Holy Communion
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” - John 6:51
The Eucharist is one of the three sacraments of initiation and is the most eminent sacrament, in which Christ himself is contained, offered and received. Of these three sacraments, it is the only one that we receive more than once. Regular reception of the Eucharist is the means we have been given to support the new life in Christ which we received in Baptism and which was strengthened in Confirmation by the Holy Spirit.
On the Real Presence...
On preparing to receive Holy Communion...
First Communion for Children
In order to prepare for First Holy Communion, children must first prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then a special program is offered to prepare children for First Holy Communion. According to diocesan guidelines, children preparing to celebrate their First Holy Communion must be enrolled in a Religious Education program both during the year of preparation as well as the year immediately prior to preparation. Group celebrations for First Holy Communion will take place at a special Mass. As children reach 1st grade or above, we extend them an invitation to celebrate first the sacrament of reconciliation followed by the sacrament of Eucharist the next year. This is done through participation in our parish Religious Education program, Faith Formation.
Coordinator: Jennifer Heffernan
jheffernan@smtoc.church