Gracie's First Communion

Yesterday, we all went to Ascension of the Lord Parish in GSIS Heights, Matina Davao City to attend Gracie's first communion. As some of you might have already known, my sister, Mary Grace, was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome. She just turned 16 years old last February 7 but she still looks like a child. She's very sweet and loving but with an insatiable appetite.

The first communion for catholics are usually during the child's 3rd grade, at about 8 or 9 years old. But my sister got it much later at 16 because of her learning disabilities. Although she is already a teenager, she seems to act and respond like a seven-year-old.

I was actually hesitant if Grace could fully comprehend what the communion is all about. It was a good thing that a week before the actual ceremony, Grace and my mother attended a series of seminars and retreat to prepare them for it. During the actual mass, Grace was behaved and acted like she was really ready to receive her first communion. It wasn't like one of those Sundays when Grace would make unnecessary noises on the church or demand us to get out and go home before the mass has ended.

After the mass, we all went to Bigby's to have lunch, where Gracie's insatiable appetite was, well, still unsatisfied.