Essential Conditions for the Reception of First Eucharist

It is necessary that a child:
Believe that the Eucharist IS TRULY the BODY and BLOOD of Jesus, and have a DESIRE to receive Him.
Preparation for receiving the Eucharist begins in the first grade, and continues through second grade; however, preparation to receive the sacrament is ultimately the parents' responsibility.

Checklist for First Eucharist:

Parents must:

1. Attend Saturday Anticipatory Mass or Sunday Mass with their child every week.
2. Bring child's Baptismal certificate by the Children's Ministries office if it wasn’t handed in for First Reconciliation.
3. Attend First Eucharist meeting planned in January.
4. Help prepare their child for First Eucharist by doing the "At-Home" study program. (The “At home” activities come from the book, The Gift of Eucharist, published RCL Benziger)
5. Attend the First Eucharist workshop with their child.

Children must:

1. Attend Mass on Saturday or Sunday.
2. Be Baptized.
3. Have attended RE in first grade or year one sacrament preparation class.
4. Be faithful in attending Religious Education classes or attending a Catholic school where religion is taught daily.
5. Complete the “At Home” study given at the parent meeting. (The “At Home” activities come from the book, The Gift of Eucharist, published by RCL Benziger)
6. Attend the First Eucharist Retreat.

Commonly Asked Questions About First Communion Preparation

1. How can I tell if my child is ready for First Communion?

Here are some indicators that your child is ready to celebrate the sacrament:

• Does your child have sufficient knowledge to understand the mystery of Christ according to his or her capacity and can he or she receive the Body of the Lord with faith and devotion?
• Does your child and some other family members regularly attend Sunday Mass?
• Is prayer a part of your child’s daily life?
• Does he or she show a reverence for God?
• Does your child have a relationship with Jesus?
• Does he or she know the difference between ordinary bread and wine and the Body and Blood of Jesus?

2. What should my child wear for First Communion Day?

• It has been a tradition for girls to wear white (or cream) on First Communion day. 
• The dress may be long (above the ankle), or short (to the knee).
• If the dress is sleeveless then a white sweater should be worn. 
• The girls may wear a veil, a crown of flowers, or a head band on their head. 
• Shoes should be white with a low heel and a strap around the back of the foot.  
• No gloves and they do not carry anything.

•  Traditionally, it has been a white shirt, dark tie, and slacks.
• The dress shirt may be long sleeved or short sleeved.
• The tie color is your choice
• At St. Jude, some boys wear suits while others wear a vest with a shirt.   
• The color of slacks depends on the desire of the child and his parents (khaki, black, blue).
• Boys must wear a belt.
• Dress shoes, not tennis shoes should be worn.

Parent Meeting Choices

FIRST EUCHARIST Workshop Dates
One parent attends the workshop with their child.  You choose one day and time to attend. Registration for the workshop will be in March.

• Wednesday April 20^th 4:30-5:30pm
• Wednesday, April 20^th 6:30-7:30pm
• Thursday, April 21^st 4:30-5:30pm
• Thursday, April 21^st 6:30-7:30pm

FIRST EUCHARIST CELEBRATIONS: 
Parents will register for the First Eucharist day and time that they wish to attend. The registration link will be sent in December.

1. Saturday, May 7^th 10:30am
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Dress Rehearsal is Friday, May 6^th  at 5:30 pm
2. Saturday, May 7^th  - 1:30 pm Mass
   • ​​​​​​​Dress Rehearsal is  Friday, May 6^th  at 7:00 pm