A Season of Love and Forgiveness
The community was invited to participate in a reconciliation service in observation of the Lenten season.
PHOTO | Maleah Downton
Senior Maya Bair and religion teacher Stephanie Pino-Dressman leads the school in song during the annual reconciliation service March 12.
Students and Faculty participated in a reconciliation service Thursday, March 12 to receive forgiveness from God and improve relationships, according to religion teacher Jessica Hull.
After an opening reading, read by senior Anna Ferker, Father Sunoj Thomas read the Gospel and provided a homily to the congregation. His homily reflected looking into the participants’ hearts to encounter God and improve relationships with God and each other.
“I don’t really go out of my way to go to reconciliation,” junior Audrey O’Brien said. “So when it’s offered to me here, it’s a good way to just refresh for Easter.”
An examination of conscience was then presented by junior Olivia Valles, followed by a confession of sins and litany of repentance, read by Father Thomas.
“The intention [of reconciliation] is to be reflective in ways where we have failed and to receive forgiveness from God,” Hull said. “It’s a way of moving forward in relationships with God, creation and each other in a positive way.”
Senior Grace Parrott presented a speech titled “‘It’s ok’ and ‘I apologize,’” discussing the difference between “it’s ok” and “I forgive you.” “It’s ok” implies that you have moved on and are ready to keep going in the relationship, whereas “I forgive you” implies that you need time to get over the situation, according to Parrott.
Senior Grace Parrott presented a speech titled “‘It’s Ok’ and ‘I apologize'” at the reconciliation service Thursday, March 12.
“I think my talk was really good for everyone to hear,” Parrott said. “Even if it just helped one person, I know I made a difference that I’m happy with.”
Father Thomas discussed looking into hearts to encounter God. He encouraged participating in reconciliation to improve relationships with God and each other.
“It’s really easy to hold grudges, especially in high school,” Parrott said, “but you have to know when to draw the line between still moving on and already moved on.”