This is my least favoured option for spending a Sunday morning, but having married a Catholic and agreeing to adopt Catholicism, it’s one of those things that has to be done on rare occasions, usually a child’s milestone.

Yes, we went through our children’s moments like baptism, first communion, and confirmation, or these days in a somewhat different order.  Then it was our grandchildren’s turn, and today the last child is making her first communion; that will end our involvement till the last rites.

Hopefully.

To me, church doesn’t hold any real significance.  It doesn’t mean that I would debunk the idea of religion, and I firmly believe that if anyone believes in God, then that’s their right.

And it seems there are a lot of believers.  I’m sitting in the church now, and it is packed.  It might be that it’s a captive audience, given that it’s a first communion for grade three students and others. But given the enthusiasm of the children involved, I’d say the church was about to get over a hundred new followers.

Of course, a lot depends on the enthusiasm and devoutness of the parents who may wish to spend their Sundays differently, but I suspect there are many here who will continue their devoutness in some form or other.

As for me, sadly, I will continue to use the only day of the week when it’s possible to sleep in.