Eucharistic Celebration for Parents and their Children Preparing for First Holy Communion

As is the practice every catechetical year in the parish of St. Therese, Salmiya, a special Eucharistic celebration was held on 24 and 25 November 2014 for the parents and children who will be receiving First Holy Communion in 2015. The theme of the celebration was the Holy Eucharist. A total of about 213 young children along with their parents attended on both days. The purpose of holding such sessions each year is to offer a brief catechesis to both parents and children on the meaning of the various parts of the Holy Mass and the importance of the Holy Eucharist which is the source and summit of the Christian life.

Fr. Franco Pereira sdb the celebrant of the Holy Eucharist on both days, is also the Catechetical Director for the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. Father began by welcoming the parents and the children to this special Eucharistic celebration and stressed on the importance of parents being effective role models for their children and urging them to play an active role in preparing their children to receive this Sacrament of Sacraments. Father explained each part of the Holy Mass simply and effectively beginning from the moment we enter the church and sign ourselves with holy water to the final blessing. He walked us through each part of the celebration stopping at key moments to offer insight and explanation as to why we do what we do during the Holy Mass. He also spoke about the two options we have to receive Jesus in Holy Communion – on the tongue and on the palm and the right way to receive. 

The Liturgy of the Holy Mass, Father said, involves our whole being and most especially our senses of sight, hearing, touch and taste. He spoke about the two tables – the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist. The homily was based on the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus and was taken from the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35. Using this text Father explained how our encounter with Jesus at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist must mirror the experience of these two disciples who began their journey despondently but returned home excited, renewed, rejuvenated and became joyful witnesses of the risen Lord. 

At the end of the session I asked some of the children to share their thoughts on the Eucharistic Celebration; one young boy said that he attends Holy Mass often but this was different because Father explained everything very well. I also spoke to a couple of parents. One mother said it reminded her of her childhood days and another said that she was pleased to receive practical advice in preparing her child to receive First Holy Communion. 

Father spoke simply, powerfully and effectively explaining and beauty and the power of this Sacrament so both children and parents could understand the necessity of proper preparation in order to receive our Eucharistic Lord worthily. Everyone present went home richer for this unique experience that our parish makes available to the families of children preparing to receive Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion.