In Remembrance of Me

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In Remembrance of Me
Theme:	Jesus left us a picture by which to remember him.
Object:	A family photo album, high school yearbook, or some similar item
Scripture:	The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
This morning I brought one of my family photo albums. I love to look through my photo albums and remember all of the important people in my life and to think about all of the good times we have had. I would like to share a few of those memories with you this morning. This first picture is a picture of my mother when she was a young woman. She was a beautiful woman and this picture helps me remember what she looked like when I was a little boy. This is a picture of my daddy. Daddy was very dark-skinned and had coal black hair. As you can see, he had a wonderful smile that I think of when I remember my dad. Here is a picture of my grandmother as a young woman, and then another taken just a few years before she went to be with Jesus in heaven. These next pictures are pictures of my sisters. And this one...wow! What a beautiful baby. Can you guess who that is? It's me! Here are a couple of pictures when I was in about the 4th or 5th grade, the same age as some of you. Looking at these pictures sure brings back a lot of wonderful memories. When Jesus went back to heaven to be with his Father, he left behind a picture for us to remember him by. It isn't a picture in an album that we can look at and remember what Jesus looked like, but it is a picture to help us remember what Jesus did for us. We call it "The Lord's Supper." (Communion) Just before Jesus was crucified, he called his disciples together for a meal. He took a piece of bread and he told the disciples that the bread was to remind them of his body that would be hung on a cross for them. Then he took a glass of wine and told them that the wine was to be a reminder of his blood that would be shed for them on the cross. He told them that whenever they ate the bread and drank the wine, it was to remind them of what he had done for them. We still eat the bread and drink the wine today, and when we do, we do it to help us remember what Jesus has done for us. Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us this picture to remind us of what you did for us when you died on the cross. Help us to remember and be thankful. Coloring Page Crossword Puzzle Decoder Puzzle Word Search Puzzle Worship Bulletin (MS DOC) (PDF)

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

This next part is very special. This is where the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This part of the Mass is called the "consecration," and the change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is call "transubstantiation." The appearance of bread and wine stays the same, but the substance changes in to the Body and Blood of Christ.

Your supposed to kneel in adoration now, "except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason."[6]Whatever you do, don't sit. Of course if you're physically unable to kneel or stand, you may sit, but everyone else, DON'T SIT. Christ is King, and when a king enters a room, nobody sits. It's been known to happen that a king will cut off someone's head if he sits while the king enters a room. Luckily, King Jesus doesn't do this.

If you feel uncomfortable about kneeling, do it anyway. You'll look really out of place if you sit, as sitting is a sign of disrespect.

If you're unable to kneel, you may feel a little uncomfortable about standing while everyone else is kneeling, but that's OK; everyone will understand. Just don't sit unless you are unable to stand.

There are a number of different prayers that can be said now, and it's up to the priest to choose which ones to use that day. It would take too long to show you all the different prayers, but they all share some parts, and I'll show these to you.

After the priest's been praying for a while, he'll reminds us of the Last Supper. Then he'll hold the bread up and say the words Jesus said:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

As these words are said, the bread changes into the Body of Christ. This is such a special moment that bells are rung sometimes. As the priest shows the Body of Christ to you, you can quietly pray, "My Lord, and my God." After this, you should bow your head, as the priest genuflects.

The priest prays a bit more, holds up the cup, and says the words Jesus said:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

As these words are said, the wine changes into the Blood of Christ. Again, this is a special moment, and bells might be rung. As the priest show the chalice (cup) with the Blood of Christ to you, you can quietly repeat the prayer you said when the Body of Christ was elevated, or you could pray, "Be mindful, O Lord, of your creature whom you have redeemed by your most precious Blood."After this, you should bow your head, as the priest genuflects.

Many bow their heads as soon as the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ is elevated, but the reason They are elevated is so that you can look at Them in adoration. Once the priest places Them back on the altar is the time to lower your head.

If you are standing, for whatever "good reason,"[7] you should make a profound bow after the elevation of the Body of Christ, and once again after the elevation of the Blood of Christ. If you can't make a profound bow, just bow your head, or whatever sign of adoration you can. If you are kneeling, just bow you head after the elevations since you are already kneeling in adoration.

