Priest to first communicants: The Eucharist is ‘the best food in the entire world!’

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Try as he might, Jesuit Father Mark Thibodeaux just couldn’t get his crawfish étouffée to taste as unbelievably good as his mother’s, even though he had carefully followed her recipe.

“It didn’t taste the same, and I didn’t know why, ” said Father Thibodeaux, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans, speaking to 20 second graders seated on the sanctuary steps during the homily of the 10:30 a.m Mass on April 14 – the first of three Masses in which a total of 80 parish youngsters would be receiving their first holy Communion.

Father Thibodeaux told the children that he soon realized what ingredient his crawfish étouffée was lacking:  “TLC” – the same “tender loving care” that Jesus put into the Eucharist for us 2,000 years ago, and which we get to “taste” every time we receive a consecrated host.

“Today, you are going to receive the best food in the entire world, and you’re going to receive that best food from ‘the adult table!’” Father Thibodeaux told the second graders, directing their attention to the altar directly behind them. “And you’re going to be able to do that for the rest of your lives!”

‘Thank you, Jesus!’

During Communion, two adults accompanied each first communicant as he or she received the sacrament. Take-home memories of the day included a plastic dish emblazoned with Eucharist-themed drawings the first communicants had completed during their sacramental preparation.

Holy Name of Jesus School second grader Sarah Marshall came to church wearing several meaningful items: a simple white dress her mother had worn as a child; a small silver cross she had received at her baptism; and a head wreath decked with white roses and English ivy.

Sarah said she was looking forward to “becoming closer to Jesus” through the Eucharist.

“Now, when I go up (the church aisle at Communion time), I’m not gonna be crossing my arms anymore,” Sarah said.

Before dismissing Mass congregants, Father Thibodeaux said the occasion was so special, he decided it was OK to “break a rule” in church this one time: he invited the first communicants to stand on top of their pews so they could see all the people who were celebrating the day with them.

William Henry, a Stuart Hall second grader, was elated as he left church.

“I did it! I feel really good. My favorite part was receiving the host,” William said. “I feel changed, and now I can receive the host at school (Masses)!”

This year’s roster of first communicants includes 45 from Holy Name of Jesus School; 20 from Holy Name’s Parish School of Religion; and about 10 students from non-parochial Catholic schools, said Diane Blair, Holy Name of Jesus’ director of religious education.

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