Eucharist

The Eucharist is the "source and summit" of the entire life of the Church (Lumen gentium 11). At Mass, we are fed by the Word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

True Presence of Christ

The Eucharist is not a sign or symbol of Jesus; rather we receive Jesus himself in and through the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is called transubstantiation.

By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (CCC 1413)

The New Covenant

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…remains in me and I in him. (John 6:51, 54, 56)

In instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus brought to fulfilmment the covenants made between God and His People in the Hebrew Scriptures. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus took, broke and gave bread and wine to his disciples. The gospel accounts describe how Jesus, in the blessing of the cup of wine, called it “the blood of the covenant” (Matthew and Mark) and the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke).

This reminds us of the blood ritual with which the covenant with the People Israel was ratified at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 24). Just as the sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals united God and Israel in one relationship, so the blood that Jesus shed on the cross is now the bond of communion between God the Father, Jesus, and the Church. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, all the baptized are in relationship with God.

Transformative Encounter 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that all Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion are welcome to receive the Eucharist at Mass. Those who are consciously in a state of mortal sin are to refrain from partaking in Eucharistic communion until they have received absolution in the the sacrament of reconciliation (CCC 1415).

Catholics are encouraged to recieve Holy Communion frequently, even daily if possible! The Church obliges the faithful to receive the Eucharist at least once a year.

Receiving the Eucharist changes us. It signifies and effects the unity of the community and serves to strengthen the Body of Christ. The Eucharist becomes a transformative encounter with Christ and the Church.

Understanding the Mass

The central act of worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass. It is in the liturgy that the Paschal Mystery of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus once for all is made present again in all its fullness and promise. We are privileged to share in His Body and Blood, fulfilling his command as we proclaim his death and resurrection until He comes again. It is in the liturgy that our communal prayers unite us into the Body of Christ. It is in the liturgy that we most fully live out our Christian faith.

The liturgical celebration is divided into two parts: (1) the Liturgy of the Word and (2) the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the Liturgy of the Word, 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 in the Creed. Our communal prayers are then offered for all the living and the dead.

Along with the Presider, we offer in our own way, the gifts of bread and wine. We are given a share in the Body and Blood of the Lord, broken and poured out for us. We receive the Eucharist, Christ’s real and true presence, and we renew our commitment to Jesus. Finally, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News!

First Communion

Traditionally, those children who have reached the age of reason and are enrolled in the second grade prepratory course receive First Holy Communion in May.

Contact our Religious Education Coordinator, Lisa Hoey, for more information: ccd1@ptd.net.

570-421-0113.

RCIA

Contact our priests at the Parish Office if you would like to join in the full communion of the Catholic Church by participating in Mass and receiving the Eucharist: 

rectory@ptd.net

570-421-2342

Eucharistic Liturgies:

Our Sunday Mass times are celebrated: Saturday: 5:15pm, Sunday: 8am, 10:45am, 12:15pm, 1:45 (Spanish), 7pm

The Eucharist is also celebrated Monday and Friday at 12:05am. and on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8am.

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." -John 6:54