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
Small bowl of water to remind us of our Baptism.
Any other item or image that has religious significance for your family.

2. We Remember God’s Love and Forgiveness:
First Penance, Ch. 2
We Remember God’s Love and Forgiveness:
Sin & Grace
Before you begin…
Light the candle in your prayer space and open your Bible to the Book of Psalms, chapter 23, verse 1 (Psalm 23:1).
Pray the “Sign of the Cross” and together read aloud the Scripture verse. Then pray the “Hail Mary” (found on your Prayer Handout).

3. We Gather RECALL: Why is it important to follow God’s law?
It is important to remember that God always loves us and is always ready to forgive us if we are sorry.
READ:
Read aloud the story on page 20.
Write an ending to the story.
RESPOND:
Have your child illustrate and/or write about one of their favorite family activities on page 21.

4. We Share God’s Word EXPLAIN:
The shepherds in Jesus’ time took care of about 100 sheep at a time. They tried to watch out so that individual sheep did not wander too far from the flock.
Jesus told the following story to help his followers to understand God’s love and forgiveness. He wanted us to know that everyone of us is special to God.
READ:
Read together the story of the good shepherd in Luke 15:4 – 6.
DISCUSS:
Discuss the trouble the shepherd took to find the lost sheep. Invite your child to tell how the shepherd felt after finding it.

5. We Believe & Celebrate READ: Read aloud page 24.
Ask your child to underline the terms “Original Sin” and “Sin”. Then ask them to explain to you the difference in their own words.
EXPLAIN:
We sin only when we make a choice to do something wrong or do it on purpose. Mistakes and accidents are not sins.
DISCUSS:
Recall that Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:14). Discuss ways that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

6. We Believe & Celebrate EXPLAIN:
We first receive God’s forgiveness at Baptism. We also celebrate God’s forgiveness in another sacrament called Penance God is always ready to forgive us if we are sorry.
READ:
Read together page 26 – 27. Underline the terms “grace”, “mortal sin”, and “venial sin.”
People who commit venial sins hurt their relationship with God, but they still share in God’s grace.

7. We Respond & Pray EXPLAIN:
There are 4 names for the same sacrament of forgiveness. (See the box on pg. 27.)
Those who were baptized when they were infants must celebrate the Sacrament of Penance for the first time before First Holy Communion.
REFLECT:
Reflect on Jesus’ story of the Good Shepherd. Think about other stories told by or about Jesus that help us understand God’s forgiveness. Write those stories down on page 29 and look them up in the Bible this week.
PRAY:
Invite each person to dip his or her fingers in the holy water and then pray the Sign of the Cross. Open your Bible and read aloud Psalm 23:1-4. Then lead them in prayer on page 30.

8. Chapter 2 REVIEW
Complete the “Sharing Faith with My Family” activities on pages 83 – 84.