Excerpt from The Vatican’s “Catechism of the Catholic Church” on Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’”
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”
“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. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.”
Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.
In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”
Contact Info
Faith formation through the parish is two years. For your convenience, we have included the Registration form.
Please fill out the form and then email it to: Email the Director of Religious Education Here or drop off a copy at St. Ann’s Parish Center.
Click the LINK BELOW to download and print the updated registration.
For Children in between 8 and 10 years of age that have already completed the pre-communion year: First Communion Form English & First Communion Form Spanish
For Children 11 years of age or older that have not received One or More sacraments: RCIA for Children
Please contact DRE at 561-832-3757 ext. 304 for further information.
First Communion Guidelines
We are happy that your family is preparing to receive First Communion this year. It is a joyous occasion and we look forward to working with you to make this a memorable event in your family. In order to better prepare your child we need your collaboration by adhering to the following guidelines.
- First Communion is a two-year program, normally 1st grade is Pre-Communion and 2nd grade is First communion. We understand some children, for various reasons, are past 2nd grade and have not done their First Communion. If this is the case with your child, please contact our Director of Religious Education, Veronica Matias at (561)832-3757 or email: ReligiousEd@stannchurch.net.
- We have classes of Pre-Communion and First Communion for all the grades.
- The child should know the basic prayers of The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father); Hail Mary, Glory, and Act of Contrition.
- Attendance to class is of extreme importance. No more than 4 excused attendances will be allowed for the child to do First Communion.
- Parents must attend the 4 meetings a year on Thursday nights (see the calendar for exact dates).
- We will have a First Communion retreat. The retreat is mandatory.
- Child and parents must attend the Reconciliation Service.
- We must have a copy of the child’s birth certificate and baptism certificate in the office.
- Parents must sign out their children every Sunday after class.
- Students must come to weekly Mass as part of their preparation for First Communion.