The Sacrament of Eucharist
The liturgical life of the Church revolves around the sacraments, with the Eucharist at the center (National Directory for Catechesis, #35). At Mass, we are fed by the Word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a sign or symbol of Jesus; rather we receive Jesus himself in and through the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is call transubstantiation.
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.
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!
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
First Holy Communion for Children:
The reception of First Holy Communion follows several important movements in the religious formation of the child:
*Parents with children in sacramental preparation should send in a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate to the Faith Formation Office.
It is important to mention here, that the formation of each family’s faith is an ongoing and ever changing process. This process takes each member of the family along a unique journey that does not often fit neatly into specific programs- and that is okay. The purpose of sacramental preparation, and Faith Formation in general, is to prepare the children and by extension their families to be active members of the parish community through their regular participation in the life of the Church.
If you would like your child(ren) to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, contact the Director of Faith Formation at formationdirector@sacredheartcos.org or 719-633-8711 x 105.
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 the 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.
RCIC sessions begin in the Fall and conclude during the Easter season. These sessions are on Sunday mornings and begin during the 9:00 am liturgy at Sacred Heart Church when candidates and catechumens are dismissed to break open the Word and discuss their Catholic Faith. The session continues through 11:15 am during which 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:
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. These sessions are on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm through 8:00 pm in Room 5 of the Sacred Heart Parish Center. 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 which 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 Roberto Chavez, Faith Formation Director at 719-633-8711 x105 or formationdirector@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 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.
The reception of First Holy Communion follows several important movements in the religious formation of the child:
*Parents with children in sacramental preparation should send in a copy of the child’s baptismal certificate to the Faith Formation Office.
- 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.
- Second, as part of their continuing faith formation, parents should enroll their child in Sunday Faith Formation in the summer prior to the child entering 1st grade. The Diocese of Colorado Springs requires that all children attend one year of catechesis prior to a year of sacramental preparation.
- Third, 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.
- If a child did not attend Faith Formation in 1st grade or are older than 2nd grade when they approach the Church for the reception of the Sacraments, the following will apply to these situations:
- If a current 2nd grader did not attend 1st grade, the family will be presented with the option either to enroll the child in the 1st grade class or the 3rd grade class. The following year, the child will prepare for and receive the Sacraments Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
- If a current 3rd-5th grader seeks to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, they will either be enrolled in an intermediate Sacramental Preparation class if it is offered that year (this class will be offered in 2019-2020). If the intermediate class is not being offered that year, the child will be enrolled in their regular grade level and then the following year will be enrolled in an intermediate Sacramental Preparation Class.
It is important to mention here, that the formation of each family’s faith is an ongoing and ever changing process. This process takes each member of the family along a unique journey that does not often fit neatly into specific programs- and that is okay. The purpose of sacramental preparation, and Faith Formation in general, is to prepare the children and by extension their families to be active members of the parish community through their regular participation in the life of the Church.
If you would like your child(ren) to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, contact the Director of Faith Formation at formationdirector@sacredheartcos.org or 719-633-8711 x 105.
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 the 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.
RCIC sessions begin in the Fall and conclude during the Easter season. These sessions are on Sunday mornings and begin during the 9:00 am liturgy at Sacred Heart Church when candidates and catechumens are dismissed to break open the Word and discuss their Catholic Faith. The session continues through 11:15 am during which 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. These sessions are on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm through 8:00 pm in Room 5 of the Sacred Heart Parish Center. 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 which 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 Roberto Chavez, Faith Formation Director at 719-633-8711 x105 or formationdirector@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 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.
