"The catholic faith professes that the bread really
becomes Jesus' body and the wine his blood.In this way, at the table of the Last Supper and on our altars, Jesus is
actually present in the symbolic and sacramental state of a sacrificial victim,
whose body and blood have been separated".(Symbols of Catholicism)
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my
flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
Since the Second Vatican Council states "parents are the primary educators of their children," the
preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation involves the parents,
the child, and the community. The program utilizes both classroom preparation
and family participation. Meetings are held to assist the parents in
understanding their role in their child's preparation and provide an
opportunity for parents to reflect on their own faith, and to grow in their
understanding of the sacraments.
Children are required
to have two years of religious education before celebrating these sacraments.
The earliest a child may receive First Communion [Eucharist] is second grade,
therefore they must have either attended a Catholic school or some form of
religious education in their first grade year.
Preparation
for First Communion involves both the students and the parents. The class is
conducted every Tuesday at 6:00pm (Spanish) and every Wednesday at 6:00pm
(English). First Holy Communion is usually in April or May, during the Easter
season.
