Retreat 2 with Reconciliation: “Purify My Heart”
Catechist Summary (Schedule) * Limited slides (song lyrics and Reconciliation video only)
Opening Activities (15 min)
Arrival at St. Matthias Church
Pick up your nametag and a playing card from the console tables in the back
Remember that we are in church, so do not forget your reverence for the Eucharist present in the tabernacle!
Icebreaker – Shuffle the Deck
Pick up a playing card when you get your nametag
Check with others to form groups of 3 (triplet, straight or flush) and sit in a half-pew together
Opening Prayer – “Pass the Cross”
Prompts will be given orally for individual prayer with a hand cross (1 cross per group of 3).
First Talk (10 min)
Pentecost
Reading from Acts 2:1-12 (Mr. Rosales) followed by a talk on how the Holy Spirit radically altered the lives of the apostles.
Connect to the chorus to “Refiner’s Fire”:
Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire is to be holy, set apart for you, Lord.
I choose to be holy, set apart for you, my Master, ready to do your will.
In Confirmation, we re-enact this Pentecost event. But we do not place tongues of flame above our heads or create the sound of a great driving gust of wind. Instead, we are anointed with oil.
Oil is an ancient sign of protection and purity. It is a sign of being chosen, like getting tapped on the head in “Duck Duck Goose.” In being anointed with the Sacred Chrism, we are anointed with the seal of Christ on our foreheads, anointed and chosen as priest, prophet and king.
Move to Gym (5 min)
Students should bring their items (coats and Bibles particularly) with them to use during small-group activities at the gym.
Dinner Break (25-30 min)
Early Dinner / Snack
Meal prayer
Pizza, carrots, grapes, cookies and soft drinks
Breakout (20 min)
Small Group Breakout: Chosen as Priest, Prophet, King
All 4 Question sheets
- BLACK Table (SUB for Ms. Pascale Larre Vargas: King (questions) — 2 Samuel 5:1-2 and Psalm 61:1-9
- BLUE Table (Mrs. Stella Peters): Priest (questions) — Hebrews 4:14-16
- BROWN Table (Mr. Scott Michaels for Mr. John Kyle): King (questions) — 2 Samuel 5:1-2 and Psalm 61:1-9
- GREEN Table (Ms. Rachel Hohner): Priest (questions) — Hebrews 4:14-16
- ORANGE Table (Mr. Joe Rosales): Prophet (questions) — 2 Samuel 12:1-7
- PINK Table (Mrs. Roine Michaels for Mrs, Jamie Mocarski): Chosen (questions) — Ephesians 1:3-6 and John 15:12-17
- PURPLE (Mr. James Hohner for Mrs. Melissa Richlen): Prophet (questions) — 2 Samuel 12:1-7
- RED Table (Ms. Leticia Solache): King (questions) — 2 Samuel 5:1-2 and Psalm 61:1-9
- WHITE Table (Mr. Jack Recinto): Priest (questions) — Hebrews 4:14-16
- YELLOW Table (Ms. Isabel López): Chosen (questions) — Ephesians 1:3-6 and John 15:12-17
| Video with lyrics and music for the retreat theme song, “Refiner’s Fire” (Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y8zP34AhuU) |
Groups Report Back (10 min)
Second Talk (15 min)
Purification
Reading from Malachi 3:1-4 (Ms. López). Refining is the process of purifying metal by burning out the parts that have no value — the chemical impurities vaporize at lower temperatures than the pure metal, and so they are burned away.
Story about a women’s Bible study group investigating the process of a silversmith refining silver. The silversmith tells them about how he
- holds the silver in the hottest, middle part of the fire (as God does to us)
- watches the silver very carefully the whole time (as God watches us),
- can tell the silver is fully refined “when I can see my image in it” (as God sees in us).
Through purification, we are changed, converted to be closer to Christ.
Verses to “Refiner’s Fire”:
- Purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver. Purify my heart, let me be as gold, pure gold.
- Purify my heart, cleanse me from my sin and make me holy. Purify my heart, cleanse me from my sin, deep within.
Full Lyrics to Refiner’s Fire: PDF | Download Purify My Heart
Stretch / Restroom Break (5 min)
Brainstorming and Reflection (15 min)
Temptations and Challenges to Our Faith
Mrs. Michaels and Ms. Hohner will address to the difficult times in life when impurities can become problems in relationships with God, others, and ourselves, and brainstorm what impurities might affect your relationships with God, with others and with yourself. Other catechists are invited to share and reflect on their own stories (mini-witnesses) as they are moved to do.
Breakout: My Impurities (10 min)
My Impurities worksheet completed at tables. This is private information not to be turned in, but to be a sort of note-taking for and Examination of Conscience, which candidates may take into Confession (like the Advent Wreath exercise in early December).
If time allows, tables can also discuss the next verse in the passage, Malachi 3:5
(around the end of this part, Ms. Hohner leaves to go to church to prepare for Reconciliation service)
Preparation for Reconciliation (15 min)
As Catholics, the most important tool we have for purifying our hearts is to experience God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
How to approach the Examination of Conscience and make a good confession (led by Mrs. Michaels)
Sacraments 101: Penance and Reconciliation video from BustedHalo
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz5-vu6A58E)
Clean up Table Materials / Pack to Leave for Church (10 min)
- Students pack their things & use the restroom under the direction of Mr. Rosales, Ms. López and Mrs. Richlen
- Put on coats!
Move to St. Matthias Church (5 min)
- Ms. López, Mr. Michaels, Mr. Recinto, Mrs. Richlen, Mr. Rosales, Ms. Solache and Ms. Oviedo accompany students walking to church
- (Mrs. Michaels and Mrs. Peters remain at the Gym to clean up, and Ms. Larre Vargas will have left by then)
Reconciliation Prayer Service (75 min)
program booklet (order of service)
Priest confessors: Fr, Jason Malave, Fr. Michael Mehringer, Fr. Tom Libera, Fr. Sergio Romo
Candidates light electric candles when they are done with their confessions.
Retreat Reflection
Students may continue to pray quietly or come to the back of the church to fill out an evaluation. Remember that we are still in church and there is still prayer and Confession happening, so a prayerful quiet should be maintained. Other prayer aids will also be available,
Reminders
- Next week’s class (and all remaining class sessions in March) will be split
- Track A Monday, March 3, 6:45-8:30 p.m. in Mission Hall at the Parish Center
- Track B Wednesday and Thursday, March 5 and 6 in 8th Gr Religion class
- Lent begins next Wednesday, plan to go to church and get ashes at one of our parish liturgies!
Closing Prayer
from the Reconciliation program booklet:
God, your sons and daughters stand before you in humility and trust. Look with compassion on us and heal our wounds; stretch out a hand of mercy to save us and raise us up. Keep us free from harm as members of Christ’s body, as beloved children of your family who will be anointed as priests, prophets and kings in Confirmation. Do not allow the temptations of sin to triumph over us, or death to claim us forever, for you raised us to new life and call us as your own, holy and chosen. Amen.
