Session 3 and 4Reconciliation

and Discipleship

We Gather and Focus: (2 min) Good morning and welcome. We now ask you to open your booklets and turn to page 20 as we center ourselves for our Opening Prayer:

Organizer Chart: - LydieYou need:

1) Baptism Certificate handed in – ASAP2) Sponsor Form with Sponsor’s name handed in 3) PIPA form and Census Form handed in 4) Recent Wallet sized picture handed in

- Work on your volunteer hours – 1 hour a week for a minimum of 20 hours- Work on your take home questions – bring to the Rehearsal

- Write your letter to Sponsor – not the Bishop (Bishop Bittman is now in BC)- Parents write your letter to your child- Bring Your Booklets to every SessionNext Session: Sat May 26th @ Sacred Heart if registered there OR Sat June 2nd @ St Mary’s if registered there – check calendar for the times

Confirmation Mass is Sat June 9, 2018 – check calendar for the times

*Parish Priest Presiding* - Fr Len Cadieux for St Mary’s and Fr Joe Wroblewski for Sacred Heart

“Tell me a Story”

We would like the adults to share: 1) How as adults do you know what is right and wrong? Who taught you? What were you taught about sin? Is sin easy or difficult to think about? (page 21)

2) As a parent/adult, what are your hopes for your child/student for the future? (page 29)

Session 3: ReconciliationBuilding on What We Know Knowing Right from Wrong:Turn to page 22 and read the story. When you’re done, answer the question:

By making this choice, what relationships has John hurt or damaged?

Discussion: - the damage John has caused by not being honest with his parents, with his teacher, the breach of trust John has created, and/or the damage caused in John’s relationship with God by lying.

- When the truth about John’s actions comes out, the trust between John and his parents and his teacher could be harmed.

- How easy is it for us to follow the same path that John took? How can we choose something different?

The Ten Commandments help us to follow what is right and what is wrong.

The Ten Commandments (Part of your Take Home Exam ( Question # 3) Fill in the blanks (Pg 23 of student booklet) 1) I am the Lord your God: You shall not have other gods before me.2) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.3) Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.4) Honor your father and your mother.5) You shall not kill.6) You shall not commit adultery.7) You shall not steal.8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9) You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.Breakdown of the Ten Commandments:

1) Only 1 God - not money, not greed, not personal gain

2) Vain – means not using God’s name in swearing eg: “O My God!” – unless you are praying

3) Lord’s Day – what day? Saturday or Sunday? – a day of rest and not working but praying instead

4) Honor your parents – treat them well, respect what they say, and they will respect you also

5) Not killing is not the only thing. Most of us don’t hurt with a weapon, but killing one’s spirit is it any different? Hurting someone with words and actions can be harmful also.

6) Commit adultery – cheating, but not just a husband and wife, it includes cheating on your friends, your significant other and even yourself. Example: wanting to spend time with 1 friend over another or pushing a friend away so that you can spend time with someone else.

7) Not stealing – obvious, but what about having a snack or treat when your parents have asked you not to because it is supper time and you do it anyway?

8) False witness – talking badly about someone else, making things up to make yourself look better

9) Covet your neighbor’s wife – what if you aren’t married? Again wanting something that doesn’t belong to you. What if you have a group of friends, but you want this friend to be yours and not someone else’s? Is this not the same thing?

10) Covet your neighbor’s goods. When you don’t appreciate what you do have and have thoughts of “I want what he/she has!” “They have a big house, and lots of cars and go on trips, I wish I had what they have.” Is this similar?

Teaching:Examination of Conscience (pg 24)What does it mean? Does anyone know?

Examination: - to look closely or analyze

Conscience: - is what helps us to make decisions.

St Paul says it is “God’s law written on our hearts” (Romans 2:15)

So, Examination of Conscience, therefore, is the process by which we consider and explore the choices that we have made and the consequences that resulted.

Think about and consider the choices you have made in the last few days and reflect on these in light of what we have heard in the Ten Commandments.

How does God want us to live our lives?

Begin your questions with DO I or HAVE I?(create 3 questions on pg 24 of your booklet, like a mini Examination of Conscience)These are for you and you only, you do not need to share these with others

The Story of the Prodigal Son (please read directly from the Bible)

(Luke 15: 11-32)A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke, Glory to you, O Lord,

at the end of the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

The purpose of this reading is to emphasize the importance of reconciliation in our lives - of knowing that God is always waiting for us to return when we wander away.

Have a brief discussion about the reaction of the father towards his son.- Reinforce that no matter how many times we have failed to live our lives as

God would like us to, God is always there with open arms, waiting for us to return.

- How do we return to God? By saying sorry, accepting and forgiving and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Why is Reconciliation such a beautiful sacrament?

- It restores our damaged relationship with God.- It gives us a clean slate on which to begin again.- It can be celebrated over and over again.

Page 25 – Simple Act of Contrition – to say together

We all want to hear our heavenly Father say, “Your sins are_______________________”. (pg25)

Why is this reading important for people who are thinking about Confirmation?Everyone will have an opportunity for forgiveness. At the retreat you will have an opportunity to receive Reconciliation with Fr Len or Fr Joe.

If you can’t make it to the retreat, please set up a time to go to Reconciliation so that your heart is ready to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(see “Catholic Parent Know How” Brochure – Preparing for Confirmation – in your package)

Face 2 FACE: - Internet TECHtalk (pg 26)(Review how to use them. Show how easily they can be separated.)

