Manka Khala's annual celebrations

The Church sets out specific guidelines regarding how a person should prepare to receive the Lord’s body and blood in Communion, About Catholics & First Holy Communion. To receive Communion worthily, you must be in a state of grace, have made a good confession since your last mortal sin, believe in transubstantiation, observe the Eucharistic fast and not be under an ecclesiastical censure such as excommunication.

A mortal sin is any sin whose matter is grave and which has been committed willfully and with knowledge of its seriousness. Out of habit and out of fear of what those around them will think if they do not receive Communion, some Catholics, in a state of mortal sin, choose to go forward and offend God rather than stay in the pew while others receive the Eucharist. You must have been to confession since your last mortal sin. The requirement for sacramental confession can be dispensed if four conditions are fulfilled:

* there must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death),

* it must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first,

* the person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition and

* he must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

The guidelines for receiving Communion, which are issued by the U.S. bishops and published in many missalettes, explain, “We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions that separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us that they may all be one”.

“Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom Catholics are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law.

Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity. For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not. Another reason that many non-Catholics may not ordinarily receive Communion is for their own protection, since many reject the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion.

There are a few websites that offer personalized Holy Communion Invitations Cards where you can add your own text, typestyle, ink color and then preview before you buy.

A great graduation party has good food, lots of friends and non-stop music.  But don’t forget the party favors. Did you know that choosing the right graduation party favors, can help you keep in touch with your friends long after the celebration?  Here’s how to turn a fun giveaway into something more.

Traditionally, a party favor is a little thank you for coming to your party.  But in this case, you want it to have an even more lasting effect.  By giving graduation favors that are personalized with your contact information, you will be providing your friends with a way to reach you, no matter where they move or where you go.

So, what are the things you should consider before shopping for these graduation party favors?

1. Contact Information – This will be how you personalize your favors.  Make sure you use something that is not likely to change.  Two years from now you may not live at the same street address, but you will probably have the same cell phone number and email address.  So, include your cell and email.

2. Your budget – Personalized favors can range widely in price from really cheap to expensive.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money to provide your friends with a cool favor with your message.  You might even consider making something yourself.  If you do a little browsing online, you should be able to find something you like that is very affordable.

3. Find a keeper.  Figure out what item you think your friends would keep.  You want your graduation party favors to be something they will hold onto.  If it ends up in the trash or the back of a drawer, then it defeats the purpose.

Once you begin to figure out your personalization, budget and type of item, you’re ready to start shopping for graduation favors.  Here are some unique ideas.

Address book – Pick up a mini address book at the local dollar store and fill in your cell phone number, email address, and even current address. 

Songs of the year CD – Buy or burn your own CD featuring the top songs from your graduation year.  Make a custom label that includes your contact information.  Your friends will love the music.  Years from now when they play the CD, they will be reminded of that time, and also will have a handy way of tracking you down.

Mini photo album – You can find these at a craft store or dollar store.  They hold one 4×6 inch photo per page.  Include a photo of yourself and on the last page slip in a printed 4×6 inch sheet with all your contact information.  If you’re having the party at home and have access to a photo printer, you could even insert a group photo of your guests.

Photo graduation bookmark – You can get these inexpensive personalized favors online.  There’s enough room for your picture, graduation year, school name and contact information.  You might even be able to fit a short quote.  After all your years of studies, a photo bookmark is an especially appropriate party favor for your graduation celebration.

Personalized pen – Everyone can use another pen.  Imprinted pens are pretty cheap and can contain your name, cell phone number and email address.  Businesses have been giving them away as an advertising tool for years.

Personalized notebook – These are just as practical as  imprinted pens, but even more unique.  A mini spiral notebook with a graduation design and your message with contact information is a useful favor your friends are sure to keep handy.

Graduation magnet – Give someone a magnet and they’ll put in on their fridge.  It will be a constant reminder of your friendship and to keep in touch.  You can find online photo graduation magnets that feature your picture, as well as your personalized message.

Personalized labels – You can print them yourself or have it done professionally with a fancy graduation design.  The best part is that you can stick the labels on anything you want to turn into a personalized graduation favor.  Your only limit is your imagination.

Other personalized graduation favor ideas include pin-backed buttons, pocket mirrors and key chains, but the possibilities are endless.

Your graduation party is a well-deserved celebration of your achievement.  But it can also be the beginning of drifting away from school friends, as you all go in new directions.  Why not take that extra step to keep in touch by giving out graduation party favors that include your contact information?! Your guests will appreciate the favors and will take with them a nice keepsake reminder of how to reach you.