Eucharist

The Sacrament of the Eucharist is the only Sacrament of Initiation that Catholics celebrate again and again (after preparation for and first reception of the sacrament). The Eucharist is a memorial, a meal, and a sacrifice. Another name for the sacrament is the Mass. In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, in Holy Communion and are nourished by the Word of God. The grace first received at Baptism grows in those celebrating the sacrament and they are more closely joined to Christ and one another as the Body of Christ, the Church, and strengthened to serve God and care for the needs of others.

Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. In anticipation of His Death on the Cross, Jesus gave His Apostles – whom He made the first priests – His Body and Blood to eat and drink. And because Jesus wanted all His people for all time to eat and drink of this heavenly food, He commanded them to continue to make present and real this Eucharistic sacrifice. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus instructed His Apostles. Whenever we celebrate Mass, we do so at Christ’s command, and Jesus is made real and present to us.

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.'" - John 6:35

Sacramental Preparation Classes

First Reconciliation and First Communion classes will begin the in the Fall. We will be using the curriculum Signs of Grace - You are Forgiven and Signs of Grace - You are Loved from the Augustine Institute, which engages children and parents to grow in their faith together.

You Are Forgiven prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time by revealing that God is indeed “rich in mercy.”
You Are Loved prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time by revealing the intimate love that God has for us.

Please contact the office (503-631-2882) for more information.

As part of this program, we ask parents to:

Have their child baptized in a Catholic church
Provide a copy of their child's baptism certificate, if they were not baptized at St. Philip Benizi
Attend Sunday Mass each week with their child