Holy Eucharist

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.

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322-1323)

FIRST EUCHARIST PREPARATION

At least two years of formal religious education prior to the reception of these sacraments is diocesan policy.  It is essential that your child have a sense of God and church community when they are preparing for a sacrament.  Participation in Faith Formation is helpful in conveying this sense of community.  The usual age for First Reconciliation & First Eucharist is seven years old (second grade) or older.
 
First Reconciliation and Eucharist are taught with the parent’s assistance and special age appropriate texts.  Children will usually celebrate First Reconciliation and Eucharist during the 2nd grade, if the religious education of the child is on track. Older children (3rd and above) who have been baptized will take classes in the Formation in Faith program.  Learn more about our Religious Education program