Receiving the Lord in Holy Communion

Holy Communion is the act by which we receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

We know that each of the Catholic Sacraments produces its own special effect or effects. If the purpose of all sacraments were simply to give a single kind of grace, one sacrament would be enough; there would have been no need for our Lord Jesus to have instituted seven.

The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist was instituted as a food, a spiritual food. That is why the outward sign of this sacrament—the appearances of bread and wine—is a sign of nourishment, just as in Baptism the outward sign is water, a sign of cleansing. The action by which we as individuals receive the Holy Eucharist is an act of eating. We swallow the appearances of bread and wine under which Jesus is present. This is the action that we call Holy Communion.

As the Catechism's section on Holy Communion and the Eucharist says:

The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” [Jn 6:53] (_Catechism_, 1384)

Adults

Children & Teens

Sacrament preparation for a two-year program. It is separate from and concurrent with the ongoing grade-level faith formation offered through KIDs Club, EDGE or Life Teen. To register your child for sacrament preparation, a student must be in second grade or older, with one prior year of Catholic religious education with excellent attendance. Parents are provided with support and sacrament preparation materials to teach their children at home.

First Reconciliation (for baptized children)
First Reconciliation preparation begins in the Fall. A mandatory meeting for all parents whose children are celebrating the sacrament of First Reconciliation will be held in September. 

First Eucharist (for baptized children)
First Eucharist preparation begins in the Spring. A mandatory meeting for all parents whose children are celebrating the sacrament of First Eucharist will be held in February.

For those who are Middle School,  High School Age or Adults, please go to the appropriate Faith Formation Page.