First Holy Communion is the common name for a person's first reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the central focus of the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us "The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." Catechism of the Catholic Church #1212.
First Eucharist is presented to the second grade students in our Faith Formation classes. Along with this formal instruction, parents are required to work together with their child on completing a Preparation Booklet. Parents and children also take part in a First Communion Retreat, which is held on a Saturday morning for approximately 4 hours. They also attend a rehearsal and celebrate First Eucharist with their children, which take place after Easter.
Any questions about our First Eucharist Class and preparation, please call the Faith Formation office at 865-7677.