First Eucharist | St. Charles Borromeo

Sacrament of First Eucharist

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322)

The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324)

Note: It's not too late to register for Children's Faith Formation! Click here to for more information.

For children in First and Second Grade, First Eucharist preparation is normally a two-consecutive-year process culminating in the reception of First Eucharist during the Easter Season of Second Grade. The first year of preparation consists of simply attending Children's Faith Formation classes or Catholic School religion classes. The second year requires attendance in the parish level Faith Formation program (this includes all children from Catholic Schools). First Eucharist preparation sessions, along with First Reconciliation preparation sessions take place on Sunday mornings from 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM during Children's Faith Formation. There is a First Eucharist Parent & Child Meeting, a First Eucharist Parent & Child Retreat, and a Practice that are required in order to receive the sacrament.

Our First Eucharist Preparation program (aka Holy Communion) is designed to prepare children to be more aware of God’s love and their call to be part of the “Body of Christ.” Preparation stresses the Catholic belief that Eucharist is much more than just a meal or a memorial, but is also a participation in the one sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ through which our Lord makes Himself truly present in a special way. We utilize Augustine Institute's Signs of Grace along with the teaching methods of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, based on the Montessori method, to fully immerse children in the life of the parish and the rich tradition of our faith so they can be fully and properly prepared to receive the Blessed Sacrament.

NOTE: It's never too late to receive First Eucharist. For children/youth in grades 3-12, please call the Faith Formation office so your child can be welcomed into the program and provided the same opportunity to receive this most wonderful sacrament.

We delight in sharing this significant time in your family's ongoing faith development and pray that you will be enriched by your experience. For more information, please contact the Faith Formation Office by phone at (941) 585-0668 or email using the form below.