First Communion Registration First Communion classes will begin on March 8th and 9th, 2023, here at St. Martha's! Please find the registration form here. When completed, please return it to the parish office or scan it to sacraments@stmarthasparish.ca. If your child will be participating in First Reconciliation in Fall 2022, then they will be automatically registered for First Communion in 2023. All registrations must be received by March 3, 2023.
Registration Age The minimum age to participate in First Communion is seven years old, or anyone in Grade 2 or above. Your child must have completed First Reconciliation in order to participate in First Communion. Required Documents
A completed copy of the sacrament registration form (found here).
A copy of your child's baptismal certificate, if the parish does not already have a copy.
$25 registration fee (to cover cost of resources). This fee can be waived in case of financial difficulty.
Further Information If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the sacramental preparation coordinator, Zachary, at sacraments@stmarthasparish.ca or at 403-381-8891. He will be happy to help you!
You can also visit the parish office, Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
The Eucharist
The word Eucharist is from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), which means thanksgiving.
The Eucharist bonds us to God and to our community of believers. The teaching of Jesus' presence in the Church is founded through scripture. As Christ said at the Last Supper "take and eat this is my bread, take and drink this is my blood." We as Catholics take this proclamation, and embrace the Eucharist as Christs body and blood. We embrace Gods presence in the Eucharist not as a symbol but as a true and divine presence. In John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away. The conversation goes back and forth, as followers, Pharisees and disciples question what Jesus means. 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Here is the basis of our faith. Here we find the living heart of Christ, the word made flesh.
We should have this in mind every time we celebrate Mass, and Receive Jesus in the Eucharist.
Celebration Dress Code: Mass formal, as it is a celebration similar to how we get dressed up for our birthdays we want to make this day special, as it is a spiritual birthday in many ways. We ask that the participants dress formal, no jeans or casual wear. If financials are an issue keep to plain coloured clothing, white on top and dark bottoms. White is a symbol of purity, renewal, and also represents a fresh start. Girls: white dress or white blouse, and dark skirt or pants. -Shoulders need to be covered and the dress/skirt should reach the knee. Boys: White shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. (if you don't have dress shoes all black shoes are fine.) Baptism Dress Code: White, with the ability to anoint the chest with Christening Oil.
