"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;   whoever eats this bread will live forever..." (John 6:51)

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"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many." (Mark 14:22-24)

The Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist   is the source and summit of our Catholic Faith. 

The Holy Mass is at the center of our Catholic life and everything we do in our parishes should flow from the Eucharist, from the One who truly lives among us and gives us Himself so that we may have life within. 

Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper while celebrating the Passover meal with his Apostles. The gift of the Holy Eucharist makes Jesus present to us today and every day. He did not abandon us, rather he gave us the Church in whose authority priests and bishops consecrate the unleavened bread and wine at the Mass by which it becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. Through this miracle, the same Jesus who was crucified and rose from the dead may be received by Catholics today. 

The grace of this sacrament provides supernatural food for the soul to strengthen and nourish the faithful as they seek greater union with Christ in their daily life. Each time Catholics receive Holy Communion they have an opportunity to grow in holiness through their openness to the graces offered in this encounter with living Jesus. In the Catholic tradition, we call these graces the fruits of Holy Communion. 

The liturgical celebration is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. First, we hear the Word of God proclaimed in the scriptures and respond by singing God's own Word in the Psalm. Next that Word is broken open in the homily. We respond by professing our faith publicly. Our communal prayers are offered for all the living and the dead in the Creed. Along with the Priest, we offer in our own way, the gifts of bread and wine and are given a share in the Body and Blood of the Lord, broken and poured out for us. We receive the Holy Eucharist, Christ's real and true presence, and we renew our commitment to Jesus. Finally, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News!

“A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” 

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina