Holy Eucharist

“I am the living bread that came down from Heaven… Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.”
- Jn 6:51, 53

As Catholics, we believe that The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Its importance is clear in the central nature it has in our worship and our lives. Indeed, our liturgy is truly a Eucharistic Liturgy, a memorial of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity. We believe that Christ Himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: His Body and His Blood, with His soul and His divinity in this sacrament.

The Catholic Church calls us into a community where we will never truly worship alone. At Mass we gather together the young and the old, the rich and the poor with our neighbors and those around the world in celebration of Christ’s sacrifice. As a community, the Eucharist teaches us about human dignity and calls us into a trusting and loving relationship with God, ourselves, and others. As the Body of Christ, it sends us on a mission to help transform our communities, neighborhoods, and world as stewards of God’s gifts and ministers to His people.

For something so important and central to our lives as Catholics, the Eucharist is rich in mystery and yet full of grace. Bread and wine are woven into the early history of God’s people. We see this in Melchizedek’s offering of a sacrifice of bread and wine for Abraham’s victory (cf. Gn 14:18) through the Exodus from Egypt and the instution of the passover meal where the consumption of a sacrificed lamb, blessed bread, and wine was an act of thanksgiving to God. But, before being given up to death, Jesus gave a new and complete meaning to the sacrificed lamb, bread, and wine.

If you have any questions concerning First Holy Communion, please see below or contact the Faith Formation (PREP) Office  at (215)-757-5530.

OLG PREP is excited to be using a program for the Sacrament of First Communion called Signs of Grace: You are Loved.  “Fun activities, entertaining videos, engaging student guides and compelling stories are all part of the Signs of Grace curriculum, helping children understand intellectually, spiritually and emotionally that the Sacraments are a real encounter with Jesus Christ. This program is designed with the whole family in mind and parents play a key role in the preparation of their children for the Sacraments.” This includes three Parent Sessions and family pages in the children's books.

First Communion Parent Session dates for PREP (OLG School parents only attend  the January 18 Zoom)

• PREP Signs of Grace families will have two different options for the parent sessions. You can attend either during the Family PREP Sunday parent talk or on Zoom on consecutive Tuesday nights. Here are the dates/times. You can mix dates/times as needed in order to complete all three parent sessions.
  Parent Session 1 – Sunday Jan 8, 9-10AM in SKD room of school OR Tues Jan 17 7PM Zoom
              ***1st Session includes the general parent meeting with dates and other information
  Parent Session 2 – Sunday Feb 12 9-10AM in SKD Room of school OR Tues Jan 24 7PM Zoom
  Parent Session 3 – Sunday Mar 12 9-10AM in SKD Room of School OR Tues Jan 31 7PM Zoom
  SKD Room is on First Floor of School (St. Katharine Drexel Room)

• Retreat: Saturday March 18, 2023 10AM-11:30PM in Church

• Rehearsal:

  • School Students: Some rehearsal during the school day coordianted with teacher
  • PREP Rehearsal Tuesday April 11, 2023  5:00PM in church (Tuesday PREP 1st Communion students will not have PREP class that night and should come to church at 6PM or a little before if parents have other PREP students to pick up at school at 6-other levels will have class.)
  • Combined Rehearsal for Both School & PREP Students: Tuesday April 18, 2023 6:30PM in church.
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• First Eucharist:
  • Group Option:       Saturday  April 22, 2023 at 10:30AM 
  • Family Option:      Sunday    April 23, 2023 at 10:00 AM Mass at church

Registration Form and Parent Information 

We are always in need of individuals to assist the priest in the distribution of Holy Communion at our Weekend Masses. If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister and willing to go through the proper training, please contact Maddie Appleby at mappleby@olg1.org or (215)-757-7700 to get started.

If you or someone you know is homebound and would like to receive Communion, please contact the Parish Office at (215)-757-7700.

If you would like to become a Communion minister to the homebound, we welcome you to the team! Communion ministers are scheduled once a month and may bring Communion any day of their assigned week. Training is provided. Please contact Maddie Appleby at mappleby@olg1.org or (215)-757-7700 for more information and/or to sign up.