By his Real Presence in the Eucharist Christ fulfills his promise to be with us "always, until the end of the age" (Mt 28:20). As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "It is the law of friendship that friends should live together. . . . Christ has not left us without his bodily presence in this our pilgrimage, but he joins us to himself in this sacrament in the reality of his body and blood" (Summa Theologiae, III q. 75, a. 1). With this gift of Christ's presence in our midst, the Church is truly blessed. As Jesus told his disciples, referring to his presence among them, "Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Mt 13:17). In the Eucharist the Church both receives the gift of Jesus Christ and gives grateful thanks to God for such a blessing. This thanksgiving is the only proper response, for through this gift of himself in the celebration of the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine Christ gives us the gift of eternal life.

First Communion is the name given to a person’s first reception of the sacrament of Eucharist. It is typically received by children around the age of seven or eight following two years of sacramental preparation. At St. Mary it takes place during second grade following the sacrament of Reconciliation, but can also take place during the Easter Vigil when an adult enters the church through R.C.I.A.

It is a very significant event – the child or adult takes a place at the Lord’s Table and shares in the Body and Blood of Christ. At St. Mary Parish, First Communion typically takes place at a special Mass early in May. Please call the Parish Office at 440-285-7051 for further information.