Well done to al the boys and girls from 2nd class who had their First Penance last night. The children were excellent on the night and we are all very proud of them. They have been learning about the story of Zacchaeus. The gospel was read and Father Ciaran gave the following homily.
Like Zacchaeus in our gospel , we all make bad choices at times, and we sometimes hurt other people. We all need to be forgiven and to be reconciled with God who loves us. When Zacchaeus met Jesus he told him that he had made some bad choices. Jesus didn’t turn his back on him or judge him, but he stretched out his hand and told Zacchaeus that God still loved him, and that he would forgive him. When we are sorry for the wrong things we have done, God is always ready to forgive us. God loves us too, and God will always love us, no matter what we do. We will now tell God, who loves us like a loving mother, who cares for us like a loving father, about the times when we were lost and moved away from the love of others. We will ask God to bring us back to the love of those around us, and to forgive us for the wrong things we have done. We will tell God that we are sorry and we will try again.
Thank you to Ms Mc Enroy, Room 17, Ms Downes Room 18 and Ms Crowley Room 11 who prepared the children for the ceremony. Thank you to Mrs O’Rourke for teaching the cases the songs and accompanying the children on the night. Finally thank you to Father Ciaran, Father Derek and Father Brendan for hearing confessions.