The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word meaning, "to give thanks." In the early Church it designated not only the bread and wine, but also the ritual, which surrounded their use. (The history of the Eucharist is not just the history of sacramental objects, but also the history of a sacramental action.) Jesus used the Passover supper and its ritual, which celebrated what God had done, could do, and would do, to institute the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The actions and works of Jesus at the Last Supper were the simple beginnings of the Eucharistic liturgy. The Mass makes present the sacrifice of the cross. Each time we celebrate, we enter into Jesus' experience of death and it's meaning for him and for us.

The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life.”⁸

The Eucharist is a sign and the greatest cause of communion in the divine life and unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept alive. It is the culmination of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship offered to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.⁹ By the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.¹⁰ “It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament.”¹¹

Procedure for Eucharist:

1.  Parents of children at the Second grade level in school enroll their child for the class on Eucharist through the Faith Formation Office. Parents participate in educating their child for this celebration of the Sacrament. All the children prepared, celebrate the sacrament on the appointed days. It is required that children have this preparation and sufficient knowledge to understand the mystery of Christ.¹²

2.  Children, who have not celebrated this sacrament in the second grade, will be prepared for celebrating the sacrament through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC).

3.  One who is to receive the Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception of water and medicine, for at least one hour prior to receiving.¹³

4.  Adults who seek to celebrate this sacrament will be enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and receive this sacrament during Holy Week.

5.  The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is celebrated each week during the Liturgy of the Mass. Times for Masses are listed in the parish bulletin.

6.  The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion each time they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; the church obliges them to do so at least once a year.

All second grade students in the Faith Formation Program (classroom or parent-guided study) or attend St. John's School prepare together for this sacrament. The preparation begins in February (4 sessions taught at home/2 small group sessions). First Communion is received in the Spring.