PARISH GUIDE FOR THE PREPARATION OF PENANCE FIRST RITE FOR RECONCILIATION

PARISH GUIDE FOR THE PREPARATION OF PENANCE FIRST RITE FOR RECONCILIATION

CONTENTS Foreword 2 Session One: Christian Life 4 Session Two: Choices 7 Session Three: Forgiveness 11 Session Four: Sacrament of Penance First Rite for Reconciliation 16 FOREWORD The Sacramental Policy of the Archdiocese of Brisbane Christian Initiation for Children states: Christian Initiation incorporates us into Christ and forms us into God s people. PENANCE 5. Introducing children to the greatness of God s mercy in the Sacrament of Penance is a two-step process. A simple celebration of the rite of the Sacrament of Penance is included as a part of the preparation for First Communion. 6. In the year when the children turn ten (Year Five), they are prepared to celebrate more fully the Sacrament of Penance with individual confession and absolution (the first rite). This builds on the work of the previous year as they take the second step and learn in greater detail what it means to examine their conscience. 8. It is a collaborative process: parish-based, family-centred and school-supported. 14. A parish program of sacramental preparation should provide opportunities for prayer and reflection, activities and discussion. It may, for example, take place over a four-week period within the family or in parish groups, though the time could be longer. It will need to be preceded by some support and resourcing of the parents. With this in mind, Evangelisation Brisbane has prepared a program which is made up of four sessions: Christian Life Choices Forgiveness Sacrament of Penance First Rite for Reconciliation To support the implementation of the program Evangelisation Brisbane has produced: A Parish Guide Parent Guide A Children s Passport (activity book) The four sessions are designed to be done in one of three ways: 1. Four separate sessions for the children, run by the parish, over a four week period. For example, the children gather for the 50 minute session, once a week for four weeks. 2. Two sessions Session one and two in the first session and session three and four in the second session, run by the parish over a four week period. For example, the children gather twice session 1, a toilet and snack break, and session 2. 2 or 3 weeks later the children return for session 3, a toilet and snack break, and session 4. 3. Families gather in small groups, using one of the above formats or choose a format that suits the families involved, which is over a four week period. Each parish is encouraged to choose the format which best suits their sacramental team and families.

The Parent Guide invites parents into conversation with their children and shares with them the In-between Family Activities. Families are encouraged to set up a prayer space at home. Included in each session is a take home symbol for the children: 1. Christian Life a tea light candle (purchased by the parish) 2. Choices a river rock (purchased by the parish) 3. Forgiveness a prayer card (downloaded from Flame of Faith website and printed by the parish) 4. Sacrament of Penance a scripture card (downloaded from Flame of Faith website and printed by the parish) What leaders will need to prepare before each session: Session 1 Children s passport order from Evangelisation Brisbane online store Parent Guide download and print resource from Flame of Faith website or Evangelisation Brisbane online store Link to video (Archbishop) Link to video (How are you a disciple of Jesus?) Bible to read Matthew 5:13-16 Battery operated tea light candle for each child. Session 2 Session 3 YouTube link to ripple water or a bowl of water and a rock. A river rock for each child Bible to read Luke 15:1-24 Link to video (Forgiveness) Prayer card Session 4 Scripture card The key below is to help group leaders identify different parts of each session. Leader Background Information Icebreaker Thinking Sharing/Discussion Scripture Viewing Writing Ritual Action 3

CHRISTIAN LIFE SESSION 1 Aim Children recall their sacramental initiation and their active role in following Jesus into discipleship. Children will explore: Their understanding of what it means to be a fully initiated Christian, meaning they are: Incorporated into the body of Christ at Baptism Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation Fed at the table of the Lord at Eucharist. Their identity who they are in God. Articulate what it means to love God and to love others. Leaders Background Information Suggested Outline Ice Breaker Who Am I? 10 min Video Recall Sacraments of Initiation 10 min Respectful Relationships 10 min Disciple of Jesus 10 min Ritual 10 min Each of us is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). When we are baptised we become brothers and sisters of Christ, entering into a personal relationship with God. As children of God we have a mission to live as peacemakers committed to justice. In the way we live our lives, our choices and actions can either contribute to or be in conflict with the happiness of ourselves and of others. As we are all members of God s family and made in God s image and likeness we have a responsibility to treat one another with respect. Our relationships should be built upon the qualities of trust, care, forgiveness and honesty. Ice Breaker (s) Begin with a non-threatening activity. It is important that the group recognise they are in a safe environment and that they feel comfortable with each other. Each person, including the leader, shares with the group his or her name and a fun fact, eg what colour is your toothbrush? What is your least favourite food? Who Am I? (10 mins) If you had to describe yourself to someone what would you say? If someone in your family had to describe you, what would they say? If a friend or a mate had to describe you, what would they say? Archbishop Mark Coleridge Video (s) Show video of Archbishop Mark Coleridge speaking to the group about Penance First Rite of Reconciliation 4 Direct children to page 2 in their Passport. They will start this page during the session and will complete at home as an in-between family activity. As the children are writing in their passport, leaders can stamp the parish stamp on the page.

