A Closer Look (Part 22)

Kaunas, Lithuania, May 1934. The photo captures Mom's expression on the day of her First Holy Communion.

Holy Communion (Part 18)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 7, 1961. My Toronto Cousin and her mother—my Dad's twin sister, Jonė—are ready to depart for the ceremony.

Jonė's dress resembles one my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, wore that year. The women must have bought the fabric at the same time.

Holy Communion (Part 17)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 7, 1961. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, and another mother await the seating of the Communicants.

Ritual

Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1948. My Dad—wearing the shorts uniform—and fellow scouts from the Displaced Persons camp engage in a ceremony.

Holy Communion (Part 4)

The potted palm edition:

Kaunas, Lithuania, May 1934. A priest and a friend join my Mom, on the right, to commemorate her First Holy Communion.

Holy Communion (Part 2)

My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, celebrated her First Communion in the spring:

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. Jonė's family commemorated her First Communion not with a formal portrait, but rather with a photograph staged among the Irises.

Holy Communion (Part 1)

I'm very interested in how people process rituals.

Our photo collection includes a number of images of female relatives on the occasion of the First Communion. I'll post the photos, over time, as a short series. See what you think they say about how we commemorate passages.

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1934. Mom strikes a pious pose on the occasion of her First Communion.