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From the collection of Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection

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Digital photo, Our Holy Redeemer First Communion class, 1951

Untitled image

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This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Have a question? Contact Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Untitled image

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)

Conditions of use

All rights reserved

This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Have a question? Contact Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection

Historical information

According to the donor, Fr Fitzpatrick is the priest on the RHS of the Communion group.

Significance

This is one of a series of photos that document John Turnbull’s First Communion. They are representative of this important rite of passage in the Catholic Church in the 1950s.
The sacrament of First Communion is an important tradition for Catholic families and individuals. Originally this was celebrated when a child was 10, 12 or even 14 years of age, however in 1910, Pope Pius X issued the decree Quam singulari, which changed the age at which First Communion is taken to 7 years old.
Traditions of celebration surrounding First Communion usually include family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event. The first communicant wears special clothing. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity. It is more elaborate for girls but boys wear ‘Sunday best’; it could be a suit and tie or even a tuxedo.
Many families have formal professional photographs taken in addition to candid snapshots in order to commemorate the event and some churches arrange for a professional photographer to attend after the ceremony.

Physical description

A black and white photo of 16 visible boys (plus one additional boy almost completely obscured to the right of the group), 23 girls and 2 priests. The boys are wearing shorts and white shirts with ties. The girls are wearing white dresses and veils. The children are grouped with 12 boys in the back row and 4 kneeling in the front. The girls are in the front and centre rows and the priests are either side of the group. Behind the group is a large cypress tree and to either side the church and (?) school building. One of the boys is John Turnbull.

Inscriptions & markings

On rear in black ink: "John's 1st COMMUNION / 1951 / JOHN IS BACK ROW / 2ND FROM LEFT".

Subjects

our holy redeemer church, our holy redeemer school, john turnbull, fr tim fitzpatrick, first communion, children

Identifier

SHP2019/24/5

Date made

1951

Place made

Mont Albert Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria

Cite this page

Victorian Collections

https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d5cd0e621ea6701309d1744

Accessed 15 August 2024

This record was last updated 5 months ago

Completeness

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Digital photo, Our Holy Redeemer First Communion class, 1951

Reuse this media

Conditions of use

Attribution

Reuse this media

Conditions of use

Attribution

Historical information

Significance

Physical description

Inscriptions & markings

Subjects

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