The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament of initiation where we physically receive Jesus in the entirety of His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. For First Communion, children must be baptized, be at least 7 years of age, and have completed direct preparation with the parish.
"The sacraments of Christian initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist — lay the foundations of every Christian life. The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the Sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." — CCC 1212
All children who attended religious formation this past year as first-graders, or who are Catholics registered as first-graders at Shrine Catholic Grade School, will be contacted regarding candidacy for their First Reconciliation and First Communion. Please note that two years of preparation are required before receiving Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. In order for your child to receive these two sacraments at the traditional time of second grade, he/she must attend Religious Formation classes or Catholic school starting in the fall of first grade.
If you have a child who: