Sacrament of Reconciliation
Online Sacramental Preparation Program
WELCOME! You are beginning to prepare to receive the First Reconciliation. This is one of two sacraments of healing in the Roman Catholic Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also called the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of Confession.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
1446 Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification.
1448 Beneath the changes in discipline and celebration that this sacrament has undergone over the centuries, the same fundamental structure is to be discerned. It comprises two equally essential elements: on the one hand, the acts of the man who undergoes conversion through the action of the Holy Spirit: namely, contrition, confession, and satisfaction; on the other, God's action through the intervention of the Church. The Church, who through the bishop and his priests forgives sins in the name of Jesus Christ and determines the manner of satisfaction, also prays for the sinner and does penance with him. Thus the sinner is healed and re-established in ecclesial communion.
1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
- God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
1455 The confession (or disclosure) of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through such an admission man looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible.
REGISTRATION
If your parish has a website with online registration for the sacramental preparation program, please register there.
If your parish does not have online registration for the sacramental preparation program, please follow the directions and link below.
Please click the Form below to register your child for the online First Reconciliation sacramental preparation program through your parish. You will need to print, fill in, and submit the registration form to your parish.
Registration Form for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation
When you register with your parish, you will be informed about the delivery or pick-up of the Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation textbook, the program offering to cover the cost of the textbook, and the measures your parish is putting in place to support your learning and to accompany you as you journey toward receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
FOR PRIESTS - Please click on the "Welcoming Rite for Parishes" to invite the prayers of the faithful for the children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.
ONLINE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
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Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation - Chapters 1 to 8
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Prayers and Practices on pages 85 to 93 in Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation.
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Individual celebration of Reconciliation on page 83 and the Act of Contrition on page 92 of Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation.
NOTE: During the pandemic, there is NO requirement for a day of communal retreat.
Parents are encouraged to talk with the parish priest about the plan and timing for the reception of the sacraments. The timelines can be adjusted in the conversation between the family and the parish priest.
HOME GUIDE * CHILD'S BOOK (available from your parish)
* IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do NOT buy the child's book online. It is available from your parish.
Parents may wish to purchase the Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation Home Guide. If so, please click "HOME GUIDE" above in red font under the picture.
| Introduction |
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During this COVID-19 pandemic while we await the discovery of a vaccine and a cure, gathering in groups is not advisable. For this reason, the resources to support this program have been developed by Fr. Craig Cruikshank and the Sacramental Preparation Team from St. Joseph Parish in Bowmanville. The parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough follow the Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation program to prepare young people for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The parishes of the Diocese offer 4 sessions to prepare for First Reconciliation. Each session focuses on two chapters from the book, Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation. Since the sessions will not be offered in the parishes, the children and their families will purchase the Celebrate and Remember Reconciliation textbooks and follow the sessions online. Please check the links under each chapter heading that follows to view the videos. Once a vaccine and cure for the COVID-19 coronavirus are discovered, this online web page for sacramental preparation will be removed and the sessions in the parish community will be restored.
Please watch this Introduction Video to give you and your child an overview of the Sacramental Preparation program to prepare for the celebration of First Reconciliation.
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| Chapter One - In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 2 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 9 minutes long.
Video Chapter 1.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 3, help your child turn to page 4 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 5 minutes long. Video Chapter 1.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 5, help your child turn to page 6 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 5 minutes long. Video Chapter 1.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 7, help your child turn to page 8 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 9. The video is about 5 minutes long. Video Chapter 1.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 9.
Bonus: Trinity Song
Bonus Activity: First Reconciliation Word Search
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| Chapter Two - Trust in God's Mercy |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 12 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 9 minutes long. Video Chapter 2.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 13, help your child turn to page 14 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 2.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 15, help your child turn to page 16 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 2 minutes long. Video Chapter 2.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 17, help your child turn to page 18 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 19. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 2.4 Help your child complete the activity on page 19.
Bonus: “Trinity Roll Up” Song
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| Chapter Three - We follow God's Word |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 22 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 13 minutes long. Video Chapter 3.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 23, help your child turn to page 24 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 3.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 25, help your child turn to page 26 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 2 minutes long. Video Chapter 3.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 27, help your child turn to page 28 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 29. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 3.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 29.
Bonus Activity: Accident, Mistake or Sin
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| Chapter Four - I Confess |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 32 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 7 minutes long. Video Chapter 4.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 33, help your child turn to page 34 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 4.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 35, help your child turn to page 36 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long. Video Chapter 4.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 37, help your child turn to page 38 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 39. The video is about 3 minutes long. Video Chapter 4.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 39.
Bonus: "Baptism Primary Song 100"
Bonus Activity: Write a Prayer
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| Chapter Five - I am sorry |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 42 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 6 minutes long.
Video Chapter 5.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 43, help your child turn to page 44 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 2 minutes long.
Video Chapter 5.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 45, help your child turn to page 46 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 3 minutes long.
Video Chapter 5.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 47, help your child turn to page 48 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 49. The video is about 6 minutes long.
Video Chapter 5.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 49.
Bonus Song: "Come Along With Me to Jesus" by Carey Landry and Jean Kinghorn-Landry
Bonus Activity: Stop, Look, Listen, Act |
| Chapter Six - Pardon and Peace |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 52 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 9 minutes long.
Video Chapter 6.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 53, help your child turn to page 54 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 5 minutes long.
Video Chapter 6.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 55, help your child turn to page 56 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 3 minutes long.
Video Chapter 6.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 57, help your child turn to page 58 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 59. The video is about 4 minutes long.
Video Chapter 6.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 59.
Bonus Song: "Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man"
Bonus Resource: Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition
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| Chapter Seven - His Mercy Endures Forever |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 62 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 6 minutes long.
Video Chapter 7.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 63, help your child turn to page 64 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 3 minutes long.
Video Chapter 7.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 65, help your child turn to page 66 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long.
Video Chapter 7.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 67, help your child turn to page 68 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 69. The video is about 2 minutes long.
Video Chapter 7.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 69.
Bonus Song: “Tell me the story of Jesus”
Bonus Activity: Sheep Activities
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| Chapter Eight - Go in Peace |
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To begin, help your child turn to page 72 in the orange coloured First Reconciliation workbook, "Celebrate and Remember: Reconciliation", and watch the video below together. The video is about 6 minutes long.
Video Chapter 8.1
After your child has finished the activity on page 73, help your child turn to page 74 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 4 minutes long.
Video Chapter 8.2
After your child has finished the activity on page 75, help your child turn to page 76 in the workbook and then watch the video below. The video is about 3 minutes long.
Video Chapter 8.3
After your child has finished the activity on page 77, help your child turn to page 78 in the workbook and then watch the video below. After the video, help your child through the final activity on page 79. The video is about 5 minutes long.
Video Chapter 8.4
Help your child complete the activity on page 79.
Bonus Song: “If I Listen with my Heart”
Bonus Activity: How to go to Confession for Young Children
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| Format for First Reconciliation |
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Resource - Preparing for and Celebrating First Reconciliation
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| How To - Step by Step Guidance |
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Video about Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Information Sheet: Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time
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FOR PARENTS - Please click the document below, Parents, will your children be happy? A Reflection on the Formation of Conscience. This resource will assist you to support your child preparing for First Reconciliation.
