Eucharist

What exactly is the Eucharist?
 

The Eucharist is the Sacrament in which we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Actually, the term "Eucharist," which is a word meaning "thanksgiving," can be used to describe the bread and wine that have been transformed (or, in fancier and more precise terms, "transubstantiated") into the Body and Blood of Jesus or the whole Mass during which that miraculous transformation takes place. Either way, the roots of this Sacrament are found in the Jewish Passover meal and, specifically, in the Last Supper meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his death and resurrection. In that meal and at the Eucharist today, the words of Jesus tell us that He is truly present in the bread and wine that have been specially consecrated. Although the bread and wine still look and taste like bread and wine, the substance, what is really there, has changed.

But what actually happens?

We have the chance to experience the Eucharist whenever we come to church for Mass. It is this wonderful experience in which, along with praying, singing, and hearing the Word of God, we have that opportunity to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. One especially powerful and meaningful moment in someone's life, though, is the first time he or she has the chance to receive the Eucharist. We often call this First Holy Communion, and we spend months or years preparing for such a special day. On the face of it, that day and that moment are quite simple. A person goes up, gets a thin piece of bread from the priest, deacon, or minister, and eats it. Those who believe and understand what's really going on, however, know how special and significant that moment really is.
 

If you're new to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and would like to enroll a student in our Religious Education program to begin a process of faith formation and prepare for his or her First Holy Communion, please contact Betsy Fitzsimons, our Coordinator of Religious Education. You can email her at olomcreled1@gmail.com or reach her by calling the  Parish Office (203-248-0141) or the Religious Education Office (203-287-9017).

In addition, if you're an adult who might not have completed his or her Sacraments earlier in life but now find yourself interested in completing this process and becoming fully initiated into the Church, please consider our RCIA program. You can find more information about RCIA here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel by CLICKING HERE or by emailing our RCIA Coordinators, Deacon Stephen Yatcko (dcn.yatcko@aohct.org) and Donna Yatcko (dyatcko@aol.com).

Or if you're already a fully initiated Catholic and just want to figure out the next time you can come to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish to receive the Eucharist at Mass, CLICK HERE to head over to our "Mass & Confession Times" page.

And finally, for some more insight into what the Eucharist is all about, please check out the video below: