Eucharist

By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (CCC 1413)

The New Covenant

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…remains in me and I in him. (John 6:51, 54, 56)

In the gospels we read that the Eucharist was instituted at the Last Supper. This is the fulfillment of the covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Last Supper narratives, Jesus took, broke and gave bread and wine to his disciples. In the blessing of the cup of wine, Jesus calls it “the blood of the covenant” (Matthew and Mark) and the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke).

This reminds us of the blood ritual with which the covenant was ratified at Sinai (Ex 24) -- the sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals united God and Israel in one relationship, so now the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is the bond of union between new covenant partners -- God the Father, Jesus and the Christian Church. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, all the baptized are in relationship with God.

The Catechism teaches that all Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion are welcome to receive Eucharist at Mass unless sin a state of mortal sin.

• Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance. (CCC 1415)
• The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion when they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year. (CCC 1417)

Receiving the Eucharist changes us. It signifies and effects the unity of the community and serves to strengthen the Body of Christ.

Understanding the Mass

The central act of worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass. It is in the liturgy that the saving death and resurrection of Jesus once for all is made present again in all its fullness and promise – and we are privileged to share in His Body and Blood, fulfilling his command as we proclaim his death and resurrection until He comes again. It is in the liturgy that our communal prayers unite us into the Body of Christ. It is in the liturgy that we most fully live out our Christian faith.

The liturgical celebration is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. First we hear the Word of God proclaimed in the scriptures and respond by singing God’s own Word in the Psalm. Next that Word is broken open in the homily. We respond by professing our faith publicly. Our communal prayers are offered for all the living and the dead in the Creed. Along with the Presider, we offer in our own way, the gifts of bread and wine and are given a share in the Body and Blood of the Lord, broken and poured out for us. We receive the Eucharist, Christ’s real and true presence, and we renew our commitment to Jesus. Finally, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News!

Receiving Eucharist at our Parish

1. First, the child is to be raised in a home that acknowledges and worships Jesus Christ as Lord. For families, this means attending Mass as often as possible for their family. Both parents are encouraged to attend Mass with the children. In the home, families can form their children as followers of Christ by reading to them from the Bible, praying before meals or before bedtime, blessing their children before school in the morning or at bedtime, speaking openly about questions of faith, having religious art and crucifixes in the home, and doing community service together as a family.

2. As part of their continuing faith formation, parents should enroll their child in Sunday Faith Formation in the summer prior to the child entering 2nd grade. Children seeking the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion must attend Sacrament preparation classes on Sundays, 10:10-11:25 am, September thru April, in the Parish Center. No more than 3 absences during the year are allowed.

3. During the child’s 2nd grade year, they will first be prepared for and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in early January. Following the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, children will then prepare for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion and receive Jesus in the Eucharist during the Easter Season at Sacred Heart Parish. As part of the preparation process, children must attend 2 retreats, a Reconciliation retreat and a First Communion retreat, during the year.

4. Although a child typically receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion during 2nd grade, there are times when parents of older children who have already been baptized request these Sacraments. Depending on the child's age, the child may be placed in a combined class for elementary children seeking the same Sacraments.

Receiving Eucharist for older children and teens:

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults adapted for Children- RCIC
If you have a child interested in becoming Catholic or completing their initiation into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist, please contact Cathy Kusman-Kelly, Director of Faith Formation, at formationdirector@sacredheartcos.org or 719-633-8711 x 105.
 
All children between the ages of 7 and 18 who have not been baptized will be guided through full initiation into the Catholic Church through the RCIC. Though the intent of the RCIC is to initiate children into the life of the Catholic Church, the process continues through Faith Formation programs for the years following their initiation. Learning and growing in the Catholic Faith is a lifelong process and one that requires a life dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Children and their parents are asked to attend RCIC sessions beginning in September and concluding during the Easter season. These sessions are on Sundays, 10:15-11:25 am in the Parish Center.  During the session, the children unpack key topics on the Catholic Faith and discuss questions on their heart.

Receiving Eucharist for Adults who haven't been fully initiated into the Catholic Church:

RCIA is for adults interested in becoming Catholic who:

• have never been baptized
• have been baptized in another Christian church
• were baptized in the Catholic Church but never received Confirmation or Eucharist

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is a process of prayerful discernment and community integration for those seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. This process begins in September and continues into the Easter season. During this process, candidates (those who have been baptized) and catechumens (those who have not been baptized) will deepen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ by becoming integrated members of the Sacred Heart Parish community. Participants in RCIA will ask the questions on the heart and through their questions encounter Christ through learning and community.
 
RCIA sessions begin in the Fall and conclude during the Easter season and/ or determined by the participant's readiness. These sessions are on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm through 8:00 pm in the St. André House. On Sundays during the 9:00 am liturgy at Sacred Heart Church, candidates and catechumens are dismissed to break open the Word and discuss their Catholic Faith.
 
RCIA is a process, not a formal program, so if you are still discerning joining the Catholic Church, your participation in the RCIA process is one that could, if you choose, extend longer than a year in order to allow for the appropriate time of prayerful discernment.

If you are interested in becoming Catholic, or if you are an adult who wishes to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist, please contact Fr. Randy Rentner, CSC, Associate Pastor, at 719-633-8711 x103 or AssocPastor@sacredheartcos.org or Mary Superata, Parish Receptionist, at 719-633-8711 or msuperata@sacredheartcos.org.

Receiving Eucharist for Adults who have returned to the Catholic Church:

If you are a baptized Catholic who has been away from the Catholic Church for a while- welcome back! If you would like to return to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, please first consider making an appointment with a priest at our parish. This appointment is to both welcome you back into the parish community, as well as for us as a parish to listen to the reason(s) for your time away and find ways to better support you as a member of Sacred Heart Parish. It is recommended that you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This can also be scheduled with a priest or you can join the parish community on Thursdays, 5:30 - 6:30 pm or Saturdays from 4:00 – 5:00 pm in Sacred Heart Church for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. No matter what you decide to do, know that you are welcome to worship with us at Sacred Heart Parish.