Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation & Preparing for First Communion

Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation & Preparing for First Communion

As we continue to journey into this Penitential Season of Advent, the light is not lost on our second grade families preparing to make their first holy Communion this April. At our recent reconciliation retreat, we had just over 80 students present along with their parents. They spent time immersed in all the Sacrament of Reconciliation has to offer. In the opening remarks, students and families were reminded of some of the beautiful symbols and signs of our faith. The light, for example, that shines in the darkness and will never be overcome, as well as, the manger. Families were given a brief testimony of how the manger scene came to be in the early church from Saint Francis of Assisi and were asked to imagine what that would have been like with only candles to light the way. Everyone at the retreat was then invited to let Jesus into their Advent as we all prepare a place for Jesus, most importantly, an interior place.

The ability to experience many different stations is one of the most beautiful parts of our retreat. The stations include: confessional tour, confessional skit, prodigal son Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentation, lapbook craft, light of Christ craft, walk through of why we should go to confession with a priest, and, finally, an examination with a paper heart.

A week later, as part of the second grade formation, the students were offered the opportunity to receive the grace of confession at penance services. The students last names A-L were invited to a second grade only penance service on Thursday, December 14, and then students with last names M-Z were invited on Monday, December 18.

While this was the first opportunity many of our students and young people experienced, it is by no means their last. Everyone in attendance of both events was reminded that the confessional is a place of victory and all are welcome, just come taste and see for yourself.