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

The preparation 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.
• Children and their families are helped by a simple Advent service which brings them together with a priest to admit their sorrow and receive a prayer of encouragement.
• An important dimension of the preparation is the family's own participation in the Sacrament. In addition to the weekly opportunities presented in the parish and other local parishes, parents and older siblings are urged to make use of the parish seasonal celebrations of the Sacrament of Confession in Advent and Lent.​

• The leaflet available here reminds of the shape and different moments in the celebration.
• 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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