Among the seven sacraments cherished by the Church over the centuries, the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist holds a pre-eminent place. It is the heart and center of the Church’s worship life, the most perfect liturgical expression of who we are as members of the Body of Christ, and of what we believe as Catholics. For this reason, the Eucharist is often referred to as the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Like the other sacraments, the Eucharist is an encounter with the crucified and risen Son of God, living and mystically present under the appearance of bread and wine. In the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; . . . he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and . . . abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:51, 54, 56). As 21st century disciples, our challenge is always to “abide” in Jesus—to live in daily communion with our Teacher and Lord, and gradually to become more like him. The Eucharist is food for that spiritual journey, by which we literally become what we eat and drink.

The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s Passover. Each time Mass is celebrated, the faithful enter into what we call the Paschal Mystery—the work of salvation accomplished once and for all by the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Mass is not merely a “looking back” to events that took place 2000 years ago; nor is the bread and wine that are consumed merely symbolic reminders of what Jesus shared with his apostles at the Last Supper. Rather, those participating in the liturgy are entering into the dying and rising of Christ—his saving Passion, death and resurrection are being made present, here and now. Moreover, the bread we break and the cup we share are no longer bread and wine (except in their appearance); we believe that those simple gifts are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into Christ himself, living and glorious. In the Holy Eucharist Jesus is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1640, 1651).

In Luke’s Gospel, when at the Last Supper Jesus had blessed, broken, and given the Bread of Life to his friends, he said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). In celebrating this Most Blessed Sacrament, the Church continues to obey her Lord’s command to this day.

First Holy Communion

Because the Eucharist is such a treasure, we look to share it with our children as soon as they are able to grasp its meaning, even in a most basic way. First Eucharist (or First Holy Communion) is usually celebrated in the second grade. The preparation for this sacrament is a two-year program. In the first year (usually first grade) the children are taught at home by their parents who attend several parent meetings and prayer services to support their efforts. In the second year, children attend weekly catechetical sessions and children along with parents gather several times during the year for prayer. For more information, please click below.

Children's First Communion

St. Lawrence Family Mass

As a parish family, we are especially eager to reach out to our children and young people (and their parents, of course!), with the hope that Sunday Mass will become a more integral part of their weekly routine.  To that end, we celebrate a "Family Mass" on the first Sunday of the month, from October through June.  The liturgy has a more child-friendly flavor, and the children themselves are invited to participate as greeters, ushers, lectors, gift-bearers, and choir members.  Hospitality usually follows in the Bethany Center. 

Communion to the Sick and Homebound

The Eucharist can be brought to parishioners who are unable to leave home due to age or illness by one of our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMs). To arrange for a visit, please contact the rectory office at (631) 589-0042.