The Holy Eucharist completes Christian Initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist (CCC 1322).

In brief the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking” (CCC 1327). Each year the parish offers a four-week series – A Renewal on the Eucharist. These sessions assist all members of the parish in deepening their understanding of the Eucharist and their relationship with the Lord. In this parish, Catechesis/Preparation for First Holy Communion of baptized children begins when a child has reached the age of reason, is participating in on-going Religious Education and worships regularly with his/her family. As noted in Canon Law (913), Children should have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so as to understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and can receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion. It is the responsibility of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the pastor to see that children who have reached the age of reason are correctly prepared and are nourished by the divine food as soon as possible, preceded by sacramental confession: it is also for the pastor to be vigilant lest any children come to the Holy Banquet who have not reached the ages of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed (Canon 914). The relationship of the eucharist to daily life is essential particularly with regard to First Eucharist so that the sacrament will be presented and experienced as the full incorporation into the Body of Christ. First Eucharist is not just the child’s reception of communion for the first time; it constitutes a call to the assembly to realize the significance of their non-baptismal commitment and to probe the meaning of eucharistic sharing. Therefore, each year the parish offers a Renewal on the Eucharist. Sacramental formation should be seen in the context of an appropriate ecclesiology in which children are incorporated into the fuller life of their parish community. As such, sacraments are not to be viewed as “school” or “religious education” realities. Sacraments are to be prepared for and celebrated in the home parish of the child. Adolescents and adults who have not received First Holy Communion should contact the pastoral associate for education and formation.

Please call the Parish Office to register.

For information on Eucharist Catechesis/Preparation, please call Marianne Rhode at 407-277-1702.