Eucharist

The Holy Eucharist is both an outward sign of God’s grace and a sacrifice.

Under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received in the Holy Eucharist.

By appearance, we mean color, taste, weight, shape, and whatever else appears to the senses.

The change of the entire substance of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is called Transubstantiation.

The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through the ministry of the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner.

My child is in 2nd grade and is interested in receiving First Eucharist.

My child is 7-17 years old and is interested in receiving First Eucharist.

I'm 18 years old or older and interested in receiving First Eucharist.

I would like to become a regularly scheduled adorer

• Why You Should Receive this Sacrament

  The chief effects of a worthy Holy Communion are:

  1. a closer union with Our Lord and a more fervent love of God and of our neighbor

  2. an increase of sanctifying grace

  3. preservation from mortal sin and the remission of venial sin

  4. the lessening of our inclinations to sin and the help to practice good works.

  The purposes for which the Mass is offered are:

  1. to adore God as our Creator and Lord

  2. to thank God for His many favors

  3. to ask God to bestow His blessings on all men

  4. to satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him.

• Who Can Receive

  Those who can worthily receive Eucharist (the bread turned into the Body of Christ) must:

  1. be free from mortal sin

  2. have a right intention (We should prepare ourselves for Holy Communion by thinking of Our Divine Redeemer whom we are about to receive, and by making fervent acts of faith, hope, love, and contrition).

  3. obey the Church's laws on the fast required before Holy Communion out of reverence for the body and blood of Our Divine Lord. However, there are some cases in which Holy Communion may be received without fasting.

  The laws enacted by Pope Pius XII regarding the fast required before Holy Communion are the following:

  • Water may be taken at any time before Holy Communion without breaking the fast.

  • Sick persons, though not confined to bed, may receive Holy Communion after taking medicine or nonalcoholic drinks. A priest's permission is not necessary.

  • All Catholics may receive Holy Communion after fasting one hour from food and drink.

  • One may not receive Holy Communion a second time on the same day, unless the danger of death arises, when he can receive the Blessed Sacrament as Viaticum. But one who has received the Holy Eucharist at the midnight Mass of Christmas or at the Mass of the Easter Vigil may receive again in the course of the day. These rules show the Church's desire that all Catholics partake of the Holy Eucharist frequently.

  Anyone is welcome to attend Mass.

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“This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again…'"

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1323