🤣

I hope you have a lovely day. There will be lots of people there who aren't used to attending church, let alone Mass, so you won't be on your own.
There were about 25 children making theirs in my parish recently, but that is an unusually large number.
Immediate families get reserved seats at the front so I would advise you go early to get a seat further back.
There isn't always an order of service, so to speak but if there's only a few children there might be.
Each church is different but a Catholic Mass is always the same. I hope the priest is welcoming and kind to the children, they should be well prepared and may do readings or take part in some way. A good priest will tell people when to sit etc.
Some people come as they are, some will dress up-there will be no pressure on you to do anything but if there are hymns you know, feel free to join in.
As others have said, there may be photos (almost definitely!) and maybe refreshments afterwards, but they are not obligatory.
In the end this is a very special day for the children and one they will remember for the rest of their lives- so just focus on the joy of the occasion and I hope you will be pleasantly surprised about how relaxed and welcoming it is, otherwise it may also be complete chaos!
Just say some prayers as you may normally do, especially for the kids and their families and you won't go far wrong.

I would add as you are not Catholic (and I assume this is Roman and not Anglican, Catholic), then you are not allowed to receive communion but may be invited up for a blessing. No obligation again to do anything, but the priest may tell how to receive a blessing if you wish.

I used to go up for a blessing from the priest when others went up for communion, keeping my arms crossed in front of me.
Is that usual in most RC churches?

I went to a first communion a while back and everything was explained as they expected non-RCs to be there. Don't worry Floradora

Smart trouser suit will be lovely. No head cover needed.

You may choose to go forward for the blessing, hands clasped in front of your waist area. I love to see people receive God's blessing!

Cards and small gifts are nice. Enjoy yourself, we don't bite!

Adding, we're Roman Catholic.

Like Chardy my father was not Roman Catholic and always had a blessing.
He joined the "queue" like everyone else and crossed his arms across his chest.

Sometimes the priest actually invites people who aren't RC but would like a blessing to do this - mostly at Easter and Christmas and other special days.

You are invited to be a witness to the person confirming their faith as an adult member of the church that they were baptised into as a baby. No need to do anything special, just observe and be a witness. It is not rude to sit down in your chair while others leave their chairs to walk up to receive their communion. It may feel a bit awkward but dont worry because no one will turn around backwards and look at you (that would be rude). All faiths are respected. If you want to bring a small gift for the person, you could give anything to remind them of their new promise like a blank book, a bracelet, or a cross decoration.

Ask any member if you are unsure and they will help.

In the middle of the service, they might stop everything and ask everyone to shake hands with the people near them. They greet with, "Peace be with you" and you shake their outstretched hand and answer, "And also with you".

Thanks everyone especially about the offering I had quite forgotten about that. Will there be hymn books ?

Macadia this is apparently a first Communion - it's most likely to be a child (unless a convert, maybe).

Are you thinking of Confirmation?

Yes Floradora9 - there will be hymn books - so sing away!! i think my voice is always the loudest😂

NotSpaghetti

Macadia this is apparently a first Communion - it's most likely to be a child (unless a convert, maybe).

Are you thinking of Confirmation?

Oops. Yes, I was mixed up. I was thinking confirmation. Floradora9, please forgive me - ignore my post. I was confused.

Thank you, NotSpaghetti for the important correction.

Macadia

In the middle of the service, they might stop everything and ask everyone to shake hands with the people near them. They greet with, "Peace be with you" and you shake their outstretched hand and answer, "And also with you".

This is towards the end of Mass just after the Consecration and before people go up to receive communion. It is just a small gesture and doesn't have to be anything elaborate or showy. Simply turn to the person next to you and make eye contact, give a smile, a nod, just a simple recognition that we all mean good-will for each other.
No need to shake hands if you don't wish to.

Just dress smartly and no head covering required. That went out decades ago! I’ll never forget mine, one of the most beautiful days of my life.

NotSpaghetti

Macadia this is apparently a first Communion - it's most likely to be a child (unless a convert, maybe).

Are you thinking of Confirmation?

* Cossy* also mentioned confirmation, but both sacraments are different.
I’m sure you will be guided by the priest, but there may not be an order of service. It is usually a lovely service, and the children’s singing always brings a tear to my eye!
If you want to see absolutely ‘over the top’ Holy Communions, have a look at how the Irish travellers do it. I hear that a First Communion Fair can be as busy as a wedding fair in some parts!

youtu.be/oghC7Mw8ObM?si=CH5fzC9VsO78yQDP

Again, where you are may affect what you give as a gift, but for many years I gave cards and a small holy gift to children I knew, as celebrations after the event were just small family affairs.
I was horrified when our first son made his, and received many cards, all containing money! It had never occurred to me to put money in the card.
In our parish the children go to the church hall for ‘breakfast’ and to receive a certificate, though at my grandson’s recently this was held on the Sunday, the day after the First Holy Communion. I do remember the wee holy children counting up the dosh in their cards with much glee, just in case you would want to do likewise.
Incidentally, in Ireland the collection of money carries on after the service, as this young lady explains ( though the heading is wrong, it’s not her Confirmation!) 😂

youtu.be/XAMphcznyok?si=mKFUZumxG0DgFRed

First of all may I say you will be made very welcome .No head covering required these days and a trouser suit is perfect . The mass will be easy to follow , just follow when the rest of the congregation sit , stand or kneel . There is a part of the mass where everyone is invited to offer each other a sign of peace and this just involves shaking the hand of whoever is next to you or in front or behind and saying , Peace be with You .
If you are not a Catholic and won't be taking Holy Communion then you can also go up for a blessing and just cross your arms over your chest and the priest will bless you but you do not have to do this if you don't wish too .
Have a lovely day and celebration with the family afterwards , it's lovely to see the children dressed in white and the boys all suited and booted .
Very interesting too to learn about a different religion .

Finding the right place to find the responses during Mass is difficult in all the missals I have ever seen, and most churches these days only have hymnbooks with the different parts of th Mass in different pages.

So go online and type Order of Mass. WIth any luck this link will come up
Liturgy Office
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk ›
There you can find the Mass in English as a pdf.file that you can print.

The church you are going to may not use exactly the same , but here at least you have the various prayers.

No-one will mind, or probably even hear, if you don't make the responses.

Everything said here is probably correct in many churches but in my (lifelong) experience every church is different. First communion during a normal Sunday Mass is common but so is a separate ceremony (also part of Mass). No special clothing is expected and no headwear needed for many years. There may or may not be hymn books, perhaps an Order of Service sheet for the day. It's lovely to see all the children eager to make this journey. Enjoy!

No, I've never experienced money being given to the children.

I would dress smart casual, I don't do hats. After that, go with the flow. You'll probably not be the only non Catholic there so the priest should advise the congregation on what to do, and not to do, in all the right places. Enjoy the day.