Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.'" (Lk 22:19-20)
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC:1324). The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church’s life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church (CCC:1407). At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood. (CCC:1333).
First Communion Preparation
Children who have been baptized begin direct preparation to receive First Communion in second grade. Children should have at least one year of formation prior to their second grade year to begin preparation. Second grade students, along with their parents, come together to participate in the cluster classes and retreat, while continuing the learning at home with materials supplied by the cluster at class.
Sacrament of First Communion
After all the required classes, retreat, and First Reconciliation have been completed, the children can receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The weekend(s) following Easter is when the sacrament of Holy Communion is received by our second grade students. Each student will receive the sacrament at their registered parish unless otherwise notified by the parents to the cluster office. We have five parishes in our cluster. Four parishes will receive the sacrament the weekend immediately following Easter (2nd Sunday of Easter). The fifth parish will receive their sacrament the second weekend after Easter (3rd Sunday of Easter).
*Families of children who wish to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist but are not yet baptized, or of children who are baptized but older than second grade, are invited to contact Fr. Jake Dunne at DBQ150@dbqarch.org or call the cluster office at (319) 228-8131 to learn more about options available for preparation for the sacrament.
**Adults who are interested in receiving First Communion are invited to contact RICA coordinators Dennis & Anita Kimm at kimm@southslope.net.
Homebound Communion Ministry
Whenever parishioners are not able to attend Sunday Mass due to age, illness, or injury, they can request that holy communion be brought to them in their home. We have trained Eucharistic ministers who bring communion to those unable to attend.
Along with taking communion to homebound parishioners, some parishes are responsible for communion ministry to Catholics in care centers and assisted living centers in the area. We have trained ministers who take communion to Catholic residents at the Keystone Nursing Care Center & Assisted Living in Keystone and Colonial Manor in Amana.
If you need to add yourself or a parishioner to the homebound list, please call the cluster office at (319) 228-8131 or email us at queenofsaints@netins.net.