Becoming Catholic Eucharist (Third Edition): A Practical Guide for Families

Eucharist – A practical guide for families is part of the Becoming Catholic series designed to support parents and children preparing to receive the sacraments. It is also ideal for educators to use as additional material for sacramental preparation in the classroom. Eucharist is the sacrament that completes our initiation into the Catholic Church. It is the sacrament that nourishes our lives for the journey of being missionary disciples of Jesus.

The nourishment we receive in the Sacrament of the Eucharist is to be shared with others. By sharing our time, our gifts and our resources, we acknowledge that at the heart of our Christian calling is the call to justice and supporting those most in need, as Jesus showed us and challenged us. This book will help parents create warm, sharing moments with their children.

Author Kathy Horan has used the themes Preparing, Celebrating, and Living inside this user-friendly resource. Parents, educators and children can work through the book together, exploring how we celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist today through values, experiences and connection. Throughout each theme, references to the story of Jesus help familiarise us with who Jesus was, and explores how he shared his relationship with a loving and merciful God, with his disciples and other followers.

This book also features activity and journalling pages created by educator Tess Harford. Engaging, fun, and educational, they create a special time when parents and understanding of the faith journey ahead.

Kathy Horan has worked extensively in a range of leadership roles within Catholic Education in South Australia. These roles include RE coordinator in parish schools, Deputy Principal and RE consultant in the Adelaide Archdiocese and the Diocese of Port Pirie. She holds Master’s Degrees in Theology and Educational Leadership. A focus of her work is family-based catechisis, particularly in the role of Sacramental preparation. Kathy is currently working in the Adelaide Archdiocese as Coordinator of the RCIA, supporting parish Baptism teams and adult Confirmation groups. She is also working with the Ministry Formation program to support students seeking pathways into pastoral ministry within the Archdiocese.

Tess Harford is an experienced educator who has worked in Catholic Education SA for 35 years. Tess’s roles include classroom teacher, Religious Education coordinator and various senior leadership positions. She brings a wealth of practical catechetical experience and an enthusiasm for developing children’s spiritual faith through engaging activities and journalling prompts in this series.

“The sacraments of initiation are major events in the faith journeys of Catholic children. How, then, to foster their understanding of these sacraments? How to lead them to celebrate the sacraments richly? Kathy Horan’s Becoming Catholic series offers an accessible, imaginative, and engaged way for children to prepare for these sacraments with their families and parishes. A helpful guide for parents explains the process and informs parents about the meaning of the sacraments.”
Rev Dr James McEvoy
Senior Lecturer in Theology, ACU Adelaide