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Saint
Willebrord Catholic Church |
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IT'S NOT EASY
GOD LOVES YOU God love us! God knows what the challenges of human life are all about. We can think about the story of the Prodigal Son, the great insult and hurt the son inflicted on the father, and how the father welcomed him back, without even waiting for an apology. I've had occasion to meet many people who were hurt very badly by family members and friends. When I ask the question, "Would you ever be able to forgive them?" the answer is usually, "Yes." If we as humans can be so forgiving, how much more is God willing to forgive us! GOD WAITS He waits for our return. "But I haven't been to Confession for fifty years!" The response is simply ... "Welcome back! How good it is that you are here!" OUR PROGRAM preparation for 1st Reconciliation is part of the Religious Education
Program. The focus of this program is rooted in family and parish life.
Classroom experiences have ongoing, developmental education, but family and
parish have the basic responsibility. Lent is the most appropriate time to
strengthen practices and prepare for the Sacrament
of Penance. The emphasis is on those celebrating for the 1st
time. By the time students are in
the 2nd grade of Religious Education classes, they are ready to
participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the hope of our parish that
all children shall have received the Sacrament by the time they have
completed grade 5 religion education classes. In January, parents and children are invited to a presentation on Reconciliation. At this session, those who wish to participate with their child in the program for First Reconciliation will enroll them and receive a book to work on with the child at home. Candidates are formally enrolled in preparation for 1st Reconciliation in the Rite of Welcome, at a weekend liturgy following the Parent/Child meeting. A Retreat afternoon that includes a communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the candidates and their families is held on a Saturday during Lent.
Information
used with permission from Fr Pat. This appears on the Web Site Father
Pat's Place |
Reconciliacion NO ES FACIL El Sacramento de la Reconciliación es difícil para la mayoría de nosotros. No tenemos más que pensar en la historia de Adán y Eva en el jardín. En vez de admitir su falta, fue mucho más fácil para ellos echar la culpa a alguna otra cosa. Nosotros también podemos sentir que Dios nos ama más cuando obramos bien. Podemos incluso intentar convencernos de que Dios no sabe nada de nuestras faltas. DIOS TE AMA ¡Dios
nos ama! Dios conoce perfectamente
los retos de la vida humana. Podemos pensar en la historia del hijo pródigo, la gran ofensa y dolor que el hijo infligió al padre, y cómo el padre le recibió a su vuelta, sin esperar tan siquiera una disculpa. He tenido ocasión de encontrar muchas personas a quienes familiares y amigos hirieron profundamente. Cuando les pregunto: "¿Serás capaz de perdonarlas alguna vez?", la respuesta normalmente es: "Sí". Si nosotros los
hombres podemos perdonar así, ¡cuánto más dispuesto estará Dios a perdonarnos! DIOS ESPERA Él espera nuestro regreso. "¡Pero si no me he confesado en cincuenta años!". La respuesta es simplemente… "¡Bienvenido otra vez! ¡Qué bien que estés aquí!".
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