First Holy Communion for the second grade students was celebrated on Feb. 8, 2026, at the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marksville. Pictured are: Top row, center: Father Wade DeCoste.

“What does it mean to receive Jesus in Holy Communion? It’s like Jesus is giving us a big hug, saying, ‘I love you so much. I want you to be close to me always,’” says Russell Pollitt, S.J., pastor of ...

(RNS) — After Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte issued a pastoral letter outlining that Catholics are expected to stand during the reception of Holy Communion in the diocese — and ...

Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minnesota.

Priest pleaded repentance, also encouraging Catholics more broadly to reflect on whether they were receiving Communion worthily and to approach Communion as though it were their first and their last.

After Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, issued a pastoral letter outlining that Catholics are expected to stand during the reception of Communion in the diocese — and ...