First Eucharist & Reconciliation

Our youngsters are prepared for the reception of First Eucharist and Reconciliation in the 1st and 2nd grades. In order to receive these sacraments in the second grade it is required that the children have attended either Seven Sorrows School or our Religious Education program for first and second grade. Reconciliation is held in early Spring on a Saturday. First Eucharist is held on the Saturday before Mother's Day.

Guidelines for Receiving Communion

For Catholics:

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion in fulfillment of Christ's command to eat His Body and drink His Blood. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin, have fasted for one hour, and seek to live in charity and love with their neighbors. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of contrition, including the intention of confession as soon as possible (Canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is encouraged for all.

For Our Fellow Christians:

We welcome our fellow Christians to the celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. It is a consequence of the sad divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend to them a general invitation to receive Communion. Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (Canon 844-4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (Canon 844-3).

For Non-Christians:

We also welcome to the celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus. While we cannot extend to them an invitation to receive Holy Communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.