Sacrament of the 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.

The Eucharist—Source andSummit of Ecclesial Life
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries andworks of the apostolate, are bound upwith the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained thewhole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”

What Is This Sacrament Called?
The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names we give it. Each name evokes certain aspects of it. It is called: Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words eucharistein141 and eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim—especially during a meal—God’s works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.

The Lord’s Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Also called: The Breaking of Bread, TheEucharistic assembly (synaxis), The memorial of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, The Holy Sacrifice, The Holy and Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, and Holy Mass (Missa). 

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord’s body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship.

The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, that is, of the work of salvation accomplished by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, a work made present by the liturgical action.

The essential signs of the Eucharistic sacrament are wheat bread and grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked and the priest pronounces the words of consecration spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper: “This is my body which will be given up for you. . . . This is the cup of my blood. . . .”

State of Grace
Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.

Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant’s union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.

Children already enrolled in the school or religious education program are already enrolled in the program in 2nd grade to prepare for First Holy Communion

Any Baptized adult who is looking to recieve First Holy Communion should set up an appointment to meet with the Pastor and Religious Education Director to determine if an RCIA program is necessary.  An adult who completes RCIA will recieve the Sacrament during the Easter Vigil Mass with other candidates recieving the Sacraments of Initiation.