It’s never too late to return to God’s grace, especially when we’ve been living the life of the Prodigal Son before his conversion. He was hoping for his father’s mercy and forgiveness and simply to be treated as one of the servants, but his father recognized that his son who was once dead was now alive again; he who was lost was now found. (Lk. 15:32) He was not treated as a servant but welcomed back into the loving arms of his father as his son. Likewise, our Heavenly Father, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation forgives our sins and no longer treats us as servants but as friends. (Jn. 15:15)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession must be seen within the context of conversion from sin and a turn to God. Peter wept bitterly over his triple denial of Christ but received the grace of conversion and expressed it with a threefold confession of love for Jesus. Paul was converted from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the greatest disciples of Christ who ever lived. These moments of conversion were only the beginning of their lifelong commitment to living in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sin harms our relationship with God and damages our communion with the Church. Conversion of heart is the beginning of our journey back to God. Liturgically this happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. In the history of the Church, this Sacrament has been celebrated in different ways. Underlying the changes have always been two essentials: the acts of the penitent and the acts of Christ through the ministry of the Church. Both go hand in hand. Conversion must involve a change of heart as well as a change of actions. Neither is possible without God’s grace.
If it’s been a long time since your last confession, wait no longer to receive the saving graces of Jesus who frees us from our slavery to sin and offers us new life. To help one get started, here are the five precepts of the catholic church: “the precepts of the church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of god and neighbor.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, 2041)
Interested in preparing for your 1st Reconciliation? Excellent! Incarnation Catholic Church is very happy to help prepare you to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. We look forward to walking with you in this preparation process!
Firstly, when children and teens prepare to receive their 1st Reconciliation, they are also prepared to receive their 1st Eucharist/1st Holy Communion. In the one year preparation process, children/teens receive both sacraments for the first time.
In order to begin the preparation process for receiving 1st Reconciliation and 1stEucharist, children/teens must be at least 7 years of age, and they must be baptized.
Before registering for the 1st Reconciliation and 1st Eucharist preparation process, children/teens must have completed one year of Faith Formation (such as attending one year of Catholic School religion classes, or one year Sunday School/CCD/Faith Formation classes). Also, during the preparation process, children/teens must also be enrolled in Faith Formation classes (or attending a Catholic school).
Concerning the 1st Reconciliation & 1st Eucharist Preparation Process for children and teens (Ages 7-17), below are the guidelines for Incarnation Catholic Church:
For more information about the 1st Reconciliation and 1st Eucharist preparation process for Children and Teens (Ages 7-17), please contact Judy Licari at [email protected] or (813) 884-3624.
Interested in preparing for your 1st Reconciliation? Wonderful! Incarnation Catholic Church is very happy to help prepare you to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. We look forward to walking with you in this preparation process!
Adults who wish to receive their 1st Reconciliation and 1st Eucharist prepare for these sacraments through a process called ‘The Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults’ or R.C.I.A. In the R.C.I.A. process, adults are welcomed into a journey of faith where all are given the opportunity to deepen their faith and strengthen their relationship with Christ. Once the adults have been prepared and are ready, adults receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist/Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil Mass (or another appropriate date). Adults receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time shortly before or after the Easter Vigil Mass.
If you would like to begin the R.C.I.A. process or know more about this process, contact Deacon Matthew Shirina at [email protected] or (813) 884-3624.
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