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September 27.  Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time. CELEBRATING FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION.  Laudato Si’ and Integral conversion. (From Families Caring for God’s Creation.)

A FAMILY RECONCILIATION SERVICE.

A family reconciliation service can be held from time to time, during special seasons like Advent, Lent, The Season of Creation, or a suitable time e.g. preparation for receiving the sacraments, or even when something has happened in the family that has caused hurt.  This can be done before Catholics receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

Reconciliation consists of various steps. 

Hurt – thinking about the hurts caused, sharing with each other how we feel, about being hurt or causing hurt.

Forgiveness – because we have hurt someone and feel sorry, for this we ask for forgiveness or we can offer our forgiveness to someone who has hurt us without them first asking.

Reconciliation – we then grant that forgiveness by a sign which allows us to be come reconciled. 

THE FAMILY RECONCILIATION SERVICE.  

Prepare by placing a lighted candle, a bible and a crucifix on the table. Ask those gathered together to think about what the cross means to them.  Then say the prayer.

God, our Father, we needed a home, and so you made this beautiful world and filled it with all kinds of creatures. 

We needed warmth and light and you hung the sun in the sky.

We needed food and you blessed the fields with rain.

We needed someone to love and care for, and you gave us each other, our families and all the families of creation.

When we quarreled and forgot your goodness You sent your only Son to live and die for us. You planted a sign of love and forgiveness for all to see. He stretched out his arms on the cross to show how you long to embrace us all.

We remember the story of Jesus, the story of YOUR love for each of us and for every creature.

We remember your gift of love that WE can have for one another with joy and thanksgiving, today and every day of our lives.  Amen 

Continue the process.

  • In the family you can read or tell a story about forgiveness from the Bible, e.g. the story of Job, or from nature or an incident that happened.  Talk about the story.
  • Each one then thinks about something they have done that hurt another family member and asks themselves, “Am I sorry for this hurt?”    
  • Ask that person to forgive you by saying, “Please forgive me for hurting you when………………
  • The other person is invited to respond.  “I forgive you.”   Or maybe, “I understand but am not ready to forgive.”
  • This can be repeated if there are more needs for forgiveness.

Explain that we hurt God by neglecting him, or not being aware of his presence, but most often we hurt God through hurting one another.   Together say: 

“Dear God, please forgive me for hurting you through neglecting you and through hurting each other.”

As a sign of God’s forgiveness you can trace a cross on each other’s forehead and give each other a hug.   To end on a happy note, joy with creation in singing, “He’s got the Whole World in His hands,” including everyone’s names. 

Pope Francis. “To sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope.”  LS 85

Conclude with the DAILY FAMILY PRAYER from Season of Creation 2026.  May God our Father, who brought water from a rock, sustain us in the desert. May Christ our Lord, who is Living Water, refresh us for the work of restoration.  May the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amen. St Francis guide and inspire us on our way.