Holy Eucharist | First Eucharist Preparation

My Jesus, 
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 
I love You above all things, 
and I desire to receive You into my soul. 
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, 
come at least spiritually into my heart. 
I embrace You as if You were already there 
and unite myself wholly to You. 
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Sacramental Preparation
First Reconciliation &
First Eucharist for Children

The sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are celebrated when children are in second grade.  Children and parents begin the monthly preparation in September and continue through April. 

First Reconciliation is celebrated at the Communal Penance Service in December at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  First Eucharist is celebrated at the weekend Masses at St. Mary's the first weekend in May.

Older children are also welcome to prepare and receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

See the document to the left for the Welcome Letter and the link called Sacrament Registration Form to register for First Reconciliation and Eucharist for children and their parents.

See the Growing Up Catholic link for more information about the resources used for sacramental preparation.

For more information please contact Julie Fitzgerald at 452-5656x5 or julie@stmaryswinona.org.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

The holy Eucharist 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.

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1322 & 1323