1. Before You Begin Penance Lessons Set up a Prayer Space in your home where you will conduct your lessons. Include on your Prayer Table: ► Color cloth for the Liturgical Season  Dec. 2 – 24, 2012…PURPLE for the Season of Advent  Dec. 25 – Jan 6, 2013…WHITE for the Season of Christmas  Jan. 7 – Feb. 12, 2013…GREEN for Ordinary Time  Feb. 13 – Mar. 23, 2013…PURPLE for the Season of Lent ► Candle (with matches or a lighter) ► Cross or Crucifix ► Bible ► Stationary or “thank you” cards, pens or pencils. ► Any other item or image that has religious significance for your family.

2. First Penance, Ch. 5 We Celebrate Penance: With our Parish & Individually OPENING PRAYER: Light the candle in your prayer space and open your textbook to page 55. Pray the “Sign of the Cross” and together read aloud the quote from the “Rite of Penance” on page 55. Then pray the “Act of Contrition” (found on your Prayer Handout).

3. We Gather EXPLAIN: To be merciful is to shower others with love and forgiveness. ASK: How else would you define merciful? DISCUSS: What are some of your experiences at Church? Can you think of your favorite song sung at Mass? READ: Read aloud pg. 56. Invite your child to write their favorite church song on the line. Then finish reading the story. DISCUSS: Who are the people who celebrated with the children in the story? Who are the people who celebrate with you? Who will be with you on the day of your First Confession?

4. We Share God’s Word EXPLAIN: In Jesus’ time, people wore sandals and walked on dirt roads. One of the jobs of wealthy people’s servants was to wash the dusty feet of guests as they arrived for special dinners. We are going to read a story from the Gospel of Luke that tells of a woman who washed the feet of Jesus. READ: Read together from the Bible the story of Jesus and the woman in Luke 7:36 – 50. DISCUSS: Why do you think the woman was crying? How do you think she felt after her experience with Jesus? How do you think Simon felt?

5. We Believe & Celebrate EXPLAIN: On the day of your first Confession, you and other students will gather together as a community to prepare ourselves for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. After you have had your First Confession, you can celebrate the Sacrament anytime you want… You can celebrate it in community with others at what is called a “Communal Penance Service” or you can celebrate Penance individually. LOOK: Together, read in the church bulletin or look up on the parish website what times are available for individual confessions/penance. RECALL: Can you recall the four parts of the Sacrament of Penance? 1. Contrition 2. Confession 3. A Penance 4. Absolution

6. We Believe & Celebrate READ: Read aloud pg. 60 - 61. Then review the steps of a communal penance celebration. EXPLAIN: The Church has two ways of celebrating the Sacrament of Penance. You can celebrate it in community with others. This is called a “Communal Penance Service.” Or you can celebrate Penance individually. READ & REVIEW: Read aloud pg. 62 – 63. Then review the steps of an individual confession. (See the “Practicing going to Confession” handout in your packet)

7. We Believe & Celebrate EXPLAIN: Open the text to page 4 & 5. Explain that the illustration shows different places in church where we may confess our sins and receive absolution. RESPOND: Have your child act out the steps of an individual confession (leaving out the actual confession of sins). Invite your child’s Godparent to also practice with your child during the weeks leading up to First Reconciliation.

8. We Respond & Pray REFLECT: Who has taught you right from wrong in your life? RESPOND: Using the stationary or cards on your prayer table, write a “Thank You” letter to the person who has helped you most in learning how Jesus wants us to act. PRAY: When finished with your “thank you,” pray together the “Sign of the Cross” and the “Our Father.”

9. Chapter 5 REVIEW Complete the “Sharing Faith with My Family” activities on pages 89 - 90. PRACTICE: Practice the ritual steps of Penance with a parent, older sibling or Godparent. Remember to leave out the actual confession of sins…is for the priest’s ears only. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Confessional Tours & Practice on Tuesday, February 19 at 6:30 – 7:15 pm. Meet in the Narthex of the Church.