CHILD'S GUIDE TO FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

First Holy Communion

Hi，Olivia!" I say to my classmate. "I like your dress."

"Thanks, Justin. You look nice, too."

Hi! My name is Justin. This is where I go to church.

Today is a very special day for me. I've been preparing for it for a long time. Today I am celebrating my First Holy Communion. This means I am going to invite Jesus into my heart in a new and wonderful way.

Come with me，the celebration is about to begin!

Today is a good day to wear special clothes if you have them. But if you don't have them, it doesn't matter. More important than how we look on the outside is how we feel on the inside — happy and ready to receive Jesus!

As we walk in, I smile at everyone. I see moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, cousins and friends. We sing a song about how all the people in church belong to one family in Jesus. That's a big family! I sing extra loud.

Can you find Justin's family? Olivia's?

Who goes to church with you?

Mass begins just like it always does. My family brings me to Mass every Sunday to learn about Jesus, so I feel right at home in church. Look, there's Father Mario. He leads us in prayer. Together, we ask God to forgive our sins.

Now it's time to sit and listen to the word of God. Today's readings are all about Holy Communion. My friend, Ramon, is going to read a letter from Saint Paul.

"...the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread..."

I know this story. It's about the very first Communion. Communion means to join together, Jesus, on the night before he died on the cross for us，had a Last Supper with his good friends，the Apostles. Jesus wanted his friends to know how much he loved them. He wanted them to know that he would always be with them. So Jesus gave himself in a very special way through bread and wine — a way that would join him to his friends forever.

"Take and eat. This is my body.

Take and drink. This is my blood.

Do this in memory of me. "

The next story we hear in church today is read by Father Mario. It is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus. We stand for this important reading.

"...taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them..."

I know this story, too. It's about how Jesus fed 5,000 people. He took two fish and five loaves of bread and said a special blessing. Then he told his Apostles to feed the people. There was plenty for everyone! It was a miracle. At Mass, the same kind of miracle happens when Jesus tells his priests to feed the people. This time, Jesus feeds us with his body and blood during Holy Communion.

After the Gospel is read,Father Mario talks to us. He says that our First Holy Communion is a good reason to dress up,It's fine to have a party on this day with cake and gifts,but the best gift we will ever receive is the gift of jesus. Father Mario reminds us how Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus promised that no one who comes to him will ever be hungry. Now we,too, are ready to be fed.

Next we sing a song of preparation.