Recall sacraments of Initiation (10 mins) Discuss how the children have been active participants in community, living in the Spirit. Discuss the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation we are encouraged to live spirit filled lives loving, kind, happy, sharing, forgiving, generous, and helpful. When someone behaves in these ways, the Holy Spirit is in them. Brainstorm what being active in community means. How have children been active, spirit filled people? Recall the Gifts of the Spirit Understanding, Knowledge, Wisdom, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, Fear of the Lord. Children choose one gift they are good at and one gift they can work on how could they use that gift in their family or in their community? Direct children to page 4 in their Passport. Respectful relationships (10 mins) Respect is about valuing people, including people who are like you and those who are different. There are a couple of ways to look at respect: When you have respect for someone, you feel positive about them and admire or appreciate their actions or behaviour. You can also treat anyone with respect regardless of how you feel about them. This is when you regard someone with consideration and treat them in the way you like to be treated. Everyone has the right to feel safe, to be treated with fairness, to be valued and feel accepted for who they are. Respectful relationships are important because: they contribute to your growth, maturity and sense of self-confidence they promote healthy self-expression and awareness of yourself and others they enable you to feel accepted, positive and free to be yourself. Respectful relationships also help you feel: safe, encouraged, trusted, and comfortable, that you matter, OK to be honest and open, listened to, equal and treated fairly, valued, understood, and accepted. Below are three scenarios. Choose one scenario to share with the group, or you may make up your own. After sharing the scenario, initiate a group discussion about where the relationship is a respectful one. These questions may help: Were people valuing each other? Is there anything to admire or appreciate character s actions or behaviours? Are behaviours contributing to people feeling positive about themselves or others? Scenario examples 1. I am bullied online and on social media by my friend. When I read things that she writes about me it makes me feel bad about myself. She never says anything to my face at school and I like hanging around her, so I just pretend that she hasn t written stuff about me. 2. My mum asks me to clean my room. I do not do it. My mum asks me to help with the dishes. I say yes but do not do it. My mum asks me to take out the rubbish. I say no. I ask mum if I can have money for tuckshop. She says no. 3. During the school holidays I played with my brother and his mates. At the end of the week my brother told me that one of his mates thought I was annoying, but that he didn t care what his mate said and that I could keep hanging out with him if I wanted to. I was his brother and he loves me. 5

Disciple of Jesus (10 mins) Play video of people answering the question How are you a disciple of Jesus? Small group discussion (4-6 people) about their thoughts after watching and listening to the video. In the small group share how they think they are a disciple of Jesus. Salt has played a significant role in the development of humanity over thousands of years. In Judaism and Christianity, salt is a symbol of the covenant between God and the ancient Hebrews. Salt is a necessity of life and is a mineral which has been used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains many references to salt. In different contexts, salt is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. What does it mean when you refer to someone as being Salt of the Earth"? "Basic, fundamental goodness; the phrase can be used to describe any simple, good person." Jesus is the light of the world. We all have gifts and talents, our light. As spirit filled people we should let our light shine for others. Read Matthew 5: 13-16 Salt and Light 13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Challenge group to put themselves in this reading. Retell the story as their own, putting themselves in it as the salt and the light. Leader wonders aloud: I wonder why salt/saltiness is important. I wonder what it means to lose your saltiness. I wonder how we can get our saltiness back. I wonder what your light is. I wonder if you let your light shine for others. If you hide your light away, why is that? In-between family activities: Point out to the group the activities which would be beneficial for them to complete during the coming week: Page 2, page 4 and page 5 Ritual (s) 6 Suggested song: Bring Forth the Kingdom Marty Haugen Suggested Prayer: Children are sitting in a circle. The parish provides a tea light candle (battery operated) for each child. As the candles are passed around children are invited to light their candle (turn it on) and share how they are a light to the world. Children take the candle home to add to their prayer space or to put somewhere special as a reminder to them that they are special, fully initiated Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit, which they can share with others.

