ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
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Eucharist

At Our Parish

The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. (CCC 1113)

While we believe that human life is infused with the sacramental goodness of God, the Catholic Church has defined seven sacraments - instituted by and through the life of Jesus Christ. It is through the experience of the sacramental ritual that we are infused with God’s grace. The Sacraments nourish and strengthen us as they express and build up our faith.





The Sacrament of Eucharist

The liturgical life of the Church revolves around the sacraments, with the Eucharist at the center (National Directory for Catechesis, #35). At Mass, we are fed by the Word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a sign or symbol of Jesus; rather we receive Jesus himself in and through the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is call transubstantiation.

By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (CCC 1413)

The New Covenant
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…remains in me and I in him. (John 6:51, 54, 56)

In the gospels we read that the Eucharist was instituted at the Last Supper. This is the fulfillment of the covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Last Supper narratives, Jesus took, broke and gave bread and wine to his disciples. In the blessing of the cup of wine, Jesus calls it “the blood of the covenant” (Matthew and Mark) and the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke).

This reminds us of the blood ritual with which the covenant was ratified at Sinai (Ex 24) -- the sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals united God and Israel in one relationship, so now the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is the bond of union between new covenant partners -- God the Father, Jesus and the Christian Church. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, all the baptized are in relationship with God.

The Catechism teaches that all Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion are welcome to receive Eucharist at Mass unless sin a state of mortal sin.
  • Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance. (CCC 1415)
  • The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion when they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year. (CCC 1417)

Receiving the Eucharist changes us. It signifies and effects the unity of the community and serves to strengthen the Body of Christ.

Understanding the Mass
The central act of worship in the Catholic Church is the Mass. It is in the liturgy that the saving death and resurrection of Jesus once for all is made present again in all its fullness and promise – and we are privileged to share in His Body and Blood, fulfilling his command as we proclaim his death and resurrection until He comes again. It is in the liturgy that our communal prayers unite us into the Body of Christ. It is in the liturgy that we most fully live out our Christian faith.

The liturgical celebration is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. First we hear the Word of God proclaimed in the scriptures and respond by singing God’s own Word in the Psalm. Next that Word is broken open in the homily. We respond by professing our faith publicly. Our communal prayers are offered for all the living and the dead in the Creed. Along with the Presider, we offer in our own way, the gifts of bread and wine and are given a share in the Body and Blood of the Lord, broken and poured out for us. We receive the Eucharist, Christ’s real and true presence, and we renew our commitment to Jesus. Finally, we are sent forth to proclaim the Good News!
Contact Us:

​Church Mailing Address

163 Whisconier Road,
​Brookfield CT 06804
(203) 775-1035
​​
Address for GPS Directions to the Church  1 Obtuse Hill Road
Brookfield, CT 06804


​

Join Us for Mass

Daily Mass:
Monday - Friday 7:45 am
​Saturday - 8:00am
Saturday Vigil: 5pm
Sunday: 7:30am, 9:00am and 11:00am
      
 Morning Prayer - Live Streamed
 8:15 am Monday-Thursday
       
Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
​Friday's 8:15 am - 9 am

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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Parish Registration
    • Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Parish Calendar
  • LIVE MASS
  • PRAYER LINE
  • Bulletin
  • Religious Ed
    • 2022-2023 Calendar
    • First Eucharist Videos
    • Reconciliation Videos
    • EDJE Bible Bytes - 3 Year Syllabus
    • Grade 1-3 EDJE Bible bytes-New Testament
    • Grade 4-6 EDJE Bible bytes - Old Testament
    • Online Work Calendar for My Catholic Faith Delivered
    • Online Work Calendar for Word of Life
    • Confirmation Name and Sponsor video 2021-2022
    • 2022-2023 5th and 6th Grade Confirmation - Videos
  • Parish Life
    • Vision Statement >
      • Litany of St. Joseph
    • Ignite Youth Ministry
    • Youth Ministry >
      • United Youth
    • Ministries >
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Walking with Purpose
    • Our Faith >
      • We are the Church
      • Being Catholic Today
      • What Is the Catholic Church?
      • What Do Catholics Believe?
      • Becoming Catholic >
        • RCIA
      • Returning Catholics
    • Newcomers >
      • Welcome Newcomers
    • Virtus - Protecting God's Children
    • Sacraments >
      • Baptism
      • Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • Penance (Reconciliation)
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Marriage
      • Holy Orders
      • Funerals: Words of Remembrance / Norms for the Order of Christian Funerals
    • Finance Council
    • Parish Photos
  • Online Giving
    • Online Giving Funds Page
    • Text to Give
  • 2022 Bishop's Appeal