FIRST EUCHARIST RETREAT OUTLINE

The chart below details the curriculum content which the time of retreat will cover from the program, Celebrate and Remember
Eucharist, Published by Saint Mary’s Press.

SESSION CHAPTER TITLE SCRIPTURE KEY CHURCH LITURGY PRAYER LIVING

TEACHING EUCHARIST
First 7) Do This in The Last Supper To learn that To understand what To pray the To live out
Eucharist Memory of Me (Matthew 26: Jesus gave us takes place during “Maranatha” faithfully the
Retreat 18-20; 26-28; the Sacrament the Liturgy of (Come, Lord teachings of Jesus
and Luke 22:19) of Eucharist at Eucharist Jesus) prayer – Christ whom we
the Last Supper (transubstantiation). Benedictine have received in
To realize why the meditation the Eucharist.
consecration is the To recognize that
most solemn receiving
moment of the Eucharist
Eucharistic Prayer. strengthens us in
To realize that when our faithfulness
we pray the Great and resolve to live
Amen, we are according to
confirming our Jesus’ example
belief that the and teachings.
Eucharist is the real
presence of Christ.
8) Thy Kingdom Jesus teaches us To learn what To pray the Our To pray the To seek the
Come to pray Jesus means by Father as part of the Lord’s Prayer Kingdom of God
(Matthew 5: 1- the Kingdom of Liturgy of the and to learn and do our part to
2; 6: 9-13) God Eucharist at Mass. the meaning of bring God’s
To understand each part of the Kingdom on
why Jesus tells prayer earth.

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 us to call God To realize that
“our Father”. God is our loving
Father and that
all people in the
world are God’s
children and
therefore our
family.
9) The Body of Jesus on the To realize that To understand the To pray a To realize that
Christ road to Emmaus even though we prayers of the prayer to the each time we
(Luke 24: 13-32) can’t see Jesus communion rite. Risen Jesus receive
today, he is To review the communion, we
with us in the Liturgy of the meet Jesus in a
Eucharist. Eucharist so that we special way.
To learn how to understand what To learn that
prepare for, happens before, Jesus is always
receive and during and after with us and will
express Eucharist is always love us.
gratitude for received.
receiving
Eucharist.
10) Go in Peace Daily life of the To learn that we To understand the To pray a To discover ways
early Christians are members of Concluding Rite at “Litany to the we can live out
(Acts 2: 41-47) the Body of Mass – we are Holy Spirit”. our call to be
Christ blessed and sent To pray a more like Jesus.
forth to live as prayer of To understand
members of the thanksgiving why we need the
Body of Christ. for the Eucharist and
Eucharist. how the Eucharist
inspires us to

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 share God’s love
with others.

CONNECTING THE PREPARATION FOR FIRST EUCHARIST: Parish, Home and School
Invite parents and principal/school staff to be part of the retreat and possibly lead some of the activities or assist with the retreat
activities if they are able to attend. Collaboratively schedule the timing and location of the retreat with consideration for parent and
administration/school staff attendance.
Parents are welcome to attend the retreat with their child or they may drop their child off at the retreat.

PARISH SACRAMENTAL
PREPARATION
TIME PROGRAM – HOME – RETREAT EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITY Home Activity
CATHOLIC SCHOOL

RETREAT
Preparation Set-Up FACILITATORS
You will need four groups of facilitators – one group for each
activity. Invite parish catechists, parents and principal/school staff
to lead some of the activities. Kindly note that the pastor or a
member of the pastoral team may wish to lead Activity 3.

PRAYER TABLE
Set up a prayer table in the location of the retreat beforehand. On
the prayer table is a bible, the cross, a candle, a paten and chalice,
grapes, (bread will be baked during the retreat and placed on the

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 prayer table) - use a white table cloth (retreat usually in the
Season of Easter).

DIVIDE CHILDREN INTO FOUR GROUPS

(if there are 12 or more children in total attending the retreat)
Use four different colours for name-tags and assign children to
groups in consultation with the parish catechist, parent and school
teacher.

