Eucharist

Jesus says, “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.  Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

The liturgy of the Eucharist is celebrated during the mass.  Members of our community bring forward our gifts of bread and wine for which we give thanks to God and give God praise: “Blessed be God forever!”

The Eucharistic Celebration is set in the context of prayers and acclamations that recall God’s loving deeds on our behalf, culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the course of the Eucharistic Prayer, we invoke the power of the Holy Spirit to transform these gifts of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. We then ask the Spirit to enable us to become “one body, one spirit, in Christ.” Together we respond Amen.

We pray the Lord’s Prayer and then give expression to our true feelings toward one another, family, friends and strangers alike: “Peace be with you!” In this spirit of love and friendship, we approach the Table of the Lord to eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ together.

At St. Helen’s the First Eucharist program is a two-year program which prepares the children within a formative faith community to celebrate the Sacrament for the first time with reverence, understanding and hope.  For more information contact Mrs. Kathy Dulan.