April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
RECONCILIATION REFLECTION
Finding forgiveness, face-to-face
I didn't learn that when I was seven or eight years old. It took me 50 years to understand our God is all-forgiving and waits for me, like the father in the Gospel story of the prodigal son, with open arms.
Unfortunately, my idea of our God was one of judgment. If I did celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation - or confession, as it was then known - I did so with an unfamiliar priest in a dark room. For me, anonymity was best.
But our families are at ease with meeting a priest face-to-face. For them, there is nothing secretive about going to confession: no hiding behind a screen, not even the necessity of a closed room. They know that, with sorrow in their hearts, there is nothing they could say for which they would not be forgiven.
I was filled with joy recently as I witnessed 64 children celebrate reconciliation for the first time. It was especially heartening as the children and I witnessed their parents also celebrating the sacrament - including some who have not felt comfortable enough to do so for many years.
This did not happen by personal invitation alone, although that invitation is critical. It took a simple but consistent message: God loves us always.
All of our children and parents heard at our preparation meetings that God welcomes them out of darkness; that forgiveness is theirs for the taking; and that we can be the people God intends us to be by reconciling with Him and each other over and over again.
We are blessed in our parish with a pastor, Rev. Kenneth Doyle, who knows that life can be difficult and that we are flawed, yet we are welcome. He sent a letter to parents inviting them to the sacrament, offering words of comfort and the promise of healing.
After preparing both the children and parents for the sacrament, parents made an appointment in advance - five or six families every 20 or 30 minutes throughout the day. Upon arrival, each family was given a written aid with prayers, an examination of conscience and a "cheat sheet" to the rite. The church was warm in spirit, dimly lit with soft Gregorian chants playing.
All members of a family sat in a pew to pray together and ready themselves for the sacrament. They took their turn to meet with one of the priests who were seated on either side of the sanctuary for their individual confessions - a touching visual image when the only lights shining were on these two areas.
The families then met back at their pews to pray and reflect and, when finished, moved to the gathering area, where the child celebrating first reconciliation lit a candle in a handmade candleholder. Families enjoyed refreshments before they departed.
How wise our families are. They have made the connection between the sacrament of reconciliation and what they already know and live: love and forgiveness.
I am grateful for having learned so much from our parish families. I am grateful that they have received the grace of God through the sacrament of reconciliation and that they now are comfortable enough to celebrate it often and together.
(Ms. McSparron is director of religious education at Mater Christi parish in Albany.)[[In-content Ad]]
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