"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
Do you have a child who is ready to receive First Communion? Preparation for this important sacrament takes place either in Catholic school or in our CCD classes, which begin in September and end in May. Two years of preparation are required before a child can receive First Communion. First Communion normally occurs in the second grade (and preparation begins in the first grade), but preparation classes are available for children of all ages. Please see the CCD section of our website for information about registration.
Are you an adult Catholic who has not received First Communion? Please be in touch with our Minister of Religious Education, Thomas Patchan, at 301-762-8750 or smrockville@gmail.com, for more information about our RCIA classes.