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Lacy
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I just got a question from a reader about how to celebrate her son's first reconciliation. She's specifically looking for gift ideas and celebration ideas. I've seen the treasure box craft and I do love that! But in my experience as a Catholic, we don't seem to celebrate first reconciliation. We seem to wait and celebrate first communion.
Thoughts? Ideas? Thanks in advance for any help! 
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Lacy
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MaryM
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I'm sure there are some ideas in old threads - but probably harder to find. I seem to remember someone mentioning going out for a treat after - I recall it being something "pure" as a symbolic idea - but I'm not remembering exactly. Idea: Anything white (vanilla ice cream, milkshake, white chocolate, etc.)
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Michaela
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n/a
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JennGM
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To me it's more of an interior celebration.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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Our CCD classes will do sundaes for the kids after FR.. it's nice.. a little bit of a treat... the sweetness of being reconciled to God  the kids of course love any reason to get a special treat.
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JennGM
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JennGM wrote:
| To me it's more of an interior celebration. |
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That was an abrupt and incomplete thought. What I mean is that because it's such an interior celebration, I can only think of little ways, like a treasure box, certificate, giving of prayer books to help for preparation.
Of course, ice cream together or going out to eat would be the celebration in our home. It's so natural, I forget to call it "celebrating."
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Ramie
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We don't make as big of deal of it as First Holy Communion, but we do celebrate it a little. My dd just made her first confession last Saturday. On Friday night, we presented her with a gift (wrapped and all) of Fr. Lovasik's hardback book, "Going to Confession." Than after the service/confession, we went out to lunch to celebrate.
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CatholicMommy
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I agree that it is such an interiorly-based sacrament that too much "partying" or celebrating can actually get in the way of the fact that the greatest gift is the grace given.
My son will go for the first time next week - late morning on Wednesday. I plan to gift him with a beautiful ancient-style rosary (but I think I've procrastinated too long and it will have to wait now), and we will take to lunch the priest who will hear his first Reconciliation (a family friend from before he was a priest). Then our day will be very quiet at home listening to beautiful music. I have a feeling he will want to wear his white alb I made for him - to remind him of his baptism garment.
It is hard to think of things that wouldn't detract from focusing on the grace received and the cleanliness of one's soul....
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Bridget
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In our family the tradition is that the child goes out to lunch with dad after first reconciliation. Eating out is a rare treat in our family so that is special in itself, and it gives dad a chance to talk over the morning with the child.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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Lacy
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I ended up posting ideas for celebrating first reconciliation here. I didn't post anything elaborate or "focus steeling", but I would argue that you could say exactly the same thing about almost any sacrament. I mean, how many in today's society are as focused on the sacrament of marriage as they are on their big fancy wedding party? Baptism and First Communion aren't about the cake either. The graces we receive from every sacrament are far more meaningful and have much more worth than the earthly possessions we give in "celebration". That being said, I think that sacraments are very important and worthy of some recognition as a milestone in our lives. Especially in a modern society that celebrates ridiculous things like "international nutella day". 
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Servant2theKing
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Lacy, I hadn't read this thread, since all of our dc have received First Confession and First Communion. But, reading through the posts just now I was struck with thoughts of the return of the Prodigal Son...how his father immediately made ready for a great feast in celebration of his son's return! The famous image of the Prodigal Son falling into the arms of his father comes to mind (I think it might be by Rembrandt...Murillo has two paintings of the Prodigal Son also worthy of finding).
In light of the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son, some small celebration of this important sacrament seems even more fitting and meaningful. One of our sons still remembers comparing notes with a close friend of the special family meals they each returned home to after their First Confessions...as a Mom, I took no extra special note of our preparations, but simply tried to have the homecoming reflect the significance of the day. Often, we do not realize the lifelong cherished memories we are instilling in our dear ones when they have a very special connection with reception of the sacraments through the continuation of their celebration within our domestic church. Often, our celebration of the Faith evolves within family life into something that naturally flows as a seamless connection between what we experience at Church, and what we bring home to our domestic church. Our celebrations of sacraments have mostly involved only immediate family...but, we have always tried to focus on the fact that something special and extraordinary has occurred in the life of the one who has newly received a sacrament....such as smelling anew the fresh Chrism on a grandchild's sweet forehead while they are passed among adoring family and friends....first sacraments are a once-in-a-lifetime memory for all that partake of the blessed and holy event!
From Catechesi Trandendae (Catechesis on Our Time);
"The familiy's catechetical activity has a special character, which is in a sense irreplaceable...this catechesis is even more incisive when, in the course of family events (such as reception of the sacraments...) care is taken to explain in the home the Christian or religious content of these events.....Whenever I read those words I always envision such catechesis being interwoven with family celebrations, no matter how simple or humble they might be!
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Bridget
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Servant2theKing wrote:
reading through the posts just now I was struck with thoughts of the return of the Prodigal Son...how his father immediately made ready for a great feast in celebration of his son's return! The famous image of the Prodigal Son falling into the arms of his father comes to mind (I think it might be by Rembrandt...Murillo has two paintings of the Prodigal Son also worthy of finding).
In light of the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son, some small celebration of this important sacrament seems even more fitting and meaningful. |
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 That's a beautiful way of translating how to celebrate this sacrament within the family!
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Celebrate First Reconciliation ???
