THE EUCHARIST

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life (LG 11).
The Eucharist is the sacrament in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is truly present in the bread and wine that have been consecrated by the priest at Mass. Although the bread and wine still look and taste like bread and wine, the substance, what is actually there, has changed. This is what the Catholic Church calls Transubstantiation.

This sacrament was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection, and he commanded his apostles to celebrate it. (CCC 1337)
"Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you" (Luke 22:17-20).

THE FRUITS OF HOLY COMMUNION

  • Union with Christ:  "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (John 6:56).
  • Spiritual Nourishment: just like our bodies need food to remain strong and healthy, our souls need the grace of Christ to grow in faith, love, and hope.
  • Detachment from Sin: the grace of Jesus Christ strengthens us so that we are able to love God more deeply and detest sin.
  • The Unity of the Church: those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely with Christ, and through him all the members of the Church are united. "Because the bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17).

FIRST COMMUNION REQUIREMENTS

  • Age: The age of reason (7 years old). 
  • Prior Sacraments: Baptism and Reconciliation.
  • Preparation:
    • For children who attend St. Clement School, the preparation for First Communion takes place during Religion class, in the second grade. 
    • For children who attend other schools, the preparation for First Communion takes place at the parish. Preparation is done in two parts.
      • First, the preparation for First Reconciliation. This begins in October, each year.
      • Second, the preparation for the Holy Eucharist. This begins in January, each year.
  • Celebration of the Sacrament: the celebrations of First Communions take place during the Easter Season with the parish community.
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    FIRST RECONCILIATION AND COMMUNION INQUIRY