First Holy Communion
Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the "first heralds" for their children (Catechism 2225). Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by living a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents (Catechism 2226).
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” Proverbs 22:6
The Importance of First Communion
A child's First Holy Communion marks the beginning of their sacramental life in the Catholic Church. Your children will be embarking on their lifelong sacramental journey with Christ and the Church as they begin their age of reasoning. They will begin to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to live a sanctified life with Christ and what role God has for them in the Church. This is the greatest opportunity for parents to expand their role as teachers and nurturers of their children both by example and guidance. As parents, you are the primary catechists of your children and our religious education programs are designed to support your efforts. Now is an ideal time for parents to join with our parish in taking on this task together.
As you begin to prepare your children for their First Holy Communion, take a moment to reflect on:
- The meaning of this most Holy Sacrament; the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ:
- The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Christ, "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of Our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained" (Catechism 1374).
- Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…" (John 6:54) - On the abundance of the graces your child will receive; We receive Jesus in order to be holy as He is and have eternal life with Him.
- We receive Jesus so He may help us to remain with Him and live a holy life as God calls us to. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst" (John 6:35).
- "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him (John 6:56)." - Your child will have new life in Christ; His presence in us gives us supernatural life - He guides our life in every decision, every difficulty, and every relationship - so we belong to Him always and in everything.
- "I ask you to consider that our Lord Jesus Christ is your true head, and that you are one of his members. He belongs to you as the head belongs to its members;
all that is his is yours: his spirit, his heart, his body and soul, and all his faculties. You must make use of all these as of your own, to serve, praise, love, and glorify God. You belong to him, as members belong to their head. And so he longs for you to use all that is in you, as if it were his own, for the service and glory of the Father." St. John Eudes
- "For to me, life is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
For instructions on preparing your child for First Communion, click here.