THE HOLY EUCHARIST
The Eucharist is called "the source and summit of the Christian life." It is central to Catholic belief and practice. Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and the epistles of St. Paul. After Jesus took the bread and said the blessing, he gave it to his disciples and he said, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in memory of me." (Luke 22:19)
The name Eucharist comes from Greek and Latin words for "thanksgiving." The word "liturgy" means public prayer. The celebration of the Eucharist occurs within Holy Mass, which is a liturgy of thanksgiving for all God's gifts. When we receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, we give thanks for his selfless surrender for us, for the forgiveness of sins, for the intimate union (communion) we share with him and for our unity with each other in Christ's Church.
ADORATION OF
THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT
It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to His Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take His departure from His own, He wanted to give us His sacramental presence; He wanted to us to have the memorial of the love with which He loved us "to the end," even to the giving of His life. In his Eucharistic presence He remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave Himself up for us, and He remains under signs that express and communicate this love: "The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet Him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to make amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1380)
PREPARING FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AT SAINT JOHN XXIII PARISH
CHILDREN AND YOUTH: For children and youth seeking to prepare for First Holy Communion, please contact Mrs. Monica Pang, our Director of Religious Education, (203) 934-5240.
ADULTS: For adults (age 18 and above) seeking to prepare for First Holy Communion, please contact Patricia Boyne in our parish office, (203) 934-5249.
O Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament,
I would like to be filled
with love for You;
keep me closely united with You, may my heart be near to Yours.
I want to be to You
like the apostle John.
Blessed be Jesus, my love.