Everyone usually stands up now, although some churches, most notably in the United States, stay kneeling.

The priest says:

The mystery of faith.

And, the congregation responses with one of the following:

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

Or:

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.

Or:

Save us, Saviour of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free.

Again, it's up to the priest to decide what to pray now, but when he's done, he'll hold up the Body of Christ (it may be on a plate called a "paten") and the cup with the Blood of Christ, and says:

Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.

Amen.

COLOURING TEMPLATE FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

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PARENTS: RECONCILIATION DRY RUN

Reconciliation practice run

To all Parents and friends  who helped out today during class with our First Mock Reconciliation......A very Big Thank you.

I believe we all learned a  great deal from this experience and and thankfully have enough time to fix some of the little mistakes and short comings.

Please be advised that for the following weeks before the First holy communion, we will be focused on understanding both the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist and lessons will be geared towards this end.

I would be very grateful if  some parents can spare their time to join in out classes like today as we prepare our children to receive these important sacraments.

In the following classes we will be going through the order of the Mass and practicing receiving the Holy Eucharist reverently .

Please prepare your child for these events by going through the examination of conscience sheets with them and help them to revise their act of Contrition and Reconciliation prayer   ...Bless me Father ..... etc.

Thank you and God bless.
Teacher Anita

How to make a good Confession

THINGS TO REMEMBER
•    If it is a long time since your last confession you can ask the priest to help you.
•    Don’t make the mistake of putting off Confession – that never solves anything.
•    Try to go to confession frequently – at least once a month.
•    Sin is any deliberate thought, word, action or omission which would be against the Commandments of God.
•    We have to be truly sorry for our sins, and to have the sincere intention of trying to improve our lives, for our sins to be forgiven.
•    We are bound to include in our confession every serious (or mortal) sin of which we are aware.
•    The conditions for a sin to be serious (or mortal) are:
1.    The offence must be serious.
2.    We must know that we are committing a mortal sin.
3.    There must be full consent of our will to the action.

At Confession

1. Begin by saying, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It is …………weeks (or months, or years) since my last confession”.
2. Then tell the priest the sins you remember since the last confession. (If any sins are serious, you should say how many times you have committed them).
3. When you have finished your confession, just say, “I am sorry for these sins, and all the sins of my past life”.
4. The priest may give you some advice, then he will give you the Penance (to be said later); and then he will ask you to recite an Act of Contrition. This is a common one: O my God, because you are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you, and by the help of your grace I will try not to sin again.
5. The priest then gives you the Absolution (in these words), through which your sins are forgiven:
   
6. God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,  and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
7. The priest may add this prayer:
8. May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with everlasting life. Amen.

How to Make a Good Confession in the Catholic Church

Three Methods:Before ConfessionDuring ConfessionAfter Your Confession

If it's been awhile since your last confession and you need a refresher on the procedures, fear not! This article will lend you a hand in preparing for and making a good confession.

