Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

One catechetical director I know plans Family Learning Days that bring together children and parents to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Morning Classes
She begins with separate morning classes, followed by joint experiences later in the day. While the children are instructed by a catechist, the catechetical director or a guest speaker shares with parents about the meaning of the Sacrament, the liturgy, and their role in preparing their children at home.

Storytelling
Next, parents and children come together for a film or story, followed by lunch.

She often uses the story Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt by Lisa Campbell Ernst (HarperCollins, 1992). The story evolves out of a quilting competition between the men and the women of a town. The teams are competitive, even mean and cheating, until the climax—when both finished quilts, placed in a wagon, are dumped into a mud puddle. The hard work and creativity of both teams are ruined. Everyone is devastated—until something good happens.

Someone points out that there are enough good parts in each quilt to make a single new one, if only the adversaries would agree to cooperate and work together in harmony. Disappointed and desperate, the men and women work together all night to combine two quilts into one and enter it in the competition on time. Their combined quilt, most original of all, wins the prize. Both teams are winners, with more shared happiness. Even without the prize, they were winners for learning to work in unity.

Quilt Making Activity
A craft comes next; I am often called in to lead this. Each family group (parent/s and child/ren), makes one symbol for a communal quilt. As a small group, they choose or design the symbol and select background and colors. Then they cut and paste their piece together. For more guidance on this craft, click here.

When everyone is finished, each piece is placed on a large background—creating an image of a harmonious whole that each family contributed to individually. Later, catechists or helpers will make a more permanent arrangement of the pieces—sewing or gluing them onto the background and adding borders, hanging tabs, framing, and other finishing touches.

For more guidance on this craft, click here.

Unity Prayer Service
If you close your quilt-making activity with this prayer, place the quilt pieces on your prayer table. If the quilt pieces have been permanently affixed to the background material, hang your finished quilt above your prayer table. You also may want a bowl of holy water and a sprinkling sprig of evergreen for the blessing. Place a Bible on your prayer table marked with some or all of the readings below.

Opening Song: “We Are One in the Spirit” (© Peter Scholtes,1966 F.E.L.)

Opening Prayer: Loving God, you created us in your image to live in harmony, at one with you and with one another. Thank you for sending us Jesus to restore that unity so that we are one family of all your children. When we fight or disagree, help us to forgive and make amends. Help us to overcome all that separates us. Bring us into your peace, unity, love, and joy. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son, in whom we are made whole again.
All: Amen.

Readings: Psalm 133:1 (when we all live as one); 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27 or Romans 12:4-5 (one body in Christ); John 15:5-10 (Jesus is the vine; we are the branches); John 17:11 (that we may all be one in God through Jesus)

Leader—Commentary: As many small pieces come together in a quilt to form a beautiful whole, so we also become a beautiful whole when we work together in peace and harmony. This is what God created us for—to be at one with him and with each other. This is what Jesus came to teach and do—to reunite us to God, our Loving Creator, and to one another. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the world—to bring us all home to God as one family, one People of God.

Blessings: Lord, bless these quilt pieces (this quilt) we have made to remind us of your will for us—that we return to oneness, to unity with you in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the gifts of the Sacraments that help us to grow together and to know more fully your gifts of faith, hope, love, peace, and joy.

Lord, open our hands and hearts to receive your gifts and to share them with others. Show us how we can use our talents and gifts to build peace and unity in our own hearts and in our families, classes, and communities and in the world. (Sprinkle the quilt pieces or quilt with holy water or make the sign of the cross over it. Also make the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead saying, “Be at peace in Jesus” or “Be at one with God and all God’s family.” Or you might want all present to bless one another in this fashion.)

Closing Prayer: Loving Lord, guide us in ways of unity and peace. Teach us to overcome difficulties, dissentions, and conflict. Show us how our talents and abilities can help bring about peace so that we will live with purpose. Help us to choose activities, friends, play, sports, arts, and hobbies that contribute to our growth, happiness, and joy in unity.
All: Amen.

Closing Song: “Where Charity and Love Prevail” (Paul Benoit, OSB © 1961, 1962. Gather Comprehensive, World Library Publications)

Unity Litany
Here is an idea for a litany that you might like to use during your closing prayer or at anytime. Ask the children to think of ways people sometimes break up the unity and love God wants for us:
When we act only for ourselves
When we hurt someone’s feelings
When we quarrel or say mean things
When we push others so that we can be first in line
R: Lord, may we be one in your love.

Or you may prefer to accentuate the positive:
When we include others every chance we get
When we are kind
When we offer to work with others in peace
When we are courteous and helpful
R: Lord, teach us to be one in your love.



Jeanne Heiberg is the author of Advent Arts & Christmas Crafts (Paulist Press) and Advent calendars (Creative Communications). She has taught art, writing, creative catechetics, and meditation, and has directed parish catechetical programs. Jeanne writes, paints, and gives writing workshops in upstate New York. Jeanne welcomes visitors at her blog: jeannesarts4you.blogspot.com.


Source: CATECHIST Magazine, January 2010

Copyright 2010, Peter Li, Inc. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in any form without permission, except for use with your classes or families.