Congratulations to all our young parishioners who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time over the last two weekends.

Thank you to the Religious Education Leaders, teachers and Principals at our Parish Primary Schools, the catechists who ran the classes and all those involved in the preparation of these students.

Students reflect on their First Eucharist:

I felt special when I went up on the altar with Fr Brendan.  Amelia

I felt proud at the end of the service because I’ve been waiting for a while to make my First Eucharist.  Jack

I felt proud of myself after I did the first reading and when I received the host for the first time.  Zoe 

I enjoyed having all of my family down from Bairnsdale to come and celebrate my Eucharist with me.  Claudia

I felt excited before the Mass started because I was doing something I’d never done before.  Raf

I felt everyone was looking down on me.  There was a big spotlight on me.  Mia

I felt proud of myself.  I am closer to God.  Anna

I felt that all the members of my family were there to support me.  Ned

I was nervous.  My parents were there to support me.  I received a blessing.  Jacob.

I felt closer to God.  I was excited and nervous with everyone watching.  Amalia

I felt a bit nervous when I first went up.  I feel closer to God.  Zac

I felt closer to God once I reached the altar.  Arlo

On Sunday morning Mason and I made our First Eucharist at Our Lady of Good Counsel.  I was a bit nervous at the start.  A lot of my grandparents came, even my nana from Ireland.  When it came time for the Mass to start my palms were sweating and I was fidgeting so much.  I was going to bring the message stick down between all the chairs and everyone was looking at me.  When we were called up to receive the Host I did not know what to expect.  It was a special day.  I can’t wait till my next sacrament!  Lorcan

Mum, Dad, and I got to sit in the reserved seats of the church.  Before Mass started my grandparents arrived and they got to sit in the same row as me.  Then it all started.  We sang a lot of songs, and I went up to the altar and read my reading.  Then came the big thing that I had been waiting for, to receive the bread and the body.  The priest said “The Body of Christ” and I said “Amen”.  Jasper

Last week I made my first Eucharist.  At the start, I was a bit nervous because I have never done anything like this before.  I really enjoyed reading at church, I read a Prayer of the Faithful.  It was a special day for me and my family.  Eloise

A Special Lunch

Year 4 students from Our Holy Redeemer Primary School gathered during the week for a special lunch.  Those who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time and their classmates who supported them in their preparation, gathered together in the school hall for a communal meal of pizza and a cupcake.  It was a lovely culmination to the hard work they have all put in to prepare themselves for this Sacrament.  A special thank you to the Year 4 parents who helped with the lunch.