Newsletter

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Last Saturday evening some of our Year 3 students attended Sacred Heart Church or Christ Our Holy Redeemer Church to declare their commitment to preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.

 

They came out to the front of the Church and stood the on the altar steps as Father Raju asked them some questions:

  • As you prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation do you promise to take time to get ready to celebrate this important step on your journey of faith?
  • Do you promise to pray to God each day as you prepare for Reconciliation?
  • Do you promise to be the kind of person that Jesus would want you to be, at home, in school, and within the parish community?

To each question they loudly, with commitment, responded, "I will." 

Their commitment was a joy to hear.

 

Father Raju then asked the children's families to stand and asked them some questions:

  • Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
  • Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
  • Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?

To each question they responded, "I do."

 

So this was the formal beginning of the children's preparation. Tonight we have a Google Meet Family night.  (Google Meet Link) A great opportunity for our First Reconciliation families to share and discuss how poor choices and forgiveness are a part of not only our everyday lives but also in our relationship with Jesus.

 

Next Friday we will have a special day at school, our Reconciliation Reflection Day. This day will be a time for the children to prepare themselves, not only the items that will decorate the Church, but also to spiritually prepare themselves with the thoughts, words and actions they will experience as they celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.

 

Finally the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on March 31st at 6pm in COHR Church.

 

Please pray for our children as they travel this journey, possibly using the prayer that Father Raju prayed on Saturday.

 

May God continue to bless you 
and may you know God’s love 
in your hearts 
and share it with others.