Method 1 of 3: Before Confession

1. 
   1
   Find out when confession is held. Most parishes offer reconciliation services by the week, but some churches may have them daily. If your parish does not offer a service that fits your schedule, call your priest and you can make a private appointment.
   • You can schedule a private session with the priest if you think your confession may last a bit longer (over 15 minutes). This is a good idea if you have left the Church, committed a grave sin, or have not confessed in a long time.^[1]
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2. 
   2
   Be truly sorry for your sins. The idea of penance and confession is to feel truly remorseful -- the act of contrition. You must clearly reject the sin you have committed and resolve not to commit it again. To show God that your sorrow is genuine and authentic is to be truly sorry and profess a refusal to commit the behaviors again.
   • This does not mean that you can never sin again; we humans do it every day. You are simply resolving to try to avoid the near occasions that lead you to sin -- this still counts as repentance. If you want it, God will help you resist temptation, as long as you have the intention to improve yourself as well.^[2]
3. 
   3
   Make an examination of conscience. Think about what you have done wrong, and why it is wrong. Consider the pain you put God through in committing that sin, and that because of that sin Jesus suffered all the more on the cross. For this you should express sorrow, and being truly sorry is a necessary component of a good Confession.
   • Consider asking yourself these questions when making your examination of conscience:
     • When did I last go to confession? Was it an honest and thorough confession?
     • Did I make any special promise to God last time? Did I keep my promise?
     • Have I committed any grave or mortal sin since my last confession?
     • Have I followed the Ten Commandments?
     • Have I ever doubted my faith?
4. 
   4
   Search the Holy Scriptures. A good place to start is the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 or Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Here are a few reminders of how God reaches out to us in loving forgiveness:
   • "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
   • How has it been made possible for sins to be forgiven? "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 2:1,2.
   • To whom should sins be confessed, and why? "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." Ps. 51:4.
     • See Genesis 39:9.
5. 
   5
   Pray often before a Confession. You want to be honest and repentant. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you remember and feel true contrition for your sins. Perhaps something like: "Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind that I may clearly know my sins, touch my heart that I may be sorry for them, and better my life. Amen."
   • Try to identify the causes of your sins: Do you have questionable inclinations? Is it a matter of personal weakness? Or just bad habits? Try to eliminate at least one of these causes. This'll be easiest to do by either getting rid of one negative thing in your life or honing in on the most positive.^[3]

Method 2 of 3: During Confession

1. 
   1
   Wait your turn until you can enter the confessional. When it's time, choose either a face-to-face confession or an anonymous confession. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, simply kneel down in front of the curtain separating you from the priest and the priest will begin the confession. If you'd like a face-to-face confession, you need only to walk around the curtain and sit in the chair opposite the priest. He'll be expecting you.
   • Remember that confessions are absolutely confidential -- the priest will never (and can never) share your sins with anyone else. He is instructed to keep the seal of the confessional regardless of circumstance -- even under pain of death. Do not let your worries affect your confession.
2. 
   2
   Begin your confession. The priest will begin the Confession with the prayer of the Sign of the Cross. Follow his lead. There are a few variants, but the Latin Rite is the most common.
   • In the Latin Rite: Make the sign of the cross, saying, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned" and tell him how long it has been since your last confession.(It is not necessary to remember how many times, only the the frequency of important sins.)
   • In the Byzantine Rite: Kneel facing the Icon of Christ, the priest will be seated at your side and may place his epitrachelion on your head. He may also wait to do this until the Prayer of Absolution. Do not be concerned either way.
   • In other Eastern Churches: Forms may vary.
   • Regardless of the variant, tell him your sins (including how many times you committed them). Go in order from the most serious to the least. Do not leave out any mortal sins that you can remember. You don't have to go into explicit detail of your sins unless the priest feels it is necessary -- and in that situation, he'll ask.

1. 
   1
   Listen to the priest. He will often offer you counsel on how you can avoid sin in the future. Afterward, he will ask you to make an Act of Contrition. This must be performed sincerely, truly meaning what you say. If you don't know the words, write them down or ask the priest to help you.
   • At the end of your session, he will probably recommend penance (to be performed as soon as possible). At the end of the absolution he will say, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”^[1] If he makes the Sign of the Cross, follow suit. He will then dismiss you, saying something to the affect of “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Reply, “Thanks be to God,” give the priest a smile, and exit the confessional.
2. 
   2
   Complete your penance. Return to the church and assume your prior seat. When you begin your penance, give thanks to God for forgiving you. If you recall some serious sin you forgot to tell, know that it has been forgiven with the others, but be sure to confess it in your next confession.
   • If the priest gave you penance that consists of some prayers to be recited, say them quietly and devoutly. Kneel in the pew, hands clasped and head down, until you have completed your penance and have adequately reflected on your experience. Resolve to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation often.
3. 
   3
   Leave feeling better and living in the light of God's forgiveness. Rise joyful and confident for the Lord loves you and has been merciful. Live for Him every minute of your life, and let everybody see how wonderful it is serving the Lord.
   • Stay mindful. Don't use confession as a reason to excuse sins. Rejoice that you are forgiven and live as God intended you to to minimize the need for confession.
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The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation Video