God’s love for us is always present. No matter what we may have done to alienate ourselves from God and from our Christian community, God looks upon each one of us as His son or daughter. At times, however, each one of us abuses the love and the gifts which God gives to us.
The Church recognizes this human frailty and the need each one of us has for forgiveness of our sins. When we have been unfaithful to God’s love and are truly sorry, the Christian community offers a unique sign that God and the Church family forgives us, welcomes us home, and supports us in our renewed efforts to love. This sign is the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies…has willed that His Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, His work of healing and salvation. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: Penance and Anointing of the Sick.”
- CCC 1421
Sts. Peter and Paul Parish provides a program of preparation for those children who will participate in the celebration of Penance/Reconciliation for the first time. Mindful of the youthfulness of these children, the program is designed to address them at their current age level.
Important elements stressed within the program are the nature of sin, the manner of our expression of sorrow for sin within this sacrament, and the love which God has for each one of us. The first celebration of the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is made available to students in the second grade. The preparation program for this sacrament is conducted prior to the preparation program for First Eucharist. Both programs are available in the second grade to those who have had one year of prior instruction.
Parents should be aware of their right and obligation to participate in the formal preparation of their children for the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation. The parish seeks to help in this preparation by providing a seminar for parents of these children. All parents are required to attend this seminar.