Eucharist
Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”
Luke 22:19-20
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the heart and summit of the Church’s life. The Eucharist is the source of community within the Church. The essential signs of the Sacrament are unleavened wheat bread and natural (unadulterated) grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked during the Sacrifice of the Mass. At the moment of consecration, the bread and wine are no longer symbols, but are really the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Catholics profess that we receive the Real Presence of Jesus when we receive Holy Communion. We partake of Jesus’s Body and Blood not only because Jesus commanded it (Lk 22:19-20; Jn 6:51-58), but also because in receiving Jesus, we “become what we consume” (St Augustine, Sermon 227). The Eucharist nourishes our souls, and helps us to become like Christ. Receiving Holy Communion with others during the Sacrifice of the Mass is also a living sign of the unity of the Church, the Body of Christ.
At St. Patrick’s there are two programmes of preparation for the sacrament of the Eucharist, depending on the age of the person receiving First Communion:
First Communion for Children
At St. Patrick’s, parents who wish to have a child receive First Communion need to enrol their child in the Sacramental Programme.
A child must have received both First Reconciliation and Confirmation before preparing for First Communion. First Communion sessions are usually held after Easter, with the celebration of First Communion taking place on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
The child must have turned eight years old by the time they receive First Reconciliation. Keep an eye out for the notices concerning the Sacramental Programme in the Sunday newsletter.
First Communion for Adults
This is part of the OCIA programme. For adults in OCIA, Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion are often celebrated together at Easter.
Mass Times for the Celebration
From Monday to Friday, Mass is celebrated at 7am and 12:15pm. On Saturdays and public holidays, Mass is at 8:30am. On Sunday, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, Mass is celebrated at 9am, 11am, 4:30pm, and 7pm.