ACTIVITY SET-UP
Set-up four work stations for the four activities. A table with chairs
for the children and facilitator will serve this purpose.

For Activity 2, make a prayer folder for each child attending the
retreat.

For Activity 4 – the children will need colouring utensils for an art
activity.

WELCOME DESK
Have a couple of retreat facilitators (parish, home and school
representatives) welcome the children and the parents at the
reception desk. Provide each child with their name-tag on the
coloured paper and assist with pinning the name-tag on them (or
name-tag stickers).
15 minutes Opening Prayer Gather the children in front of the prayer table.

Light the prayer candle. Invite the children to be still and quiet in
God’s presence.

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Talk about the significance of each item that is on the prayer table.
[bible, cross, candle, patten and chalice, grapes, (bread will be
baked during the retreat and placed on the prayer table), white
table cloth (retreat usually in the Season of Easter]

Use the prayer on page 91 of the child’s book, Remember and

Celebrate Eucharist.
A Litany to the Holy Spirit

Lead the children in prayer into the Benedictine tradition of prayer,

Maranatha Prayer (can be translated as “Come, Lord Jesus”)

MARANATHA – “Come Lord Jesus”

MEDITATION IN THE BENEDICTINE TRADITION

Meditation is a universal spiritual wisdom and a practice that we find at the core of all the
great religious traditions, leading from the mind to the heart. It is a way of simplicity,
silence and stillness. Dom John Main (Benedictine) has a major role in this contemporary
renewal of the contemplative tradition. His teaching of this ancient tradition of prayer is
rooted in the Gospels and the early Christian monastic tradition of the Desert. Open to all
ways of wisdom but drawing directly from the early Christian teaching Dom John Main
summarized the practice in this simple way:

Sit down. Sit still with your back straight. Close your eyes lightly. Then interiorly, silently
begin to recite a single word – a prayer word or mantra. We recommend the ancient
Christian prayer-word "Maranatha". Say it as four equal syllables. Breathe normally and
give your full attention to the word as you say it, silently, gently, faithfully and above all -
simply. The essence of meditation is simplicity. Stay with the same word during the whole
meditation and from day to day. Don't visualize but listen to the word as you say it. Let go
of all thoughts (even good thoughts), images and other words. Don’t fight your
distractions but let them go by saying your word faithfully, gently and attentively and
returning to it immediately that you realize you have stopped saying or it or when your
attention is wandering.

Silence means letting go of thoughts. Stillness means letting go of desire. Simplicity means
letting go of self-analysis.

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15 minutes Organization Talk with the children about how the time of retreat will unfold:
Where the washrooms are located
When food will be served
Explain how the groups and activities are set-up
Tell the children which colour groups will start at which activities
How transitions will happen from one activity to the next
30 minutes ACTIVITY 1 The Last Supper (Matthew 26: 18-20; 26-28; and Luke 22:19) Child’s book,
The Last Supper Remember and
Read the story of The Last Supper from the child’s book, Remember Celebrate
and Celebrate Eucharist, page 62. Eucharist page
62 and do the
ACTIVITY – “Making” of Bread and “Wine” activity on pages
63, 68 and 69.
Bread

Points to make before activity:

 People have been making bread for many years. Just like grapes are crushed to
make wine, the wheat needs to be crushed and ground to make flour for the
bread. It changes, but the goodness of the ingredients gives us nourishment.

 Jesus would have eaten bread called matzo. Most people of his time would
likely have used barley instead of wheat to make their bread.

 In Jesus’ day, it was an honour to share a meal with someone much the same
way – we enjoy eating with family and special friends. Sharing a meal was a
communal action that drew people closer together and gave them a feeling of
belonging.

 When we say the Lord’s Prayer together we hear the words “Give us this day
our daily bread…” which doesn’t just mean the bread we eat, but other things
we need in life materially, spiritually, emotionally and physically to sustain
ourselves.

 We use unleavened bread during Mass which the priest consecrates to become
the body of Jesus.

