The Sacrament of First Reconciliation

If there is one thing in Faith Formation ministry that gives me hope for the world, it is being a witness to our children and their parents as each year, we celebrate First Reconciliation. I am always touched as I watch parents embrace their child right after he or she meets individually with the priest. And I am edified when, almost without exception, our parents follow with their own individual confession with the priest. And the family hugs again.



The kindness on the faces of the priests hearing confessions and the body language of watching the conversation between the children and the priest and between the parents and the priest is a picture of humility, tenderness and grace. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the Sacraments of Healing. The definition of a Sacrament is an outward sign of our invisible God. And the celebration of First Reconciliation is a vision of God’s love poured out in forgiveness lived in our community.

We are grateful to Michelle Lukas who leads the preparation process. Our children and our families will come to this celebration well prepared and predisposed to receive grace. Michelle and many staff and volunteers have poured much heart and time into this for our families. 

In Michelle’s words, here’s what the preparation process has been:

 We have 61 children who will celebrate their First Reconciliation this month! Each child began preparing last school year, or earlier, by participating in Family Program and/or our parish school. They are ready and excited to receive the graces of this Sacrament for the first time, even if some may be a bit nervous.

This year, in addition to attending Sunday Mass and working to complete a home workbook together, parents and children have also participated in two parent/child sessions to prepare to celebrate the sacrament of First Reconciliation.

There were a variety of learning opportunities for both parents and children during these evening preparation sessions. Children engaged in some great conversations in small groups with catechists learning about forgiveness and how to tell the difference between sins, accidents, and mistakes.

Parents heard more about Reconciliation from Fr. Tony, giving them more tools as they helped their children prepare for the sacrament at home, too.

Children worked with their parents to understand the 10 Commandments and how to use an examination of conscience. 

Fr. Tony walked through what the sacrament of Reconciliation looks like, answering questions along the way. Parents and children wrapped up our final preparation session by role playing a pretend confession together, practicing the steps of the sacrament.

Please hold these children in your prayers as they celebrate their First Reconciliation on January 17th and 21st.

If you haven’t been to Reconciliation recently and would like to receive this Sacrament, please join us on Saturdays from 4:00-4:30 pm in the Reconciliation room in the church.

We thank Michelle for her good work in this special ministry, the teachers, catechists and volunteers and the priests who are so generous with their time to prepare and celebrate this Sacrament with our families. We ask God’s blessing on our children who will celebrate their First Sacrament of Reconciliation.