Welcome to Holy Spirit’s First Holy Communion process!
 
What an exciting time in your child’s journey of faith! The Sacrament of First Holy Communion – this day is important because of what we call it: FIRST. It’s the first of many, the first of a lifetime of coming to the Eucharistic table with God’s family for your child. During the process, parents will be invited to parent meetings and student/parent retreats. Each piece of the preparation is intended to help you as parents assist your child as they make themselves ready to receive First Holy Communion.
 
What is Holy Communion?

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 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."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” 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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 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."

Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”... John 6:47-56, 60

"Who can accept it?" We, as Catholics, accept this teaching that Christ is fully present in Communion. In that tiny white Host is His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity that He blesses us with each Mass when we receive Him. The Eucharist is central to our Catholic Faith, what some call the Source and Summit of Catholicism. We believe that Christ desires to be so close to us, to transform literally from the inside out, that He gave us this precious way to encounter Him and be one with Him.

Because of this belief, preparing a child to receive Jesus in this way is a big deal! (AND a very exciting time!) Our catechists work with the children of our parish to make sure they understand Who they are receiving and why thy are receiving Him. To read more about your child's First Communion please read "Why a Child's First Holy Communion is a Big Deal" by The Catholic Company.

• Families of children preparing for a sacrament must be registered members of Holy Spirit. To register for the parish, click here.
• A copy of the baptismal certificate must be given to the Faith Formation office at the beginning of the year.
• Students MUST have completed two consecutive years of Faith Formation with reception of the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in the 2nd year.  
• Student must attend 90% of Faith Formation Classes the year they plan to receive the Sacrament.
• Attendance at necessary at the Communion Retreat.
• At least 1 parent/guardian must attend Sacrament Parent Meeting.

 
 DIOCESAN GUIDELINES FOR FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST
 
    1. Children must be instructed in the Mass including the options and manner of receiving the Eucharist. These options are under one or both species; and the manner may be in the hand or on the tongue. (Appendix to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal for the Dioceses of the United States of America, n.240 and n.242).
    2. The individual readiness of the child must be respected as a determining factor in the reception of the sacrament of First Eucharist (CIC 913 §1).
    3. In order to facilitate the full involvement of parents or of those who take the place of parents, each parish is to provide access to an understanding of the celebration of the Eucharist so that they (parents or those responsible for the child) may renew and deepen their own belief in the real presence of Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist (CIC 777 n.1, n.5).
    4. Children are to continue to be instructed through catechetical instruction and formation after the reception of First Communion (CIC 777 n.3).
    5. Parents are to be supported in their own faith journey and in their role as the primary religious educators of their children after the celebration of their child’s First Eucharist (CIC 777 n.5).
 
 
Critical Outcomes:
 
The child:
 
     1. has sufficient knowledge to understand the mystery of Christ according to his/her capacity (CIC 913 §1).
     2. is able to distinguish the Body and Blood of Christ from ordinary food (CIC 913).
     3. has a desire to receive the Lord Jesus reverently in Holy Communion with faith and devotion (CIC 913 §1).
  
 
Holy Spirit Church---Sunday Mass Schedule
 
At the center of the Catholic Christian faith is the celebration of the Eucharist, the real presence of Christ in the bread, wine and the people who eat His Body and Blood. It is at Mass, at Liturgy, where we come together with all of our Catholic Christian friends to celebrate as one church. As the Eucharist is the heart of our faith, attending Mass every week is essential (and required) so you can spiritually prepare your child for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
 
Saturday  5:00 pm      Sunday 8:00 am 11:00 am