First Eucharist is the second of the Sacraments of Initiation. All students in 2nd grade, who have received formal religious education for one year either at St. Simon parish or through another parish and is currently registered in Faith Formation class or who have attended St. Simon School, will take part in the
formation process for the sacrament of First Holy Eucharist.

The formation period includes a mandatory Parent Session, 2 parent morning retreats, and 2 retreats for students that take place as part of the preparation for this almighty sacrament.

The parent session will provide information for your family.  

The 1^st retreat for 2nd-grade candidates will include a “This Is My Cup” reflection and chalice making with their community of friends. 

The Super Saturday retreat provides activities and instruction on aspects of the Eucharist and concludes with an Agape celebration/blessing for the child and their precious family.

We will have two First Holy Eucharist ceremony.  During the Family Session in September, each family will have the opportunity to complete a ceremony selection form and choose their first and second date options for the First Holy Eucharist ceremony. We will do our best to provide each family with their first choice. 

A fee of $50.00 per child for the sacrament of 1^st Eucharist is due in the fall. This fee covers the expenses of books, activities, retreats, etc. for the sacrament. 

If your child is not baptized at St. Simon the Apostle, please submit an official baptismal certificate from the church where the child was baptized. 

Please provide this to the Office of Faith Formation at the beginning of the year.  

If your child was baptized at St. Simon the Apostle, no certificate is required.  

Please complete the Sacrament Form for our records.

Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

For Catholics:

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible. (Code of Canon Law, canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

For our fellow Christians:

We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 3).

For those not receiving Holy Communion:

All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

For non-Christians:

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.

Copyright © 1996, United States Catholic Conference. All rights reserved.