This year during Lent, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is participating in a Diocesan-wide reconciliation program initiated by Archbishop O'Brien called The Light is On for You. Every Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will have confessions available every Wednesday during Lent.
The Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry encourages all young adult gatherings, youth groups, religious education programs, and Catholic school religion classes to take time to emphasize the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent.
Below are some resources for you:
Young Adults
Busted Halo looks at the Sacrament of Reconciliation from the perspective of the seeker who has been thinking about confesson. In part one, we cover the initial reservations about confession and how best to approach it, along with detailing the two types of sins of which to be mindful. In part two Father Dave Dwyer, CSP, walks us through the four essential elements of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and assuages the fears you might have about not having confessed in a long period of time.
Busted Halo responds to: Why should I go to confession? Doesn't God already know that I'm sorry for my sins?
Adolescent
Ashes to Reconciliation: A Reconciliation Prayer for Lent
This prayer can be used during the first week of Lent or any time the sacrament of Reconciliation (also called the sacrament of Penance) is discussed or celebrated.
Unbound!
In this prayer, young people experience the message of forgiveness through a ritual of reconciliation. This strategy, which is ideal for a retreat or as a conclusion to a session on forgiveness, allows the participants to dramatically ritualize both tthe paralysis of sinfulness and the release brought about by reconciliation. This activity fits in well with Ash Wednesday and Good Friday themes.
Catechesis
Teaching the Rite Way
Students can study the Rite of Penance over several days in a process that involves "understanding" through reading the Rite, and "doing" by actually scripting our Advent or Lenten celebration of the sacrament. Details are give in this short article straight from a teacher's classroom!
Resources
A Youth Update on Preparing for Confession: Taking Your Spiritual Temperature
A Youth Update on Reconciliation: An Experience of Forgiveness
DisciplesNow addresses Questions and Answers on the Sacrament of Reconciliation
A Youth Update on the Sacraments of Healing: Help in Tough Times
The National Black Catholic Conference answers Why Go To Confession?
Life Teen's Bible Geek on Why do we have to go to a priest to be forgiven?
Life Teen's Bible Geek on Have you washed your soul lately?
