Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
1 JOHN 20:21-23
In Holy Communion, we prepare to meet the Lord Jesus in this special sacrament. The Rite of Holy Communion celebrates the second step toward full initiation into the Church. First Holy Communion is most often celebrated around the age of seven or eight, when the children are of the age of reason and are capable of participating in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation must be received before receiving Holy Communion. The Eucharist is a gift that takes a whole lifetime to understand. It is a gift that requires a response from us, that is why we must take care that our children are well prepared.
At your child’s Baptism you, the parents, were told that you “would be the first and best teachers of your children in the way of faith." Parental involvement in the preparation of your child for First Holy Communion is paramount. The parish "helps," but does not replace your part in the process of leading your children in the development of their faith, through the development and example of your own life. The best preparation for the Eucharist is taking your child to Mass regularly and helping your child understand what it is all about.
Requirements
St. Michael’s follows the two-year Restored Order program in preparation for First Communion, in which the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated the first year, and Confirmation and First Communion will be celebrated in the same ceremony the second year.
Parents should attend a series of sessions throughout the year including a Parent/Child Retreat. Candidates should:
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be at least in Third Grade and Baptized Catholic
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have celebrated Reconciliation the previous year
For more detailed information, Contact Claudia in the Religious Education Office, 303-690-6797 ext. 314
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Holy Communion 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. – CCC 1322