First Reconciliation is a significant part of the spiritual journey. The resources here will lead to meaningful preparation for the sacrament at home. Preparing for it will give confidence and courage in participating in the Sacrament.
Ways of preparing at home:
1. Help your child to understand the Sacrament
2. Familiarise your child with the rite
3. Look at parts of the Sacrament
1. Help your child to understand the Sacrament
We recommend every Family to watch video 1 of the iCatholic series “Come to the Table of the Lord”. (This is used in preparing for First Reconciliation for First Holy Communion but will be very useful for Confirmation candidates also).
Part 1 focuses on the Sacrament of Reconciliation
2. Familiarise your child with the Rite
We recommend that you and your child are familiar with the Rite. Please look at the First Reconciliation Rite below and guide your child in becoming familiar with it. There will be copies of this available on the day for the children to use.
3. Look at parts of the Sacrament
- There will be a Welcome and Introduction by the priest.
- He will invite the children to prepare for confession by using this Child Friendly Examen. This will help you prepare your child for making the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You are encouraged to go through this with your child in the coming days.
- You and your child will be invited forward. The priest will be seated and your child is invited to sit opposite him. We do not use Confession boxes.
- You will be asked to introduce your child to the priest. Then you as the parent will step back to give your child some privacy, however they will both be in your sight.
- Your child will follow the Rite as per the ‘What To Do and Say’ resource above. Once they have made their confession to the priest, he will invite them to make an Act of Sorrow. The priest will help them along each step… it will be like a conversation between them both.
- Once absolution has been given by the priest, the child will be asked to do an Act of Goodness by the priest, after which they will return to you. You are encouraged to give them a hug or some other gesture of love.
- You are free to leave quietly at this point or to stay and pray quietly in the church.
We encourage you to spend time with you child preparing for this ceremony. We recommend that you bring your child to one of these ceremonies in the coming weeks or to take another opportunity for Reconciliation elsewhere before the Sacrament of Confirmation.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Here is a printable version of these resources: Reconciliation Resources for Confirmation