SESSION 2 CHOICES Aim Children look back at their actions and discern what their choices show about them as a disciple of Jesus. Children will explore: What conscience means and why it is important. Their understanding of Church teachings and how we can be guided to make choices in our everyday lives. Their choices (positive and negative) and develop a better understanding of the effect of their choices. Suggested Outline Regroup Choice 1 See, Judge, Act 1 10 Commandments 1 Ritual 10 min Leader background Conscience a deep inner awareness of right and wrong, of principles which are meant to govern behaviour, and a sense of the degree to which our thoughts and our actions are in harmony with them. Conscience is our true inner voice. Why is it important? Because through it we respond to God s call to be the person God made us to be. The only way we can understand who we are called to become is through conscience, where our life experiences, our standards, and our serious reflection shape our understanding, our knowledge and our choices. How do we form our conscience? It is a life time process, beginning with the morality taught by our parents and teachers; with teaching and stories from our Christian tradition and scripture; with insights gleaned from our culture, our own best experience and, positively or negatively, from interactions with our peers. Free will is something God gives us, so we have to be careful that we know what is right and what is wrong. Sin is a deliberate choice to do wrong. Sin is before all else an offence against God, a rupture of communion with God. Sometimes we make mistakes which can have a negative effect on ourselves or on someone else. This is not sin. We make choices all the time. Some are everyday choices like what to wear, or what to have for breakfast. These choices do not hurt others. Some choices we make throughout a day do affect other people, the way we act towards them and the way we act to God. Disciples of Jesus choose to do right by themselves and others. We use our conscience to help us make these choices. We all need support in choosing the good and maintaining respectful relationships. Regroup (s) Check in with the group. Reflect on the last session and ask about the in-between activities. Ask if there are any questions. 7

Choice (1s) brainstorm what the children understand having a choice means How do we come to know about right and wrong? Whether we are making the right choice or the wrong choice, our decisions do affect others. They are like ripples created in a body of water when we drop a stone. Demonstrate this happening: Need: Clear bowl filled with water and a small rock Drop the rock into the water and the group observe the ripples. Repeat the demonstration, dropping the rock from higher up. The group should see bigger ripples. or show a clip from the internet: Ripple effect Discuss how our choices (right or wrong) have a ripple effect on those around us. Direct children to page 6 in their Passport Say: Our conscience, our true inner voice, helps us to choose right from wrong. We should listen to our conscience. It helps us to hear the Holy Spirit. Explain what conscience is to the group. Ask: Do you remember a time when you used your conscience? Recount the time. What was the outcome? See, Judge, Act (1s) In Mater et Magistra Pope John XXIII affirms the process of See, Judge, Act as a way of reading and responding to a situation: There are three stages which should normally be followed in the reduction of social principles into practice. First, one reviews the concrete situation; secondly, one forms a judgement on it in the light of these same principles; thirdly, one decides what the circumstances can and should be done to implement these principles. These are the three stages that are usually expressed in the three terms: observe, judge, act. Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, 1961 (# 236) See Seeing, hearing, and experiencing the lived reality of individuals and communities. Naming what is happening that causes you concern. Carefully and intentionally examining the situation. What are the people in this situation doing, feeling, and saying? What is happening to them and how do you/they respond? Judge The word judge is used here in a positive sense to analyse the situation and make an informed judgement about it. Act Planning and carrying out actions aimed at transforming the social structures that contribute to suffering and injustice. 8

