As many of you are aware, Andrew Edwards and I are currently enjoying interviewing prospective students for the 2024 Kindergarten cohort. One of the questions that we are being asked concerns how families can support their child’s formation in religion, regardless of denomination.  This week, I would like to take the opportunity to share with you some information about the Eucharist that may be of some assistance for all of our families.

Catholic children are invited to receive Holy Communion at around the age of 7 (in Year 3 within the All Saints Parish), but younger children will have questions about the Eucharist from attending Mass. Do your best to explain the Eucharist in simple terms that your child will understand.

You may like to read the four accounts of the Last Supper found in Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-39 and John 13:1-17:26. Use a children's picture Bible with illustrations to help your child understand the narrative.

Discuss the importance of food in your family life. Explain that you gather for meals not only to eat, but to share your day and enjoy the company of others. Similarly, the church gathers as a family at Mass to receive spiritual nourishment - the body and blood of Christ - spiritual renewal and the strength to live out a Christian life in the coming week.

Answer your child's questions about the Eucharist. Catholics believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Your child will almost certainly wonder how Christ can be present and unseen. Pope Benedict XVI explained the mystery of the Eucharist to children by making several analogies:

“You can't see an electric current, but you can see light. You cannot see the human soul, but you can see the soul in action through words and actions.”

Talk about friendship. Most young children value friendships highly, so they will understand when you explain that Christ is present in the Eucharist in order to stay close to his friends.

Give examples of sacrifice. For instance, your child sacrifices a toy she loves in order to make a friend happy while playing. Explain that Christ sacrificed his life out of love for us. Through the Eucharist, we unite ourselves with his gift and receive grace.

Talk about the effects of the Eucharist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that just as food gives strength to the body, the Eucharist gives strength to the soul.

If your child is too young to receive the Eucharist (Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 and in Year 3 prior to receiving the Sacrament at their First Holy Communion), they can approach the priest with their arms crossed over their chest for a blessing. The crossed arms are a sign to the priest that your child is too young to be a communicant, or that your child is not a baptised Catholic. Our Year 3 – Year 6 students are invited to do this at our school masses and the Wednesday Parish Mass. Our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students remain seated while the congregation receives the Eucharist.

If your child has received the Sacrament of Holy Communion, support their faith journey by taking them to mass so that they can receive the Eucharist in their parish community, and join us for Faith and Learning Visits.