For Parents To Teach To Their Children”
This past week the children in my First Reconciliation class practiced saying their prayers as a group, including; “The Sign of the Cross,” “The Lord’s Prayer,” “Hail Mary,” “The Glory Be To The Father,” and “An Act of Contrition.” We say the prayers standing up, and repeated them several times out loud. By the end of three “run throughs” the children sounded stronger and more confident. One child spoke up saying, “We forgot the Guardian Angel Prayer.” Interestingly, this simple, poem-like prayer, has not be memorized yet by the students. We’ll add it to our list of prayers on our nest meeting.
We also practiced, reading out loud, the two parts of confession. They children will make their confession, face to face with the priest, in a confessional. This is the first time in two years that it won’t be done in a class room, practicing “Social Distancing.” The children will be wearing masks since many are probably not vaccinated yet since there are children ages 7-8 in my class. The children will be making their First Confession in December, which begins the preparing for First Holy Communion Preparation starting in January.
Beautiful Books About First Reconciliation for Children
The Process of Confession
Asking for God’s Forgiveness
“The Elements of the Sacrament of Penance” from American Families Living in Faith
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- “A greeting and a blessing from a priest
- A reading from Scripture to inspire a heart-felt confession
- The penitent confesses his or her sins
- The priest gives a penance
- The priest gives absolution to the penitent
- A prayer of thanksgiving and praise, dismissal and a blessing”
Our Art Gallery
“The Widow Gave Her All”
Our Weekly Reading
“The Poor Widow’s Contribution.” Mark, Chapter 12:38-44 USCCB.org
“In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
‘Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.’
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.'”
Our Art Project–A Cross with the Inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”
Our Materials and Methods
I used watercolor paper because it is the appropriate paper for wet paint. I love liquid watercolors because they have clear, pure colors. When the watercolors were dry, black ink was painted to outline the objects in this painting, using a small tipped brush. Since black ink is permanent, I recommend using Sharpie pens instead, for kids under twelve years old. Here are the materials I used:
Week Eleven–Suggested Homework Activities
Invite your child to practice the “Forgive me Father for I have Sinned” and “An Act of Contrition” if they are preparing.
If your child isn’t preparing, I recommend he or she draws or paints the cross above, in any style they’d like to do.