See Engaging children in this process using language they will understand: Children share a situation that happened in their life recently (from school, sport, club, family). Children ask themselves What happened? Who was involved? Who was being affected? What did I do and why? Judge (This is where your conscience, your inner voice, is talking to you). Act Children ask themselves Was the situation positive or negative? Was your choice, your action right or wrong? How do you feel about the situation? What might Jesus have done? How did the situation make you feel? How do you think others felt? What exactly would you like to change? What actions are you going to take now, or if this happens again? How might that change the situation? Who can you ask to help you? What may make you a better person? In small groups the children prepare a school yard scenario to present to the group. The audience gives feedback following the See, Judge, and Act process. Children are directed to page 7 in their passport and encouraged to complete this during the coming week with a member of their family. Ten Commandments (15mins) (a copy of these are in the children s passport, page 8) 1. Put God first. 2. Worship only God. 3. Say God s name with love and respect. 4. Keep Sunday special a day of prayer, rest and fun with family and friends. 5. Love and respect your parents and carers. 6. Take care of all living things: people, animals and plants. 7. Be faithful to the person to whom you make a commitment in marriage. 8. If it is not yours, do not take it. 9. Always tell the truth. 10. Be happy with what you have. Do not wish for other people s things. 9

This activity is in the children s passport. Your conscience should tell you that the scenarios below contain actions which are wrong. Which of the commandments has the person in each situation forgotten about? You are a very talented sportsperson and train very hard to improve your times, fitness and skills, so much so, that it is the only thing that occupies your mind to the exclusion of family, friends, schoolwork, church attendance and other responsibilities. Your entire focus is on winning, no matter the cost, because you want to be the best. Your friend always seems to have the latest new thing to wear or to play with, but your parents choose not to buy you all these things, so you become sulky and resentful with your family and your friend. Your parents/carers who work full-time, trust you to come straight home from school, but you decide to go to the skate park instead, telling your parents that you have been home all afternoon and that your homework is done. Someone in your class at school tells others in the class that s/he enjoys going to Mass and being part of the parish Youth group. You join in with others who laugh at this person and ridicule her/him for believing in God because you don t want to appear un-cool. In-between family activities: Page 6, page 7, page 9 and page 10 Ritual (10mins) Children sit in a circle. Remind the group that because we have free will, we can make choices. Sometimes the choices we make are wrong, so it is important to listen to our conscience. All of our choices, whether they are positive or negative, have a ripple effect. A bowl of river rocks is passed around the circle and children are invited to take a rock. As they take a rock from the bowl, they say to the group I choose to. - then say one of the Ten Commandments The Examen The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God s hand at work in our daily living. 10 St. Ignatius Loyola thought that the Awareness Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. It s a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day. Awareness Examen is on page 10 of children s passport. Daily Examen My Day: Take a moment to close your eyes and remember the day... 1. Ask God for Light. (Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path) Talk to God about your day. 2. Give thanks. What are you grateful for today? Thank God for this. 3. Review the day. What disappointed you today? Speak to God about this. 4. Consider your choices. Guided by the Holy Spirit, think about your choices today, is there something you need to say sorry for and ask for God s help 5. Look toward the day to come. Being a disciple of Jesus how can you use your gifts in the day ahead? Give thanks to God in your own words. Pray together: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

SESSION 3 FORGIVENESS Aim Children develop their understanding of what it means to forgive others and to forgive themselves, and ultimately what it means to ask for and receive God s forgiveness. Children will explore: Times they have forgiven someone and times they have been forgiven. The impact of saying sorry and asking for forgiveness. Ways in which we show God we are sorry and how to seek forgiveness from God. Suggested Outline Regroup Video Scripture Readings 20 min Reconciliation - Sorry Speech 10 min Call to Action Ritual Leader background Reconciliation - The peace of mind and soul which this sacrament imparts to us is one for which there is no substitute. It is a peace that flows from a certainty, rather than from an unsure hope, that our sins have been forgiven and that we are right with God. True reconciliation can only happen when a person is truly sorry and the other forgives. Being Sorry, is feeling sorrow, regret or penitence. It is also feeling sympathy or disappointment, especially because something unpleasant has happened or been done to someone or something. We say sorry when we regret a choice we made which hurt someone else. Repentance and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin. In order to repent, a person who hurt another must show concern for their victim; in order to forgive; the victim must show concern for the person who hurt them. In either case, as disciples of Jesus, we are called to show mercy in giving and receiving forgiveness. Forgiveness is an important aspect of Jesus ministry. Jesus forgives sins and calls us to one life. The difficulties we experience in forgiving those who hurt us and in asking forgiveness of those we have offended remind us of our weakness. Forgiving is not always easy. It does not mean accepting bad behaviour. It means letting go of negative feelings. Parables The Gospels frequently describe Jesus teaching in parables. A parable is a literary form that uses a fictional story to make a point. Regroup (s) Check in with the group. Ask how they are going with in-between family activities and ask if they have any questions. Forgiveness (s) Show video of people speaking about forgiveness Small group discussion (4-6 people) about their thoughts after watching and listening to the video. 11

