The center of our worship is the Holy Eucharist. Other traditional names for this service are Holy Communion, the Mass, the Lord’s Supper, and the Divine Liturgy. It is the service specifically commanded by Jesus in the New Testament. The Eucharist joins our offering of worship to Christ’s offering of Himself upon the altar of the cross. As He promised (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 6; I Corinthians 11), Jesus is truly, spiritually present under the outward forms of the consecrated Bread and Wine to infuse our lives with the spiritual strength of His life.

By receiving Holy Communion, we give our Solemn Assent, our “Amen,” to the entire Anglican Eucharistic Service. We believe that the Eucharist is a spiritual sacrifice that must be administered by a bishop or a priest whose ministry derives in succession from the Apostles themselves. We also express our faith in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. Those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are able to received Communion at their own churches, and who are spiritually prepared are welcome to receive Holy Communion at St. Patrick’s.

Preparation for Holy Communion generally takes the form of private prayers. In many Anglican parishes, those physically able to do so refrain from eating ordinary food before morning Communion or for three hours before an evening Communion.