First Eucharist

Click here to sign up for your First Communion Chat!

First Eucharist - 2021

Baptized children in second grade and up are invited to prepare for the celebration of the First Eucharist. Preparation and formation for First Eucharist is primarily an at-home process that includes parent-guided learning, weekly participation in Mass, and two additional group gatherings for communal preparation and dialogue.

A Parent Meeting in January begins the process where explanations and expectations are shared, along with a Parent Guide, Student Text, and additional resources.
Children and parents signify their intent to fully prepare at our Enrollment Ritual.
Midway through preparation, parents and children gather in church for prayer, dialogue, and review.
Toward the end of preparation at home, children and parents attend a retreat which involves a review of the elements included in First Eucharist preparation.
Finally, First Eucharist “chats” assess readiness for celebration of First Eucharist; child and parent meet with a member of the Pastoral Staff, and children share their knowledge of Mass and understanding of Eucharist.

Celebration of the sacrament occurs at select weekend masses during the Easter Season.

PSR 2019-20 Handbook

First Eucharist Dates

Friday, January 15 | Registration and Fees for books and supplies due
Monday, January 25, 7-8pm | Parent-Only Meeting in Favret Hall
Saturday, January 30, 5pm Mass | Enrollment Ritual (meet at 4:30 in Chapel before Mass)
Sunday, January 31, 11:00am Mass | Enrollment Ritual (meet in Chapel at 10:30 before Mass)
Monday, March 1, 7 -8 pm | Parent Child Gathering in church
Tuesday, March 16 - Sunday, March 21 | First Eucharist Chats in the Parish Office
Saturday, April 17, 9-11:30am | First Eucharist Retreat in the Parish Center
Saturday, May 1, 5:00pm Mass | First Eucharist
Sunday, May 2, 9:00am Mass | First Eucharist
Sunday, May 9, 11:00am Mass | First Eucharist
Saturday, May 15, 5pm Mass | First Eucharist

Books and materials fees Due January 20, 2020

ACTIVITY FOR THE FAMILY

What are the Different Parts of the Mass?

St. John records all of their Masses and makes them available online. After attending Mass, you can go home and watch/walk through the Mass (you have the ability to fast forward to talk about the different parts of the Mass).

There is also an archive of Masses, so you can practice with a lot of different ones. You can even make it into a guessing game that you can watch to see the answer:

What do you think will happen next?
After the gifts are brought up what does Fr. Don do?
What was the Gospel reading about today?
What is our response after Fr. Don says…?

Click here to find Masses on this player to look back on.

Baptismal Certificate

Children must be baptized to celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist, and we must have a copy of the candidate's Baptismal Certificate on file.

If your child was baptized at a church other than St. John, please connect with that church, and they will provide you with a certificate that you can forward to St. John.
Those who were baptized at St. John the Evangelist do not need to send in a Baptismal Certificate, as we already have it on file.

For those not yet baptized but who wish to be, please contact Scott Steinke for more information about the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for children, and/or baptism for infants, at 513-777-6433, ext. 115, or at ssteinke@stjohnwc.org.

Book/Materials Due January 15, 2021

Child and Parent Book $40

Two Children and Parent Book $65

Only Child Book $25
(if you have saved the parent book that you used with a previous child)

Each family needs one parent guide (if you have a copy from previous preparation, that will work). Each child should have his or her own copy of the student book as there are places for written responses and reflections. If the cost of the materials presents a problem, please let us know and we can make other arrangements. Please drop off or mail registration paperwork and checks (payable to St. John the Evangelist, with Eucharist Prep in the memo) to the parish office. Cash payments should be delivered directly to the parish office with the completed registration paperwork.

To learn more about the seven sacraments, check out this video.

To learn more about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist please click on this website.

Do you have a child with special needs?
We have an Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation kit that is designed especially for children with Autism and special needs. Contact Mary Montour at mmontour@stjohnwc.org if you would like to see the samples in her office. Please click here for more information.