Scripture readings (20 mins) Luke 15: 1-7 Luke 15: 8-10 The Parable of the Lost sheep The Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15: 11-24 The Parable of the Prodigal Son Scripture readings are below; however leaders are encouraged to read them from the Bible. Before reading the parables share with the group: We are going to hear three separate parables from the Gospel of Luke. In each parable you will hear about something or someone who is lost. Listen carefully for the lost in each story. I wonder if any of you have been lost at some point in your life, or know someone who has been lost. Lost is not always about being missing. It can be that we have lost our way through our choices. After the reading we will discuss conversion, repentance and forgiveness. The Parable of the Lost Sheep 1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. 3 So he told them this parable: 4 Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost. 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. The Parable of the Prodigal Son 11 Then Jesus said, There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me. So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, How many of my father s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands. 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his slaves, Quickly, bring out a robe the best one and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate. 12

Most people can identify with the frustration, fear and loneliness that come from being lost. The positive in that is that most people can identify with being found. What a wonderful feeling it is to finally see someone we know or something familiar to us. If we get lost in our faith, or make a bad choice which has a negative ripple effect on others, or indeed sin, God never stops looking for us. It takes courage to trust in God, who like the father in the reading, is always looking for us to come home. Sin can be personal or communal (ie, it harms humanity. Examples of this are Indigenous, environmental and social). When we are faced with asking for forgiveness, or forgiving others, we go through a process: Conversion (a change of heart), leads to Repentance (asking for forgiveness), which leads to Forgiveness (the act of forgiving someone). Discussion: Who or what was lost in each of the Bible stories? I wonder if there has been a time when you were lost, either physically or in the choices you have made. Conversion (a change of heart), leads to Repentance (asking for forgiveness), which leads to Forgiveness (the act of forgiving someone). An example in the Prodigal son is: Conversion verses 18 and 19. Repentance verse 21. Forgiveness verses 22 to 24. These parables are examples of how God is waiting for us with open arms, when we seek forgiveness. Discussion: What are the images of God in each parable? Shepherd, Woman, Father What do these parables tell us about God? Forgiveness from God is limitless. Invite the children to place themselves in one of the parables. Children identify a time when: They forgave someone who did something to hurt them. They asked someone whom they hurt for forgiveness. They asked God for forgiveness. Using a Y chart, on page 12 in their passport, children think deeper about each situation. A Y chart invites someone to think about a situation and reflect on it in three ways. What it: Sounds like Looks like Feels like Sounds Like Sounds Like Sounds Like Looks Like Feels Like Looks Like Feels Like Looks Like Feels Like 13

Reconciliation Federal Parliament Apology To Australia s Indigenous People Kevin Rudd (10 mins) Read the following extract to the group or view the video here (4minutes 3 seconds) I move: That today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history. We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history. The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future. We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry. To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry. And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry. We the parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation. For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written. We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians. This speech happened in 2008 and as a nation we are still working towards reconciliation a very real example that saying sorry is the first step forgiveness and reconciliation can take much longer. I wonder who is responsible now for the way Aboriginal people were treated in the past and for the hurt they still suffer today. This is an example of something that has happened in our lives, which is not our fault, but as Australians, we each have a part to play in the healing process. We do have a responsibility to help our nation heal in whatever way we can. I wonder how we can contribute to the healing. Things happen in our lives that are not our fault, like what has happened in Australia s history, and some things that may happen in our family, like parents separating. 14

Call to action (5mins) As disciples of Jesus, we are working towards peace (reconciliation) with each other and with God. It is time to think about what you can do to be in right relationship with God. Think about: someone or something (a cause) in our community something bigger than us in the world (global warming, taking care of the environment) I wonder how you can contribute to this communal cause. Direct children to their passport Call to Action on page 13 In-between family activities: Page 11, page 12 and page 13 Ritual: (5mins) Give all children a prayer card with the Reconciliation prayer on it, which they can take home to add to their prayer space. Read the prayer together. Reconciliation Prayer: Holy Father, God of Love, You are the creator of the world, of people and of all good things. Our hope is in you because your son Jesus died and rose to reconcile the world to you. We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another, as you love, accept and forgive us. Amen Together: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. Offer each other a Sign of Peace. 15

