Eucharist

In the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we truly become one with Christ as we receive His Body and Blood.  His Real Presence, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, is a gift not only for the Church, but for all of us as we journey in faith to be His disciples.  He is given as real food for our journey to His eternal Kingdom of Heaven.  Reception of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church signifies and is a communion with Christ and His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church.

As regulated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Church states:  Catholics fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when they receive Holy Communion in fulfillment of Christ's command to eat His Body and drink His Blood.  In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, communicants should not be conscious of grave sin, have fasted for one hour, and seek to live in charity with their neighbor.  Persons conscious of grave sin must first be reconciled with God and the Church through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is encouraged for all.

For other Christians, we welcome to the celebration of the Eucharist those Christians who are not fully united with us.  It is a consequence of the sad division in Christianity that we cannot extend to them a general invitation to receive Communion.  Catholics believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying a oneness in faith, life, and worship of the community.  Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness that does not yet exist, and for which we must continue to pray.

Those not receiving Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

We  welcome to our Church those who do not share our faith in Jesus.  While we cannot extend to them an invitation to receive Communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.

Ordinarily speaking, Catholics may receive Holy Communion any time they atted Mass, even if it is more than once a day.  Catholics may not receive Holy Communion in non-Catholic churches.

Please call the parish office if you have questions regarding the reception of the Holy Eucharist.