The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Lord, I know that You are present in the 
Blessed  Sacrament of the Altar!

First Holy Communion

The Eucharist is at the heart of our Catholic Faith. We call it the "source and summit" of our Faith. It is the source because it is that from which all else flows -- spiritual nourishment, grace, new life, other Sacraments. It is the summit because it the highest and most important of all Sacraments.

Why is that?

Because the Eucharist is Jesus Christ truly present -- His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. In every single crumb, in every last drop, our Lord is truly present. 

And in Holy Communion, we are privileged to receive His True Presence into ourselves. Our very bodies become living tabernacles in which Christ Himself dwells, transforming us into the holy vessels He calls us to be.

When can you receive the Eucharist for the first time?

For children seeking to receive the Eucharist for the first time, the preparation process typically takes place through our parish formation program. Along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated in Second Grade.

For children who are beyond second grade, we also offer OCIC (The Order of Christian Initiation for Children). This is a two-year program to prepare older students for these two sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

For adults, the ordinary means of preparing to receive the Holy Eucharist is through OCIA (The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults).

How do you begin this preparation process?

1 | LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS

First things first, be sure to familiarize yourself with the preparation process by using the links below. Because the archdiocese requires a two-year preparation process, learn what each of these years looks like for your child.

2| REGISTER 

All sacramental preparation programs (including preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion) are components of our FIRE program, a faith formation initiative designed to incorporate the whole family. To register for this preparation programs, please sign up for our FIRE program by clicking the button below.

REGISTER