You as students can talk about these Keychains with your parents and do the TECHtalk at home online.

(page 26 in Student Booklet – please complete)1. How does knowing that God is always ready to forgive your sins

help you as you grow in faith?

2. How does knowing that God is always ready to forgive your sins

make your feel?

We will give you a few moments to think about these answers and please take the time to write your thoughts down before the retreat.

Session 4: DiscipleshipWe are now going to move onto the 4th Session for today.This one is on Discipleship.(Page 27)

A Life Well Lived ( page 30 of your Student Booklet)Imagine that you are celebrating your 80th birthday! All your family and friends are gathered together to help make this special occasion.Think-Pair- Share (think about your ideas, write them down, share with others)

What 3 good things would you hope guests would say about your life?

Write them in the starbursts. (pg 30)

God Has a Plan! Words from the Bible: (read the verse on pg 31 of your booklet)Micah 6:8 How does God want us to live our lives?(to do Justice, to love Kindness and walk Humbly with God)

Jeremiah 29:11 What is God asking us to do in this verse? (to Trust)

Psalm 139:13-14 How long has God had a plan for you?

- from before you were born,

- God created us and we are wonderfully made!

God has created us in his image and wants us to continually strive to be more like him in all we do and say. God wants us to be his disciples. He wants us to see him in everyone we meet.

Video: The Lord’s Prayer – A Teens Conversation with God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RIq02cIqH0

The Teaching: The Lord’s Prayer (pg 32 and 33)The Lord’s Prayer is perhaps one of the best known of all Christian prayers.This activity is meant to deepen our understanding of what the prayer is really asking us to do. It is a guide for how we are to live our lives. It is a guide to living a good life.

Our Father –not just my father, not just your father, but OUR Father

Who art in heaven – not someone who might be important on earth, but in heaven

Hallowed be Thy name; – we honor and respect Your Holy name

Thy kingdom come, – we do not pray for the riches of the world – we pray for and work towards the kingdom here on earth, even as we wait for the joy of the heavenly kingdom

What does it mean? (page 33 – first box)

Thy will be done on Earth and it is in heaven.

- not what we want, but what You want for us

- I am prepared to listen for God’s voice- want to live my life the way God asks me to

What does it mean? (page 33 second box)

Give us this day our daily bread- we know that You can give us all we need – both material and spiritual blessings

- God will provide me with the strength to live my life

- I need the word of God to feed me as I grow in faith

and forgive us our trespasses,

- we know we will mess up again and again – and we ask for forgiveness

as we forgive those who trespass against us;- just as You forgive our sins, we are to forgive those who sin against us

What does it mean? (page 33 third box)

and lead us not into temptation,- help us to stay on the right path – guide us

away from wrongdoing- God helps me to make the right decisions

but deliver us from evil.- Keep us from falling into ways that are wrong.- God helps me to avoid things that could harm

me

These are just a few examples of how you might deepen the understanding of this prayer as a guide for how we can live a good life. Please share your own ideas.

Face 2 FACEYou can talk to a friend about these conversations if this is a busy week at home.You can call up your Godparent/Sponsor and talk to themYou can text the question to someone and chat by text.

How can you better live your lives as disciples of Christ? (page 34)

Examples: We can try to be more patient with the people in our lives who are difficult to deal with. We can try to follow the forgiveness Jesus teaches in the Lord’s Prayer.Many references in the Bible, including the Lord’s Prayer, show us how God wants us to live.Thing of one area where your family is an example of good discipleship and one area where you could improve upon.

My Thoughts (page 34)

How is prayer a model for how we are to live as disciples of Jesus? (please write in your own personal responses)

Discussion Questions (attached below)They are labeled “Continuing Your Faith Journey Session 3 and 4”

-please take the time at home to complete any of your booklet that you haven’t had an opportunity to complete.- please share with your family and Godparent/Sponsor the “Continuing Your Faith” - please use your FAC2Face and TECHtalk tags in the next few weeks.

- Remember the next Group session is May 26 at Sacred Heart Church for Sacred Heart students and June 2 nd at St Mary’s for St Mary’s students .

Please join in the Closing Prayer.After the prayer we have 1 more thing to do and say before you can go.

The Prayer is called the Dynamic Catholic Prayer:

Evangelizing Thoughts:

I want to be more like Jesus in all I say and do.

Think about it:

How will you live a good life?

See you at the Retreat!

Continuing Your Faith Journey Session #3 and 4

Make Lasting Impressions with Great Conversations

Activity to be shared with your Sponsor, Parents, and other family members at home.

It doesn’t always need to be a long discussion; a short, quick “What do you think?’

is sometimes very thought-provoking and memorable.

Most importantly, take turns sharing thoughts, memories, past experiences and future hopes together, and have some fun getting to know this side of each other better.

Sharing Items: (feel free to add your own)

1. How does knowing that God is ALWAYS ready to forgive your sins make you feel?

2. Many reference in Scripture, including the Lord’s Prayer, show us how God wants us to live. Think of one area where your family is an example of good discipleship and one area what you could improve upon. How can you better live your life as a disciple of Christ?

3. How is the Lord’s Prayer a model for how we are to live as disciples of Jesus?