First Holy Communion
Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you. Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me. – From the Roman Missal
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’ And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, ‘This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’” (Luke 22:19-20).
In the Diocese of Springfield, which St. Brigid, St. Edward, and St. Joseph are a part of, we practice Restored Order. This means that people receive the Sacrament of Confirmation BEFORE they receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Our Youth receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion in the third grade. To help prepare them for these sacraments, we use the Signs of Grace Series that the students begin using in second grade for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Preparation for First Holy Communion for our third graders will consist of at least two years of religion classes prior to the Sacrament.
Our youth will receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in the same Mass that they receive their Sacrament of Confirmation. First, they will receive Confirmation from the Bishop, then they will receive First Holy Communion. In our diocese, we make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Springfield to receive these two sacraments. This year, our 3rd graders will be receiving their Confirmation and First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Along with attending our PSR classes regularly for two years prior to receiving these two sacraments, we will also have two meeting with the Parents, Confirmation Sponsors, and Confirmandi (3rd graders) to help with preparation, complete a service project that connects to living out our faith life, and to answer any question anyone might have!
The Sacrament of the Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, is the center of the Catholic Church. The most important thing in life is to be close to Jesus. “The Eucharist is spiritual food that strengthens our souls. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, he gives us his own life and unites us to himself.
In John, chapter 6, Jesus said that he would give us His true Body and His true Blood to eat and drink. We know that the bread and wine at Mass really become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus because Jesus told us this is true. We call this the Real Presence. If Jesus says that IT IS, then IT IS. During the Mass, we are worshiping and adoring God the Father for all of His blessings. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is when we offer prayers of thanksgiving to God the Father for all his blessings, especially the gift of Jesus. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine are consecrated and become the Body and Blood of Christ, which we receive in Holy Communion!