Reconciliation Information

First Reconciliation Prayer Services:

Contact the Children's Faith Formation Staff if your child needs to make other arrangements to receive First Reconciliation.  

Learn more here for other Reconciliation opportunities at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has stressed the “social dimension of evangelization” with a renewed emphasis on the missionary witness of families in the home and in their own communities.  Indeed, we know that Christian witness begins in the home - in the domestic Church - with the promises parents make at the Baptism of their child.   It continues in the witness of the faith community, in the Mass, and in the instruction of the child.  Everything a parent does and says is witnessed to his or her children.  It is the parent who first “Open(s) wide the door of faith” (Porta Fidei, Vatican) to his or her son or daughter.   It is this door that welcomes a child to a faithful life,  a way of being that shows the love and forgiveness that is the earmark of a follower of Christ. 

Recognizing the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, St. Joseph Catholic Church endeavors to provide a rich program that encourages family participation. 
Our Coordinators in Children's Faith Formation pay special attention to the preparation received by catechists, parents and children. 

Parents with a child receiving this sacramental preparation are urged to:

• Attend Mass  regularly with your children.  Children who know the Mass will come to a better understanding of the sacrament(s).
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation - offered every Saturday, 11am-12pm at St. Joseph.  Take your children along.  Children will be more invested in something if their parents are first. 
• Attend parent and child gathering opportunities.  These offer ideas and opportunities to share faith between parent and child. 
• Remember that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of love and healing.  When we come humbly to Christ we receive his grace, which gives us strength and courage in our daily lives.  
• Practice prayers with your children.  The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, along with the Act of Contrition (below) should be memorized in preparation of deepening your child's relationship with Jesus through the sacrament(s).

¬ an examination of conscience.  We prepare for the sacrament by praying and thinking about our words and actions. 
 
¬ confession.  We tell about the words & actions for which we are sorry. We talk to the priest as in a normal conversation and listen to any advice he may give.
 
¬ penance.  The priest tells us something good we can do or prayers we can say to show we are sorry and to make up for our wrong choices.
 
¬ an act of contrition. We ask forgiveness for our sins in a special prayer of sorrow to God.  A prayer of contrition must include:  telling God you are sorry, promising to try not to sin again and to make up for your sins, asking God to forgive you in Jesus’ name.
 
¬ absolution. God’s forgiveness (taking away) of our sins.  The priest makes the Sign of the Cross as he says, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  These words assure us of God’s forgiveness.  We are reconciled with God and one another.
 
¬ prayer of thanksgiving.  We give praise and thanks to God for His love and forgiveness.  We bring Jesus’ love and forgiveness to others.

My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. 
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. 
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance,
to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. 
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. 
In His name, my God, have mercy.  
Amen.