CV NEWS FEED // After expressing a strong desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, a 21-year-old Catholic who has been tube-fed his entire life prepared for a year and made his First Holy Communion this month.
Paul Gannucci and his parents, Rob and Annette, are parishioners at St. James the Less Parish in Duluth, Minnesota. At birth, Paul was diagnosed with Noonans Syndrome, a condition that has rendered him unable to eat solid foods. Paul also has a learning disability. He had heart transplant at age 1.
Paul has only been able to drink water and soda. However, last year, Rob told St. James’ pastor, Fr. Richard Kunst, that Paul had expressed a strong desire to receive Holy Communion.
In a phone interview with CatholicVote, Fr. Kunst said that for the next year, Paul practiced every day to be able to receive a consecrated host.
With the help of Paul’s parents, Fr. Kunst told CatholicVote, Paul “slowly taught himself how to swallow little tiny bits of unconsecrated host.”
Fr. Kunst said he gave Paul several sleeves of unconsecrated hosts to practice with and, over the course of the year, consumed tiny bits of it. The size of the piece Paul was able to consume increased as the months went by. Finally, about a month ago, Paul was able to consume the full host. Paul underwent sacramental preparation with Fr. Kunst and his parents.
After Fr. Kunst confirmed with Paul’s father that Paul would be very comfortable with receiving a consecrated host, they were able to set a date for his First Communion.
Paul only has to have a small amount of water before and after receiving the host, Fr. Kunst noted.
Fr. Kunst also received permission from his bishop, Bishop Daniel Felton, to give Paul the sacrament of Confirmation.
On June 3, Paul received both sacraments, during a weekday Mass.
Fr. Kunst told CatholicVote that he shared Paul’s story with parishioners during the homily, and they were “brought to tears.” The parishioners were amazed to learn of how Paul spent so much time “doing everything he could to learn how to swallow, get his muscles working, just so he could receive Communion.” Everyone clapped for Paul, Fr. Kunst said.
Fr Kunst said Paul appeared to be “super proud” after receiving the sacraments.
“He’s a very, very faithful kid,” Fr. Kunst said, adding, “He’s got a better grasp of what the Eucharist is than what most people do, [or] certainly a greater desire.”
Fr. Kunst added that Paul’s parents are proud of him too because of his simple, strong faith.
“I think that his parents are just kind of blown away by their own kid’s faith in the Eucharist and his desire. He kept bringing it up to his dad. That’s why his dad brought up to me. It’s like well, how do we figure this out?” Fr. Kunst said.
Paul will now be able to receive the Eucharist every Sunday at Mass.
Fr. Kunst wrote on the parish’s Facebook that Paul “is an incredible example of faith.”
“Despite his learning disability Paul has a great understanding of the Sacrament and a greater desire for Christ in the Eucharist than most people I have ever known,” Fr. Kunst wrote, later concluding:
Congratulations Paul, you will never have to come up for a blessing at Communion time again! Would it be that everyone had such a strong desire for Christ in the Eucharist as this young man does!