I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…remains in me and I in him. (John 6:51, 54, 56)
First Holy Communion was celebrated this yeat on the 27th April 2024 in St Mary’s Church, Kilbegnet for the children of the Parish.
In the gospels we read that the Eucharist was instituted at the Last Supper. This is the fulfilment of the covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Last Supper narratives in the Gospels, Jesus took, broke and gave bread and wine to his disciples. In the blessing of the cup of wine, Jesus calls it “the blood of the covenant” (Matthew and Mark) and the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke).
Receiving the Eucharist changes us. It signifies and effects the unity of the community and serves to strengthen the Body of Christ.
Understanding the Mass
The central act of worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass. It is in the liturgy that the saving death and resurrection of Jesus once for all is made present again in all its fullness and promise – and we are privileged to share in His Body and Blood, fulfilling his command of “do this in memory of me.” It is in the liturgy that our communal prayers unite us into the Body of Christ. It is in the liturgy that we most fully live out our Christian faith. We are a community who come together to share a meal.
The liturgical celebration of the mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We hear the Word of God proclaimed in the scriptures. We respond to it by professing our faith publicly. Our communal prayers are offered for all the living and the dead in the Creed.
Along with the Priest, we offer in our own way, the gifts of bread and wine. We receive the Eucharist, Christ’s real and true presence, who gives us strength to live out the Gospels each day of our lives. At the conclusion of the Mass we are sent out to proclaim the Good News.
1st Holy Communion
Sacraments are freely requested, and it is a decision that you and your child should make regarding the reception of 1st Holy Communion. The reception of a Sacrament is a decision made in faith, it is your responsibility to care and nurture your own and your child’s faith this is the promise you made to God on the day you asked to have your child baptised. If we do not pray together then the celebration of the Sacraments has no meaning and no context.
If you and your child decide to continue their faith journey with the reception of the Sacrament, please complete the application form. The completed form should be returned to the parish. If your child was not baptised in the Parish of Kilbegnet/Glinsk a copy of their Baptismal certificate is required.