SESSION 4 SACRAMENT OF PENANCE - FIRST RITE FOR RECONCILIATION Aim As disciples of Jesus, children will: explore the Sacrament of Penance and how it can bring them back to right relationship with God. look back at key elements of their preparation as they prepare for the Sacrament of Penance. Regroup Revisit Suggested Outline Scripture Passage Examination of Conscience Prayer of Sorrow What happens at first rite for Reconciliation? Ritual 10 min 20 min Leaders background Information Where possible, the priest who will celebrate the First Rite of Reconciliation with the children should be present at this session. Priest to explain to the children where Reconciliation will take place. We all need to ask for forgiveness and to give throughout our lives. Wrong choices, which impact on ourselves and other people, separate us from God, others and our communities. Jesus revealed to us a God who is merciful and compassionate. Through preparation for the Sacrament of Penance the children are led to a better understanding of God s mercy, so that they may confess their sins and receive forgiveness in the First Rite for Reconciliation. Children are encouraged to write a Prayer of Sorrow or Act of Contrition. Suggested Outline Regroup (5mins) Check in with the group. Reflect on the last session and ask about the in-between activities. Ask if anyone has any questions. 16

Revisit: (5mins) Conversion sorrow for our sins; a desire to change our ways; to do something that will keep us in right relationship with others and God if the same or similar situation occurs. Repentance asking for forgiveness and, Forgiveness the act of forgiving someone. Refer to page 6 or to page 12 in their passport and give the children a minute to read how their wrong choices or actions made them or another person feel. Scripture Passage (10mins) Encourage the children to read through the scripture cards and choose one they would like to use in preparation for the First Rite of Reconciliation. Examination of Conscience (5mins) When working through the preparation phase of the First Rite of Reconciliation, refer to Liturgy Brisbane Our Family Prays page 111 and page 112. Prayer of Sorrow (5mins) On page 10 in the children s passport there is a space to write their own prayer of sorrow. Allow them time to do that now. Watch the Penance video which is on the Flame of Faith website http://flameoffaith.org.au This will give the group a good idea about what happens during the first Rite for Reconciliation. 17

What happens at First Rite For Reconciliation? (20mins) Go through the steps of the rite with the children in the church, if possible. The Sacrament of Penance - First Rite For Reconciliation PREPARATION Before celebrating the Sacrament of Penance you need to prepare yourself, to examine your conscience. Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance to help you know and understand the ways you sin and where in particular you need God s forgiveness. CELEBRATION The priest welcomes you When it is your turn, go to the priest. You may sit or kneel to talk to the priest. He will welcome you and pray the Sign of the Cross with you. The Word of God To help you to understand and know God s mercy, the priest will share with you a reading from Scripture. Confession Tell the priest the sins you thought and prayed about in your Examination of Conscience. The priest will talk to you about how you can change your ways. He will then give you a penance this is a prayer or action to help you change. Prayer of Sorrow / Act of Contrition The priest will ask you to pray a prayer of sorrow to tell God you are sorry for your sins. You can use the prayer you wrote or the following prayer. O my God, I am sorry that I have sinned against you, because you are so good, and with your help I will not sin again. Absolution You will receive God s forgiveness and peace as the priest prays and makes the Sign of the Cross over you. 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. Amen Prayer of Praise The priest finishes with a short prayer of thanks and praise to God. PRAYER AND ACTION Your Penance Remember to do your penance as soon as possible. Ritual: (s) 18 Scripture cards are arranged in the sacred space. Give the children time to choose a card which they would like to take home and use as they prepare to celebrate Penance. Read one of the scripture cards. Allow for a time of quiet reflection after the reading (about a minute) then see if anyone wants to comment on the message they heard in the passage. Together: Pray the prayer Jesus gave us. Our Father who art in heaven

REFLECTION What worked well? What would you change/adjust for your parish? Tips for your Sacramental team in preparing for next year? 19