“The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation … The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1322 and 1325)

It is Jesus given to us: His divinity and humanity in His most Holy Body and Blood.

The foundation of the Eucharist is found in the Last Supper that Jesus celebrated with His Apostles. During the meal, He took bread, blessed and broke the bread and shared it with His friends. He did the same with the wine, offering the cup of salvation to His Apostles. He then asked them to do this always in remembrance of Him.

In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, we read: “I am the living bread come down from heaven…Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6: 51, 53).

The Eucharist is our highest and culminating Sacrament of Initiation. All sacraments lead us to the table of the Lord. In the reception of the Eucharist, we eat His body and drink His blood and become more like our Savior. He nourishes us with Himself, with His divine Life.

The Diocese of Gaylord has restored the order of the sacraments, in which Confirmation is celebrated before Eucharist. St. Mary of the Assumption celebrates the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist in the second grade. It is required that all candidates participate in two years of faith formation prior to receiving these sacraments. In addition to the regular faith formation classes, a monthly sacramental preparation class for students and parents is required during the second year.

For more information concerning sacramental preparation, please contact the parish office.