Preparation for the reception of First Holy Communion in second grade starts in the fall as students read the earliest stories of Salvation History, and review the Sacrament of Baptism.  Students are interviewed by our pastor or deacon to ensure they understand the sacrament, then during Advent, they make their First Confession. 
  
 As the year progresses, second graders read New Testament stories about Jesus’ life, learn about all of the parts of the Mass and come to see how the Last Supper is the new Passover.
  
 Forty days before their reception of Holy Communion, students begin to pray and do acts of sacrifice and love, modeled after St. Therese, the Little Flower.  During the last week of preparation, they study five different saints that had a special devotion to the Eucharist.  Students are again interviewed by our pastor or deacon, and participate in a half day retreat at Holy Family Church. 
 
 On the day of First Holy Communion, it is quite a beautiful sight to see all of the First Communicants dressed in suits or white dresses and veils kneeling at the Communion rail waiting for this most important moment in their life, when they will meet Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  On the Monday following First Communion, the students wear their First Communion clothes to the daily school Mass.  After Mass, there is a reception with the entire student body followed by a special reception with the parents of the First Communicants.