Holy Communion - Eucharist
Eucharist means ‘thanksgiving’.
The first Eucharist was the Last Supper. At that moment Christ changed the bread that they ate and the wine that they drank into his body and blood respectively. It is fitting that it is named eucharist which means thanksgiving (in Greek) for it was a sacrifice; Christ’s perfect sacrifice for all of us.
Now the priest, through the words of consecration, blesses and distributes Holy Communion during Mass, reminding followers that they are one with Christ. Food and drink nourishes our bodies ‒ Christ’s blood and body nourishes us spiritually.
Christ’s body and blood are offered and received in the form of bread and wine. Eucharist means ‘thanksgiving’. Christ’s body and blood are offered and received in the form of bread and wine.
All Sacraments Need Preparation
Because the Eucharist is so important, the Church teaches that there are certain requirements someone must meet to be able to receive the Eucharist at Mass.
The person is a baptised Catholic (Eastern Orthodox are also allowed to receive).
The person should have fasted for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist. Drinking water is okay, but for anything else to be acceptable, it must be medically necessary.
The First Holy Communion is a huge occasion and a celebrated milestone. It is essentially the first time that they are receiving the body and blood of Christ.
First Holy Communion preparation for both children and adults also incorporates the necessary preparation for a first Reconciliation.
St. Joseph’s and St. Elizabeth’s
Details of the 2025/2026 programme led by Ros and Maria will be posted here in summer of 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Office: office@stjosephsparish.co.uk
St. Edmund Campion
Details of the 2025/2026 programme will be posted here in summer of 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact Tricia Opalko via the Parish Office: office office@stedmundcampion.org.uk
St. Thomas More
Details of the 2025/2026 programme will be posted here in summer of 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen McKie or Father Kevin via the Parish Office: stmtwyford@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
The Holy Communion programme usually runs from January – May each year and uses the programme “I Belong”.
The sessions are led by catechists are volunteers and fellow parishioners, who want to help and support the parents; they do so as an act of Christian love.
The catechists are in turn supported by professionally produced material, by the Parish Priest, by the Parish Catechetical Coordinator, and by the Diocesan Catechetical Service. All of these people want to help, but none of us can do so unless the parents play their part.
Before enrolling their children on the course for First Confession and First Holy Communion: Parents must be willing and able to commit time to working with their children on the course. Roughly speaking, for every hour the catechists spend with the children, parents should be prepared to spend a matching hour working with the children at home.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
