St Gregory’s Reconciliation Services during Lent

Over the last couple of weeks at St Gregory’s Catholic College the focus of Lent has been on Reconciliation, with classes benefitting from a Reconciliation Service in the Chapel specifically for their age group.  A number of prayer stations were set up to enable our students to explore the theme in a number of reflective, creative and meditative ways. 

They included using the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis to explore who we can be more fully and wholly our true selves as God created us to be, inspired by his words “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.”.  We also had prayer stations meditating on our pilgrim journey, guidance for others by praying for the intercession of Our Lady Star of the Sea and many more.  Students were incredibly mature and made the most of some quiet time, exploring their own faith and allowing themselves to be in the presence of God. 

Each Reconciliation Service, led by Mr Robinson (Lay Chaplain), began as a whole class and had a key theme and explored scripture linked to our current affairs and the world out young people find themselves in.  For our older students this entailed delving deeper into the hit drama Adolescence and the appalling tragedy in Luton with the young man who murdered his family. 

The content and deeper issues enabled students to truly reflect on the power of God’s love and how integral it is to hear scripture calling us to embrace God’s unconditional hope and mercy in our lives.  Our hearts do not need to be filled and satisfied by the ill intent of others, a message of hope and joy exists in scripture and freely offered to us. We are grateful to the many priests who also attended to allow students to make the most of this offer through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.