SACRAMENT OF HOLY EUCHARIST
The Sacrament of the 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.
At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 & 1323
Communion to the Sick and Homebound is scheduled through the parish offices. Only parish Clergy and approved Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EM’s) are authorized to bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. Please call the main office (864.882.8551) or Jeanne (864.886.2146) to make a request.
Preparation for children to receive the Eucharist for the first time occurs within the parish’s Faith Formation program. For children age seven and above, there is a two year preparation program, Eucharist Prep I and Eucharist Prep II, which begins each year in September. Please contact the JoAnne Baker 864-886-2049 or Maria Martel Worley (español) 864-886-2421.
Adults (age 18 and above) prepare to receive the Eucharist for the first time, either as converts from another faith tradition or as baptized Catholics who have not completed Christian initiation, through the parish’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Please contact Father Bill | 864-886-2419 | WH@saintpaulseneca.org.