“The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship.” Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation “is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.” Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.

This sacrament reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense, it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members. - Catechism of the Catholic Church - 1468-1469

Seven is the typical age to receive First Reconciliation. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Pastor in consultation with the child's parents and the First Reconciliation teacher.

At Christ the King, we prepare our communicants using the Catechesis of The Good Shepherd program, which is based on two pillars: Scripture and Liturgy. The catechist and child immerse themselves in Scripture to ponder who God is, His love for us, His Kingdom, and how we are to live in that Kingdom. By lifting up specific aspects of the Liturgy for the child, the catechist helps them to understand the depth of the Mass and to better participate in the life of the Church that Jesus Himself founded. The child will receive amazing lessons on the Church and on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During the year the catechist will focus on helping the children understand intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a real encounter with God himself, and that he desires to forgive and heal us at the deepest levels of our humanity.