“I am the bread of life…. whoever eats this bread will live forever,” according to John 6:35-58 in Holy Gospel. By continuing to receive Holy Communion for the rest of their lives, Catholics become one with Christ and believe they will share in his eternal life.

First Communion is the colloquial name for a person’s reception of the sacrament of life. Catholics believe this event to be of great importance, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Roman Catholic Church. Holy Communion refers to the Eucharist — it is as well the body of Jesus Christ. It is a sacrament. So when these children make their First Communion they can understand exactly what they are doing when they first accept the host.

In earlier days around the age of 7 or 8,( these days it’s around 9 or 10 years of age ) who have reached the age of reason and are capable of participating in the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church qualify to receive the First Communion. Others can receive communion for the first time provided they are baptized and also have met all the church requirements. Special clothing, often white, is worn for this event to symbolize purity.

The Holy Communion Mass was celebrated by the Parish Priest of Bendur Fr Antony Serrao along with other priests. In his homily, Fr Serrao said that today every family feels happy because their children are receiving Holy communion for the first time. Serrao addressing the children said,”When you receive Jesus you should understand the love of Jesus. Heavenly father loved the world so much he sent his only son Jesus to the world. Immanuel means ‘God is with us”.  Jesus loves us, he comes within us in the form of the Holy Eucharist and lives in our hearts”.

Further Serrao said that, it is our anxiety to mold these children into faithful citizens. He also advised the parents to keep their oath which they have taken at the time of their children’s Baptism to bring their children up in Christian faith. Parents are the role models for children and whatever parents do children follow them. If the parents teach the children to pray and teach them moral values, they will grow in faith and become successful in their life.

All the children who received the First Holy Communion were given Rosary and New Testament on the occasion. Priests from various parishes also took part in the Eucharistic celebrations.