Preparing For The Eucharist An Explanation of the RE Unit and the Sacrament of the Eucharist

First Eucharist - First Holy Communion The word 'communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ. At his last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among his followers, "Take and eat, this is my body." When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ. Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving.

Preparing Your Child For First Eucharist First Eucharist is a special occasion - a further step in becoming one with Christ and united with the People of God. For most people first Eucharist takes place at about the age of seven. Children should have an understanding of the sacrament that is appropriate to their age. Hopefully, this understanding will develop over the years. he church affirms that parents are the first educators of their children in the faith. You are handing on your faith to your children all the time. You have the wonderful responsibility of preparing your child to receive the Eucharist for the first time.

BUT DON’T STRESS!

As Part of our RE Curriculum this term in school, we will help YOU and the Parish prepare YOUR child for their first Holy Communion

The celebration of Eucharist Usually the celebration of first Eucharist takes place at Sunday Mass. This is the most appropriate time. As the first reception of Eucharist marks a key step in the initiation of your child into the community of the church, it is most appropriate that the gathered community welcomes your child. The celebration of Mass is not just a special occasion for your family, but for the whole parish community. Your child needs to feel at home in the parish community. Therefore, ideally, your child should receive first Eucharist at whichever Mass she or he usually attends.

Words From Pope Benedict XVI Andrea: "In preparing me for my First Communion day, my catechist told me that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. But how? I can't see him!" Benedict XVI: No, we cannot see him, but there are many things that we do not see but they exist and are essential. For example: we do not see our reason, yet we have reason. We do not see our intelligence and we have it. In a word: we do not see our soul and yet it exists and we see its effects, because we can speak, think and make decisions, etc. Nor do we see an electric current, for example, yet we see that it exists; we see this microphone, that it is working, and we see lights. Therefore, we do not see the very deepest things, those that really sustain life and the world, but we can see and feel their effects. This is also true for electricity; we do not see the electric current but we see the light. So it is with the Risen Lord: We do not see him with our eyes but we see that wherever Jesus is, people change, they improve. A greater capacity for peace, for reconciliation, etc., is created. Therefore, we do not see the Lord himself but we see the effects of the Lord: So we can understand that Jesus is present. And as I said, it is precisely the invisible things that are the most profound, the most important. So let us go to meet this invisible but powerful Lord who helps us to live well.

Our Term in Class One of the common human desires is for greater unity between people. This is especially true in families and among friends. Jesus started his Church as a means of reuniting people and overcoming human divisions. He gave the Mass, or the Eucharist, also, so that, as all received him in Holy Communion, gradually he could unite them more as a body. Many children in the class will be receiving the Eucharist for the first time (First Communion) this year. This Religious Education unit is one way the school assists parents to prepare their children for the celebration of this sacrament. Over the next weeks in Religious Education, the children will be studying Catholic belief in the Eucharist. This belief will be related to the Commandment of Jesus to love all, despite differences.

Our Term in Class The Religious Education unit begins with wondering at our bodies which are different. This leads people to wonder at the God who created our bodies different and to celebrate what has been revealed about God, that God loves each of us personally. The unit then explores ways in which Jesus loved everyone regardless of physical differences. It then focuses upon how Jesus draws all members of God’s family closer through the Eucharist. The second theme of the unit focuses upon how Catholics celebrate the Eucharist (Mass), which Jesus gave first during the Last Supper. The children examine the various parts of the Mass (responses, gestures and prayers), paying particular attention to the words of the priest at the Consecration (bread and wine changed into Christ’s Body and Blood) and the words spoken when receiving Holy Communion. Finally the unit explores ways in which Christians are called to love everyone as they would love themselves.