Advent is a wonderful time to celebrate the reconciling love and the healing graces our Lord offers us. God loved us so much that he humbled himself to be born a human. Jesus endured all the ups and downs of being human as well. He also had a deeper and greater understanding of our humanity. 

Like all religious experiences, it takes preparation.

As children grow older, they deepen their love and personal friendship with Jesus.  They learn right from wrong and become conscious of their sins and failings.  They also experience God’s boundless mercy and forgiveness, when they repent and say they are sorry. 

The Church describes parents as the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith. However, Trinity and your parish are partners in your child’s preparation, and we are all committed to supporting you as Christian parents. 

Parents can help children to become “ready” for the Sacrament of Reconciliation by:

• Nurture an appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a way to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness.
• Use the “teachable moments” in your family life to reinforce forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Model and encourage your child to take responsibility, express sorrow and make amends when arguments and conflicts occur in your home.
• Reinforce the stories of Jesus forgiving others.
• Thank God each day for his abundant mercy when we fall short.
• Teach children responsibility for others – love takes the form of action.
• Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at least once a year during Lent, but ideally more often throughout the year.

Vocabulary:
You may hear the Sacrament being called Confession, Penance or Reconciliation and They are all the same Sacrament. The different names highlight different aspects of the sacrament:

Confession refers to the act by which we ‘tell’ or ‘confess’ our sins to the priest. 

Penance refers to our remorse, sorrow and resolution to change our life with God’s help.

Reconciliation refers to the goal of the celebration, which is that sinners are reconciled to God and the Church.