Receiving Holy Communion

Hello New Religious Education Families!

We are so happy that you have joined our Religious Education Program here at Holy Family. We are excited about our start -- in about one month!

I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that your children are not to receive Communion. Your children are preparing for this beautiful privilege, but they are not to receive right now.

1-When you approach the Blessed Sacrament, please have your children walk and stand in front of you.

2-Their arms should be crossed over their chest in a position we call "pretzel arms." It looks like this:

3-The kids will receive a special blessing. The Ordinary or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion will likely hover his or her right hand over the child's head and whisper a very short blessing. Some may touch your child's head or forehead; some will hover over the head. Your children do not have to respond, but they can say, "Amen" if they want to. The blessing will look like this:

4-You will then be given Communion, which you may receive either in the hand or on the tongue. Please practice the Sacrament of Reconciliation by going to Confession; we suggest at least twice a year, once before Christmas and once before Easter.

5-If you receive in the hand, please take a side-step toward your pew and place the the Host in your mouth while you are facing the altar. Then turn and walk to your pew.

Under no circumstances will you or anyone else share the consecrated Host with your children who have not formally received the Sacrament. Please share this information with other family members who go to Mass with you. 

If your child is crying, begging, or otherwise "offended" that you are not sharing: do not share! Please teach your child that this is a very special communion with God that s/he needs to learn about first. Very soon, s/he will be able to receive and it will be a celebration. Until then, s/he needs to be patient and pray to Jesus that that fervor remains. It might be good to learn about and talk about Saints like St. Tarcisius, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Gemma Galgani, and Blessed Imelda Lambertini.

6-Don't forget to have your Mass Signature Card signed -- we'll be collecting June, July, and August's cards in September.

Thank you for following this extremely important protocol.

If you have any questions, please leave a voice message and we will return your phone call after we get back from vacation in very late August/early September. We hope you have a fun start to the public school new year!

See you soon,
Mrs. Acevedo, DRE