The Sacrament of ReconciliationParent Meeting

Sept. 29 and 30, 2014Good Shepherd Church

Margie MeyersDirector of Faith Formation

(238-0649)dirred@goodshepherd-sc.org

Prayer & Personal Reflection

Think of a time when you were aware of God’s presence in your life in the past week. (the past month? Year?)

Please be ready to briefly share this experience with a small group – so pick an experience that you can be comfortable talking about.

Introductions (in small groups)

Introduce yourself to at least two people that you don’t know well.

Who are you? Where are you from? Who is your son or daughter?

What’s the best thing about raising a 2nd grader in 2013?

What do you remember learning about Sin and confession when you were a child?

Parent Meeting Outline Prayer/Reflection/Sharing Sacramental Theology

A brief history of the Sacrament of Penance; Rite of Reconciliation

An Adult Understanding: Reconciliation, Penance, Confession and Forgiveness

The Role of the Family Guide and Materials for Home Preparation for

First Reconciliation Overview of Dates and Expectations

Questions & Comments; Evaluation

Q. 574. What is a Sacrament?

Baltimore Catechism; No. 3, Lesson 13

Q. 574. What is a Sacrament?

A. A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

Baltimore Catechism; No. 3, Lesson 13

A sacrament is an ordinary experience that becomes extra-ordinary because God is present with us in a special way in that experience . The moment or experience becomes Sacred.

A Sacrament affects what it signifies.

A Sacrament opens our eyes, strengthens the bond, deepens our Relationship with God and is an experience of God’s Grace.

God - the Trinity

Jesus

Church

The Seven Sacraments

What’s in a name?The Sacrament of Reconciliation

orThe Sacrament of Penance or

The Sacrament of Confession orThe Sacrament of Forgiveness The Sacrament of Conversion

“The Sacrament of Penance”The Rite of Reconciliation”

Confession in History

To understand

the Sacrament we must

understand Sin.

To Understand the Sacrament we must understand God’s Mercy and Unconditional Love

1. What do you remember about your own First Confession? Without sharing too many details (i.e. sins) how was that experience for you?

2. How has your understanding of the Sacrament of Confession changed since then?

(short film)

The Role of the Family

“The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church.”* It is a community of faith, hope, and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church as is evident in the New Testament.

CCC #2204*Familiaris Consortio (1981)

"Domestic Church"

Family as Icon of Trinity Family is called to be a

community of faith, hope and love

When a family becomes a community of love – it begins to become an image of the loving communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Learning forgiveness is an important key to a healthy communion – community of love.

ReadinessDoes your child know… The Difference between right and wrong? The difference between an accidental

mistake and a sin? That we sin when we deliberately choose

to do wrong? That God is loving and merciful and will

ALWAYS forgive us? That we must be willing to forgive others,

just as God forgives us. That the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a

celebration of God’s forgiveness and gives us grace to live as God’s children.

Moral Development

As we develop, we grow in understanding of right and wrong. Very young, can not distinguish between accidental wrongs and sins.

Children often distinguish right or wrong based on the severity of punishment.

Level 1 (Pre-Conventional) 1. Obedience and punishment orientation

(How can I avoid punishment?) 2. Self-interest orientation

(What's in it for me?) Level 2 (Conventional)

3. Interpersonal accord and conformity (Social norms) (The good boy/good girl attitude)

4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation

(Law and order morality) Level 3 (Post-Conventional)

5. Social contract orientation 6. Universal ethical principles

(Principled conscience)

Sacramental Stoles – A Good Shepherd Tradition

If your child was baptized here at Good Shepherd, you should already have a stole and you can begin to plan on adding symbols for Reconciliation in time for the Celebration in January.

If your son or daughter was not baptized here, then please pick up the stoles before you leave this evening.

Handouts with instructions and some symbol suggestions are available in the handouts.

Your Child’s Book 1. God’s Love2. Loving God3. Refusing to Love4. Loving Choices5. Returning to Love6. Celebrating God’s

Love7. Showing Love8. Living ReconciliationCatechism points, Prayers,

Lyrics for songs

8 chapters – 9.5 weeksSu M T W Th F Sa

29 30 1 OCT

5

12

19

26 1NOV

2 8 Ret

9

16

23

30 1DEC

*5*DEC

F.R. RetreatSaturday, Nov. 8 –

9:00 – Noon

GroupCelebration

ofReconciliatio

nFriday,

December 57:00 p.m.

Home

Prep

arat

ion,

Pra

yer a

nd

Parti

cipa

tion

SACRAMENTAL FEE$15 (Reconciliation) + $15 (Eucharist)

= $30 Total Helps cover the cost of:

Student Books (specifically for the Sacraments) Parent Guides Retreats Celebrations

Fee was included in the Faith Formation registration form so you probably already paid it if your child is registered for Parish Faith Formation (home based or group session)

As always… Fee will be waived if the fee presents a burden to the family. A problem

with any fee or cost should never prevent a family from participating in any program, event and will NEVER keep a family from the celebration of a Sacrament.

Dates to note – First Reconciliation Home Preparation, using book, begins now

(or soon) Most of the Home Prep Should be

completedmid- Nov. First Reconciliation Retreat:

Nov. 8 -9:00 – 12:00 p.m. Rehearsal: Dec. 2 (Tuesday) - 7pm Celebration of First Reconciliation:

Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. *Regular attendance at weekend liturgy and

personal prayer are important, ongoing components of Sacramental preparation and all Faith Formation.

First Reconciliation RetreatNovember 8 (Saturday)

9:00 a.m. – 12:00Good Shepherd Parish Hall

Parent Helpers Needed For Break Time: Last name begins with.. Please bring . . .Home Based Juice (large bottle) Monday Evening GoGurt (8 pc box)Sunday a.m. A-M Fruit (chunks, pieces)Sunday a.m. N-Z Mini Bagels or -muffinsOLV Bagels or Mini-muffins

Dates to note: First Communion Parent Meeting:

Tuesday, Jan 20 : 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. (Parish Hall)

OR Monday, Jan. 26 : 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Home Prep

(Late January through mid-April) First Communion Retreat:

March 28 (Saturday) – 9 – Noon p.m. First Communion Celebration:

For Everyone: April 25, Saturday, – 10 am Or Family-based/Parish Weekend Mass Option

Comments?Questions?

Please take a few moments to complete the evaluation survey. I take your input serious and it will affect meetings planned for the future.

Call 238-2110 with questions!dirred@goodshepherd-sc.orgSheperded.pbworks.com

Evaluation1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) how helpful was this meeting?

2. What was most helpful for you in this session?

3. What would make the session better? What would you change?