Reception of this awesome sacrament is available everyday of the week at St. Joseph Parish in Bradley. Click here for the Mass schedule.   

The Eucharist is tied into the idea of being Christ for others ("you are what you eat") ... Receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord nourishes and strengthens us so we can go out into the world and serve others.

Young members of St. Joseph Parish generally receive Eucharist for the first time when they are in the second grade. They are typically required to complete two consecutive years of Religious Education—the current sacrament year and the year prior to it.

The idea is for the children to continue with parish religious formation afterward because the ideas and concepts build upon each other.

However, the only real requirements are that a child has a sincere desire to receive the sacrament, has a familiarity with stories of Jesus Christ and has an understanding that the consecrated host is sacred, different than bread eaten at home. Parish sacramental preparation, which includes lessons in parish Religious Education and parish school religion class and family involvement, works to fulfill the afore mentioned requirements.

 At St. Joseph Parish, the teachers, catechists and clergy strive to  help the children appreciate that they are preparing not just to receive the Eucharist on their first Communion, but regularly throughout their lives after that special day.

St. Joseph Parish offers a Special Sacraments class for those children who did not receive Communion in the second grade. For details, call Sr. Linda Schwamberger, 815-937-9340.