What is the Eucharist?
The liturgical life of the Church revolves around the sacraments, with the Eucharist at the center (National Directory for Catechesis, #35). At Mass, we are fed by the Word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a sign or symbol of Jesus; rather we receive Jesus himself in and through the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is call transubstantiation.
By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (CCC 1413)
Preparation for Holy Eucharist (First Holy Communion)
Holy Eucharist for Children from Second Grade through High School
- In order to receive the Holy Eucharist, a child must first be baptized in the Catholic Faith. If a child has been baptized in another Christian denomination and now wants to become Catholic, the child will need to make a profession of faith to be received into the Catholic Church prior to receiving First Holy Communion.
- Typically, reception of First Communion takes place at the end of the Second Grade year after having completed two years of catechetical instruction either in Catholic School or in our Religious Education Program. However, a person may be prepared to receive Holy Eucharist at any time from 2nd Grade on into adulthood.
- Parental participation is necessary in the preparation of their children for the sacraments.
- If you recently moved from another town or parish where your child was previously being prepared for the sacrament, please provide a letter from the previous parish verifying your child’s enrollment in religious education.
- A copy of the child’s baptism certificate should be given to the Director of Religious Education so that we may send notification of reception of the sacrament back to the church of baptism.
- Public School Children needing preparation should register for religious education classes in the fall.
Holy Eucharist for Adults
Adults needing the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist participate in the process called “The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” (R.C.I.A.). Visit the RCIA page.
