Students make hosts for own first Communion
Globe staff report
Posted May 9, 2002

SHELDON - Second-graders at St. Patrick's School prepared for their first Communion through a variety of activities. Their preparation began in February with daily classes using a book on the Eucharist called Celebrating the Gift of Jesus and a study of the Mass.

The books were taken home every weekend for an opportunity for the children to work with their parents on each lesson. Later in February they joined their parents to design a family blessing cup. Elaine Jungers came to bake bread with the class. This bread was used at their Last Supper celebration at which they also received their blessing cups designed earlier.

The last special event in their preparation took place on April 2 when three women from Remsen St. Mary's introduced them to the art of host baking, preparing the bread used during Mass for holy Communion. Rita Henrich, Marlene Pick and Audrey Delperding provided this meaningful experience for the second graders at St. Patrick's School for several years now.

"I've never seen anyone make hosts before," said second-grader Michelle Fischer. "I got to help cut out large and small hosts."

Matthew Youngers was also amazed by the process and enjoyed waiting for the hosts to bake. The women explained to the children that it takes the hosts as long to bake as it takes to pray two Hail Mary's.

They began by showing the class the ingredients used to make the batter. Once the batter was ready, a spoonful was placed on the host baker which is inscribed with liturgical designs. Once baked, the students learned how to cut both the small and large hosts and then smoothed the edges so no crumbs fall off once the host is consecrated.

"My students took sincere interest in the process of baking and cutting hosts, especially when they learned that these hosts would become the body and blood of Christ that they would receive at their first holy Communion," said Sister Anne McCormick, second-grade teacher at St. Patrick's. "It is a special and unique part of our preparation for first holy Communion."