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Celebration Bread Recipe:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp oil

Add enough water to moisten ingredients to make a dough consistency. Shape into round
loaf, and press down onto greased pie plate or make mini loaves. Add a ‘cross’ on the top
of the bread.

Bake at 350⁰ for 15 minutes.

Making “Wine”

Take a few grapes (about 10) in a zip lock bag and crush them with your fingers. Crushed
grapes are then strained and added to grape juice. The children will have the “wine” with
the bread they make.

Points to make about this activity:

 In Jesus’ day, meals would include homemade wine. People would crush grapes
and mix the juice and pulp with other ingredients and let it ferment. The grapes
have to be crushed and changed to become something else.

 We can see that even though the grape we once held has now been destroyed,
the goodness is still there. We still get nourishment to help us grow healthy and
strong.

 We can see in a similar way how, like the grape, Jesus died and became
something more. Each week at Mass, Jesus gives us the nourishment of Himself
in the Eucharist and in the Word.

 When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we will grow to be more like him. Jesus
promised to send the Holy Spirit to help us be more like him and his love to help
us love one another.

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 Read from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate Eucharist,
page 66 to explain that the Bread and Wine become the real
presence of Christ through consecration and the Great Amen
affirms that we are saying “yes” to the gift of the Eucharist.

30 minutes ACTIVITY 2 Jesus teaches us to pray (Matthew 5: 1-2; 6: 9-13)

Jesus teaches us to
pray Read the story from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate
Eucharist, page 72.

Activity is in the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate Eucharist,

page 79.

Use the prayer folders for this activity.

15 minutes HEALTH BREAK HEALTH BREAK

30 minutes ACTIVITY 3 Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-32) Read pages 84
The Road to Emmaus and 85. Do the
Read the story from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate activity on page
(The pastor or member Eucharist, page 82. 85.
of the pastoral team
may consider leading This activity focuses on pages 86 and 110 of the child’s book, p. 89 write a
this activity.) Remember and Celebrate Eucharist. prayer of
thanksgiving for
1. Take the children on a tour of the parish. Show the children Eucharist
the altar, tabernacle, etc. (Refer to the child’s book,
Remember and Celebrate Eucharist, page 101.)

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 2. The pastor or pastoral team should have unconsecrated
hosts available so that the children can practice receiving
Eucharist and understand how consecration at Mass gifts us
with the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Do the reading on page 88 from the child’s book, Remember and

Celebrate Eucharist.

30 minutes ACTIVITY 4 Daily life of the early Christians (Acts 2: 41-47)

Daily life of the early
Christians – Go in Read the story from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate
peace Eucharist, page 92.

Read page 94 from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate

Eucharist.

Do the activity on page 97 from the child’s book, Remember and

Celebrate Eucharist explaining what we can say and do to live out
the love we have received in the Eucharist and bring God’s
Kingdom on earth.

15 minutes Closing Remarks Gather the children around the prayer table. Ensure one of the Resource pages
Appreciation loaves of bread is on the prayer table along with the “wine” and in the child’s
Prayer that cups for distribution are easily available. book for parents
and children:
The Last Supper (Matthew 26: 18-20; 26-28; and Luke 22:19) pages 101 to
Read the story of The Last Supper from the child’s book, Remember 115. This
and Celebrate Eucharist, page 62. Act it out together and share the section includes
bread and “wine” that has been made in Activity 1. a glossary and a
list of prayers.

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 Appreciation for the time of retreat – thank Father, Son and Holy
Spirit; children, parents, parish catechists and school
staff/administration.

Closing prayer - from the child’s book, Remember and Celebrate

Eucharist, page 90. We Pray to the Risen Jesus. Ask three parents
to help you with Closing Prayer as Reader 1, Reader 2 and Reader3.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM LINKS WITH SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION RETREAT (First Eucharist)

CATHOLIC SCHOOL Institute of Catholic Education, Religious Education 1-8; Institute of Catholic Education,
PROGRAM Family Life Education 1-8
CONNECTIONS TO
THE RETREAT Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2
Opening Prayer – ICE, Rel. Ed. 1-8
Benedictine Meditation PR 2.3 Identify how Christians develop certain rhythms of prayer so that they might experience prayer as
a continuous dialogue with Jesus.

Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2, Unit 1, Lesson 1

Remember and ICE, Rel. Ed. 1-8 CL 3.2 Articulate an understanding of how the Holy Spirit prepares the Church and each
Celebrate Eucharist, 7 - person for the reception of Christ’s real presence in Eucharist, the sacred meal of the Mass
Do This in Memory of
Me CL 3.1 Examine the narrative of the Last Supper proclaimed on Holy Thursday and describe the New
Covenant that Jesus established with the Church and which continues through the Liturgy of the Mass.
Retreat Activity 1
CL 3.3 Share a personal understanding of how God can bless us in our lives which is a divine and life-
giving action and relate this to the importance of the Eucharist and the life-giving action of Jesus.

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 LC 1.1 Identify in the story of the Last Supper how Jesus’ actions united the disciples for the mission and
communicate how Christ’s actions continue today in the Church.

PR 1.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the Liturgy of Eucharist as the central communal prayer of the
Church and explain why and how we should participate fully in the Mass.

Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2, Unit 1, Lesson 7; Unit 2, Lesson 1; Unit 3, Lesson 5; Unit 4, Lesson
3, 4; Unit 5, Lesson 8
Remember and ICE, Rel. Ed. 1-8 PR 2.1 Demonstrate a basic understanding of the order and structure for the Prayers
Celebrate Eucharist, 8 - of the Faithful (Prayers of Intercession – Church, World, Local community, specific needs) and use the
Thy Kingdom Come format to create prayers of intercession for moments of prayer in class or in the Church

Retreat Activity 2 PR 2.3 Identify how Christians develop certain rhythms of prayer so that they might experience prayer as
a continuous dialogue with Jesus.

Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2, Unit 2, Lesson 1; Unit 4, Lesson 1

Remember and ICE, Rel. Ed. 1-8 PR 1.1 Demonstrate an Understanding of the Liturgy of the Eucharist as the central
Celebrate Eucharist, 9 - communal prayer of the Church and explain why and how we should participate fully in the Mass
The Body of Christ
BL 3.1 Explain how in the Eucharist we all share in the presence of Christ, first at the Table of the Word
Retreat Activity 3 and secondly, at the table of the Eucharist.

CL 3.2 Articulate an understanding of how the Holy Spirit prepares the Church and each person for the
reception of Christ’s real presence in Eucharist, the sacred meal of the Mass

CL 3.3 Share a personal understanding of how God can bless us in our lives which is a divine and life-
giving action and relate this to the importance of the Eucharist and the life-giving action of Jesus.

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 LS 1.1 Retell the events of the Emmaus story (Luke 24: 13-35) and connect this encounter to our
celebration of the Eucharist and the call to become a witness to the Risen Lord.

LS 2.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the bread and wine, prayers and sacrifice of the Eucharist as
representative of the gift of ourselves – our human dignity and that the Holy Spirit transforms these gifts
to reflect a new dignity which we share with Jesus.

Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2, Unit 1, Lesson 5; Unit 2, Lesson 1, 3; Unit 3, Lesson 5; Unit 4,
Lesson 4; Unit 5, Lesson 1, 4

Remember and ICE, Rel. Ed. 1-8 LS 1.3 Identify and communicate using specific examples from the lives of the students
Celebrate Eucharist, what it means to be sent forth from the Mass with the exhortation.
Daily life of the early
Christians – Go in PR 1.3 Describe the event of Pentecost and link this event to the fellowship that existed among the
peace believers in the early Christian Church after they had been gathered together by the Holy Spirit.

Retreat Activity 4 LC 1.2 Identify in selected scripture passages how Jesus gathered his disciples and taught them about
their unity “through him, with him and in him” and identify how we celebrate this unity in the
celebration of Mass.

Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2, Unit 1, Lesson 7; Unit 3, Lesson 6; Unit 5, Lesson 4, 5, 8

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