The following are some guidelines taken from CEO documents regarding the reception of Holy Communion. It is stated in these documents that students should be made aware of these regulations on a regular basis. Please note, that the following teaching should not be given in isolation. In my experience, students have many questions when they are told this information, especially those whose consciences have not yet been formed. We need to be ready to provide guidance.

At a time when respect for Jesus' presence in the Eucharist can be often denigrated, it is important to inculcate a respectful attitude towards our Eucharistic Lord, in the student and staff body. The principal documents concerned are;

1. Planning Guide for Celebrating Liturgy in Catholic Schools
2. The Word Dwells Among Us

CELEBRATING EUCHARIST: regulations regarding reception of Holy Communion

The following regulations are taken from approved Catholic Education policies.

• The reception of the Eucharist is the most Sacred Sign that one :
• believes in the Creed of the Catholic Community
• believes that what appears to be bread and wine are in fact the body and The Blood of Christ
• is personally in union with God and not in serious sin

Reception of Holy Communion

• Students should be reverent when receiving Communion
• Non-Catholics and those who have not had their First Holy Communion cannot receive Communion
• Non-Catholics, and others not receiving Communion (see below), are encouraged to come up for a blessing, by crossing their arms over their chest.
• Catholics should not receive Communion if they miss Mass habitually on Sunday without good reason. (This can often be difficult to explain to students who come from families who do not practise their faith. After discussion with a Priest, the following rule of thumb seems very useful. We need to make students aware of the Mass obligation, that it is a serious matter for the relevant reasons, and remain faithful to Church teaching, but we must also recognise that for some students, the ability to get to Mass may be hindered by a number of factors. As with any serious sin, if students' freedom in this matter is lessened or non-existent, then they are not fully responsible for not attending Mass. In this case, they may receive Communion but should be made aware that they need to attend Mass as soon as they have the means available. If however, they have the means necessary to attend Mass and they choose not to, they are responsible and need to consider whether or not they should be receiving Communion. Naturally, we can only guide them in this matter but they and God know their individual circumstances. Once we have informed students in this matter, it remains an issue between them and their God).
• Catholics should not receive Communion if they are in serious sin

Students should be reminded periodically that the Church requires:

• anyone in serious or grave sin need to receive sacramental absolution before receiving Holy Communion (unless there is no opportunity to confess before Mass, in which case they must receive sacramental absolution as soon as possible after and make a sincere act of sorrow before reception of Communion)
• the abstaining of all food and drink (except water) for one hour before Holy Communion (unless sick or elderly)
• all Catholics to receive Communion at least once a year (normally between Easter and Trinity Sundays)