Holy Eucharist

Holy Communion is a Sacrament of Initiation

We believe that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament and when we eat this bread and drink this cup, we are eating the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Eucharist is consecrated during the celebration of the Mass and is distributed to those present that are prepared to receive this Blessed Sacrament. It is also carried to the sick and homebound by those members of the community who are commissioned to be Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.

Preparation for the Reception of the Holy Eucharist

Preparation of children for the reception of the Holy Eucharist requires that the child has sufficient knowledge and is prepared with care to understand the mystery of Christ’s presence. The child must demonstrate his/her readiness to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord with faith and devotion. Children must have at least 2 years of religious education classes and must participate in an interview with a member of the parish staff to determine their readiness for the celebration of the sacrament.

Most children will celebrate their First Eucharist during the second grade, if their religious education is on track. We hold a large group Mass and we do offer small groups at the Saturday 4 pm vigil mass in May for those who prefer this setting.

Children that have not been baptized can receive their sacraments through the RCIC program.

Adults that have not received the sacrament of Holy Eucharist can prepare for the sacrament through the RCIA program.

→ First Communion Preparation Schedule At-A-Glance

→ First Communion Lesson Plan Handout

→ Link to BLESSED videos – follow the above Lesson Plan Handout

Real Presence in the Eucharist: How do we know?

“The mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as “the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend.” In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.” “This presence is called ‘real’ – by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be ‘real’ too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present.”

It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. The Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and of the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-29