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Children preparing to receive Holy Communion for the first time are also prepared to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.

Thereafter children and their families are welcome to participate in the weekly and seasonal opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament with our parish and our cluster of parishes, Catholic Sutton Coldfield.

Additional catechesis is provided for children and their families when the preparation for Confirmation is under way. Those being confirmed are expected to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for their Confirmation.

The preparation for First Confession is gradual.
  • It includes opportunities in school or in the Saturday classes to consider what makes us sorry about the way we live; and how we wish to live, close to Jesus.
  • An important dimension of the child's preparation is the exploring the experience of sin and forgiveness, wrong-doing and mercy in the context of home and family life.
  • Parents are best able to support their child's preparation when they have learnt to make celebrations of the Sacrament a regular part of their own life in in faith. In addition to the weekly opportunities for Confession, parents and candidates older siblings are urged to take part in the parish seasonal celebrations of the Sacrament of Confession in Advent and Lent.​
After children have made their first Communion parents are asked to help their children become familiar with celebrating the Sacrament in the first form - ie individually with a priest - through regular celebration. In addition they are asked to introduce them to the communal form of celebrating the Sacrament, where the individual confession is preceded by a communal liturgy of the Word. This form is most commonly offered in Lent and Advent.

  • The leaflet available here reminds of the shape and different moments in the celebration of the Sacrament.
  • Pope Francis recently spoke with young people about the Sacrament and stressed the importance of thinking about it in the right way!
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  • A suggested way for building a time of acknowledging fault and failing and for celebrating forgiveness and mercy within the routine of family life at home
  •  Parables of Jesus  that help us open our minds and hearts to the mercy of God.

Dates of first confessions 2025 are found on the page linked to here.
(Dates can be reserved only by using the form available in St Nicholas church.)