First Reconciliation

First Reconciliation

Preparing children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to show them that God is love and that in mercy He is always ready to forgive, no matter what the wrong.  It assures them that God already knows the secrets of our hearts, but sometimes we need to name these aloud in order to prepare our hearts to renew the experience of God's love and forgiveness.  It shows them that just as God is One, God dreams that we might all be one as well--one with each other and one with God.  God's will is that all people will be reconciled with one another and with God.   What an extraordinary gift!

This parish-based sacramental preparation program supports families, catechists, Catholic schools and whole parish communities in preparing young people to appreciate the depth of God's love and to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  In this program, children will explore several important aspects of responsibility, relationships, freedom, conscience, sin, forgiveness, and the truth, goodness and beauty which God wants to share with us.

• Children will learn that we all live in the community of God's people and that we have a responsibility to know, love and serve God and one another through care, respect, prayer and service.
• Children will begin to explore ideas of human goodness and human brokenness (sin), care for others or selfishness, living closely with God's dream for all people or disregarding God's plan. These are the first steps in the formation of conscience.
• Children will learn that a priest, acting in the person of Jesus through the Church, forgives our sins committed after Baptism that restores our good relationships with God, other people and ourselves.
• Children will experience the gracious presence of God in a community which helps us to live together responsibly, to make atonement for past sins and to avoid temptations in the future.
• Children will learn the formal process of participating in confession (preparing, confessing, doing penance and living as Easter people).

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, each child together with the whole faith community meets the Risen Christ who reveals the Father's mercy and renews our life in the Spirit, by inviting us to recall our Baptism and leading us to complete communion with Christ and the Church in the Eucharist.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The First Reconciliation program, Signs of Grace: You Are Forgiven, has seven chapters.

Chapters 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 have been designed for the sacramental preparation sessions held at the parish. 

Chapters 2 and 4 have been designed for learning at home with parents who are the first educators in the faith for their children.  You will find videos below for these two chapters to support the learning time at home. 

PROGRAM RESOURCES

CATECHIST'S FOLDER

Catechist Binder   VIDEO - Learning about the "You Are Forgiven" Program

CHILDREN'S FOLDER

Children's Activities Folder

LEARNING TIME AT HOME - Chapter 2

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Learning time at home Access Formed.org.  Find your parish name and sign up with your email address. To begin, watch the video for Signs of Grace, You Are Forgiven, Chapter 2. https://watch.formed.org/you-are-forgiven-1/videos/you-are-forgiven-ep-2 Next, help your child turn to page 19 in the green “Signs of Grace: You are Forgiven” Student Guide. Watch the following video. You will be asked to pause the video several times to discuss some questions with your child, and to complete some activities in the Student Guide. Chapter 2 Video

LEARNING TIME AT HOME - Chapter 4

Video for Chapter 4

PRAYER

Act of Contrition O my God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His Name, my God, have mercy. Amen. Act of Sorrow Oh, God, I thank you for loving me. I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and not loving you. Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen. Prayer for Forgiveness Oh, God, help me to remember the times when I did not live as Jesus asked me to. Help me to be sorry and to try again. Amen.

RESOURCES

For Parents - Examen using the Lord's Prayer for Children For Parents - Will your children be happy? - A reflection on the formation of conscience Growing in Faith; Growing in Christ 2