Holy Communion, or Eucharist, is the last Sacrament of Initiation and often takes place following the sacrament of Confirmation.  The first time you receive Eucharist completes your initiation into the Church. The Eucharist takes place in the Mass and is sometimes called the “source and summit” of the life of a Catholic. Unlike many other sacraments, Holy Communion is not celebrated once. Each week, Catholics go to Mass to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, the ritual in which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. We who celebrate are also transformed, becoming Christ’s presence to others, and recognising the presence of Christ in others.

For Catholics, the Eucharist, or Mass, is the most powerful way to encounter the real presence of Jesus Christ.