By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

It’s not every day that children are able to get their catechism lessons at the feet of their  bishop. 

But that is precisely what took place Nov. 7 when hundreds of children who took part in the diocesan pilgrimage gathered with Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for talks on the Sacraments. 

"Jesus was just like us as a kid," the Bishop said, addressing the children seated around him in the Basilica's crypt chapel.  "He went to school at the synagogue.  He played with his friends.  He had chores in his home for Mary and Joseph.  And he got hungry like us too! Jesus is the Son of God but he is also human."

The Bishop engaged the children, many of them who had already received First Holy Communion, by asking what they thought the Eucharist was, and what is particularly important about receiving Jesus in that way. He called up several children individually to give their answers to the group at his microphone, explaining that "when it came time for Jesus to return to his Father in Heaven, he remembered what it was like to feel hungry.  And, so, he chose 'food' as the way he would be remembered, so that we would never forget him."

He went on to emphasize the spiritual hunger that is satisfied by receiving the Eucharist every time a person attends Mass.

"Jesus used hunger to make the point that he feeds us, he takes care of us, and he loves us," the Bishop said. "We hunger for food, but we also hunger ... to be loved by God, to belong to him and to carry him with us ... Holy Communion feeds our souls and becomes strength and nourishment and growth for our souls."

Bishop O'Connell explained the importance of Baptism, which "joins us to the Catholic Church ... Before you go out, your parents make you get washed up. And when you are clean, you join your family and friends. Baptism is like that water and washing up; once it is done, you are ready to start your day. Baptism cleans us up so we can start our life in the Church."

He also described Reconciliation as a special way we can say "I'm sorry" for hurting others. "We aren't perfect, are we? ... Sometimes we hurt other people, even those who love us ... so Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Confession so that we could say 'I'm sorry' to God, in front of God," the Bishop explained. "Confession helps us 'start again' ... (it) makes us ready for Holy Communion again, because we continue to be hungry for Jesus ... (it) helps us make peace with everybody we have hurt because of our sins."

Bishop O'Connell introduced the idea of Confirmation as a Sacrament that the children would be ready for following a few more years of extra study and prayer.

"What our parents did for us at Baptism when we were babies, we want to do for ourselves," he explained. "We want to be Catholics not just because our parents said so ... (but also) because we say so ... And the Holy Spirit, first given to us at Baptism, comes again in a special way and fills us with his gifts for our lives."

Touching on the remaining Sacraments, the Bishop concluded his catechesis by reminding the children that their faith journey would continue their entire lives.

"Jesus has more Sacraments for us to receive as we continue to grow up and become adults: when we are sick; when we decide to get married and start our own families; or when men are ordained as deacons or priests," he said. "We want to thank God that he has made us early in life his special friends. That's what Sacraments do. How lucky we are as Catholics to be friends of Jesus."