Woltz, I've never known or heard of a Communion in the fall or winter.

I think that Coppola exercised his license to better fit his storyboard a big part of which was Batista's New Year's abdication.

The current Code of Canon Law highlights this “Easter obligation.”

After being initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at another time during the year. (Can. 920)
Technically speaking, anyone can receive their First Communion, with the permission of their local pastor, at any time of the year. However, because of the Eucharist’s close connection to the Easter season, it is most often celebrated on one of the Sundays following Easter.