• Children are normally prepared for First Confession and First Communion in second grade.
• Special sessions are conducted for both parent and child, in addition to weekly CCD classes for the child AND/OR the family: "Family Catechesis".
• Preparation for older children for the sacraments is always available.
• Preparation for adults for the sacraments is also available (See RCIA).

The following are the "Communion Guidelines" set up by the National Catholic Conference of Bishops:

For Catholics:

Catholics fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when they receive Holy Communion in fulfillment of Christ's command to eat His Body and drink His Blood. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, communicants should not be conscious of grave sin, have fasted for one hour, and seek to live in charity and love with their neighbors. Persons conscious of grave sin must first be reconciled with God and the Church through the sacrament of Penance. A frequent reception of the sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

For Other Christians:

We welcome to this celebration of the Eucharist those Christians who are not fully united with us. It is a consequence of the sad divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend to them a general invitation to receive Communion. Catholics believe that the Eucharist is an action of the celebrating community signifying a oneness in faith, life, and worship of the community. Reception of the Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not exist, and for which we must all pray.

For Those not Receiving Communion:

Those not receiving sacramental Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

For non-Christians:

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus. While we cannot extend to them an invitation to receive Communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.

(Published by the NCCB)

Visitors to Catholic parishes often complain that they may not join in communion at Mass. 

Many other denominations welcome all who profess faith in Christ to the communion table, but Catholics have always restricted who shares the meal. For those who practice hospitality at home by setting an extra place at the table for visitors, the Catholic custom gives offense.

However, Catholic communion is just that, a sign of Catholic unity. The Eucharist symbolizes our union with God but also our union with one another.

Many groups use a symbol to identify their members. Students wear school jackets. Scouts earn medals. These customs give groups signs of association. When a new member joins the group, the symbol frequently becomes part of the rite of initiation, a sign of transition, and a source of pride. Those baptized in other communions who make a profession of faith with us may be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. Their communion becomes the high point of their transition into membership.

Ordinarily, Catholics do not share communion at other churches, nor do other believers share communion in Catholic churches. Exceptions exist, but they are rare. In danger of death, for example, or in some grave necessity, non-Catholics might receive permission from a Catholic bishop to receive communion. If they do not have regular access to their own minister, ask for Catholic communion on their own and express a Catholic faith in the Eucharist, they may obtain permission to receive communion.

Theologians debate the possibilities for full communion while ordinary families find themselves separated by what often appears to them as small differences in their beliefs. The more unity we find among ourselves, the closer all Christian churches will come to resolving the differences.