God helps me get it right
This chapter focuses on explaining that Jesus always helped people to make a change. Children learn that saying sorry and asking for forgiveness is about sorting things out, and rebuilding friendships. We encourage the children to remember that forgiveness offers an opportunity to make things right in order to move towards a better future, by choosing a better path.
This chapter also explores the what happens during the Sacrament itself, when we “confess” our sins. We talk about what to do before and after we confess our sins, as well as what happens when we sit in the confessional.
Do remember that, your child’s First Reconciliation is one of the seven Sacraments and an essential step to be able to receive First Holy Communion. It is a Sacrament they can receive as often as they like. It is a beautiful gift that can be revisited again and again.
- Jobs for home
- Complete the online quiz
- Practise the Act of Contrition
- Enjoy some family sharing time where you tell stories of love and forgiveness. You can use examples from your daily family life or other well-known or biblical stories of forgiveness.
Questions you might like to ask your child:
Q. What could you not do when you were younger, but can now do more easily?
A. Ride a bike, tie a shoelace, swim without help, help with cooking in the kitchen, roller skate, skate-boarding or play tennis without help, knit or draw without assistance, play a musical instrument, dress myself, brush my teeth – there are many examples here to use. Emphasise how hard it is when we get things wrong – it can be painful sometimes. Sometimes we don’t want to accept people’s help and it is not always easy to acknowledge that we needed help to get better at something. But how wonderful it is when we get it right!
Q. Who helps you when things are difficult? Who do you ask?
A. Answers will vary – but teachers, parents, sports coaches, policemen, lollipop ladies etc are all people that your child might want to talk about as being helpful in teaching us life lessons.
Q. In what way did Zacchaeus change? How did he feel after meeting Jesus?
A. Encourage your child to answer this by finding words to describe what he was like before and after meeting Jesus. eg. Before meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus was greedy, selfish, treated people badly, a cheat. After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus was more humble, sorry, generous. Money wasn’t so important anymore, and he was ready to be friends with others again. He also realised Jesus cared for him and loved him.
Q. Can you think of a time where you have been sorry (had contrition) for something you did? OR Can remember how it felt to be forgiven by someone?
A. It may take time for your child to think this through and find an answer. Make it into a conversation with your child, by also sharing with them your own examples of feeling bad for having done something. This will help them identify
their own examples. Sharing a positive example of the joy of being forgiven will be a great witness to them.
