Before You Begin Penance Lessons
Set up a Prayer Space in your home where you will conduct
your lessons.
Include on your Prayer Table:
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Color cloth for the Liturgical Season
 Dec. 2 – 24, 2012…PURPLE for the Season of Advent
 Dec. 25 – Jan 6, 2013…WHITE for the Season of Christmas
 Jan. 7 – Feb. 12, 2013…GREEN for Ordinary Time
 Feb. 13 – Mar. 23, 2013…PURPLE for the Season of Lent
Candle (with matches or a lighter)
Cross or Crucifix
Bible
Stationary or “thank you” cards, pens or pencils.
Any other item or image that has religious significance for your family.
First Penance, Ch. 5
We Celebrate Penance:
With our Parish & Individually
OPENING PRAYER:
Light the candle in your prayer space and open your textbook to page 55.
Pray the “Sign of the Cross” and together read aloud the quote from the
“Rite of Penance” on page 55.
Then pray the “Act of Contrition” (found on your Prayer Handout).
We Gather
EXPLAIN:
To be merciful is to shower others with love and forgiveness.
ASK: How else would you define merciful?
DISCUSS:
What are some of your experiences at Church?
Can you think of your favorite song sung at Mass?
READ:
Read aloud pg. 56. Invite your child to write their favorite church song on the line.
Then finish reading the story.
DISCUSS:
Who are the people who celebrated with the children in the story?
Who are the people who celebrate with you?
Who will be with you on the day of your First Confession?
We Share God’s Word
EXPLAIN:
In Jesus’ time, people wore sandals and walked on dirt roads. One of the
jobs of wealthy people’s servants was to wash the dusty feet of guests
as they arrived for special dinners. We are going to read a story from
the Gospel of Luke that tells of a woman who washed the feet of
Jesus.
READ:
Read together from the Bible the story of Jesus and the woman in
Luke 7:36 – 50.
DISCUSS:
Why do you think the woman was crying?
How do you think she felt after her experience with Jesus?
How do you think Simon felt?
We Believe & Celebrate
EXPLAIN:
On the day of your first Confession, you and other students will gather together as a
community to prepare ourselves for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
After you have had your First Confession, you can celebrate the Sacrament anytime you
want…
You can celebrate it in community with others at what is called a “Communal Penance
Service” or you can celebrate Penance individually.
LOOK:
Together, read in the church bulletin or look up on the parish website what times are
available for individual confessions/penance.
RECALL:
Can you recall the four parts of the Sacrament of Penance?
1. Contrition
2. Confession
3. A Penance
4. Absolution
We Believe & Celebrate
READ:
Read aloud pg. 60 - 61. Then review the steps of a communal
penance celebration.
EXPLAIN:
The Church has two ways of celebrating the Sacrament of
Penance. You can celebrate it in community with others.
This is called a “Communal Penance Service.” Or you can
celebrate Penance individually.
READ & REVIEW:
Read aloud pg. 62 – 63. Then review the steps of an
individual confession. (See the “Practicing going to Confession” handout
in your packet)
We Believe & Celebrate
EXPLAIN:
Open the text to page 4 & 5. Explain that the
illustration shows different places in church where
we may confess our sins and receive absolution.
RESPOND:
Have your child act out the steps of an individual
confession (leaving out the actual confession of
sins). Invite your child’s Godparent to also practice
with your child during the weeks leading up to
First Reconciliation.
We Respond & Pray
REFLECT:
Who has taught you right from wrong in your life?
RESPOND:
Using the stationary or cards on your prayer table, write a
“Thank You” letter to the person who has helped you most
in learning how Jesus wants us to act.
PRAY:
When finished with your “thank you,” pray together the “Sign
of the Cross” and the “Our Father.”
Chapter 5 REVIEW
Complete the “Sharing Faith with My Family” activities on
pages 89 - 90.
PRACTICE:
Practice the ritual steps of Penance with a parent, older
sibling or Godparent. Remember to leave out the actual
confession of sins…is for the priest’s ears only.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Confessional Tours & Practice on
Tuesday, February 19 at 6:30 – 7:15 pm.
Meet in the Narthex of the Church.