First Reconciliation and Beyond

Maria V. Gallagher reviews a new book by Katie and Tommy McGrady that outlines a family-centered approach to sacrament preparation.

First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness

By Katie and Tommy McGrady

Published by Ave Maria Press

When I made my first Confession, it was a lonely enterprise. 

It occurred on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and consisted of me hustling into the Confessional, full of fourth-grade angst. I had memorized the Ten Commandments and dutifully recited my sins. 

But when I left the Confessional, I wondered if I had “done it right.” It seemed to me that I might have missed an important element, that my Confession was not entirely worthy. 

That night, I lined up with my fellow choir members to sing for Midnight Mass. I recall discussing with them my nervousness at receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And again, I was haunted by the feeling that somehow I had missed the mark. 

A Family-Focused Approach to Sacrament Prep

Looking back, I believe that I lacked proper preparation for the Sacrament. That is why I am so elated by the new book from Ave Maria Press, First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness. This incredible resource by authors Tommy and Katie McGrady offers a family-focused approach to preparing for a sacrament that can be misunderstood. 

This husband-and-wife writing team has culled their own lives for personal stories aimed at personalizing the tremendous gift of Confession, absolution, and forgiveness. As a result, the book offers an authenticity which greatly enhances the subject matter.  

 As they write: 

We see our little ones with love and pride, hoping to hold them close for as long as we have them. But helping them accept responsibility for correcting their wrongs, deciding on consequences for their misbehaviors, and guiding them back to the right path is hard! It is our responsibility to navigate their little hearts and growing minds and to do so with sensitivity and kindness. It’s a sacred duty. (xiii) 

The involvement of the family in preparing a child for Penance provides for a level of support that is likely to enhance the reception of the Sacrament. It is far easier to confess one’s sins and to make amends when one knows the love and encouragement of family surround them. 

First Reconciliation and Beyond is well-organized to meet the needs of a busy family in the throes of sacramental preparation. Each chapter begins with a personal story from the McGrady family which draws the reader in. Next is a Scriptural passage to help readers make sense of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reflection questions encourage parents to look deeper within themselves and their need for personal spiritual growth. Each chapter also offers a helpful guide for parents to lead discussions with their children and tips on praying together as a family. 

The authors do a phenomenal job of stressing the significance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our lives: 

When we receive the abundant mercy of the Lord, when we are freed of our sins and healed in powerful ways through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we, like the Gerasene demoniac, are called to go home. Like him, we may want to just stay right there, in the church, in the pew, with the priest, in the privacy and quiet of the moment of being absolved or set free from our sins. The confessional is safe. The pew is easy. The church is where this mercy was given to us, so why would we ever want to leave? But we are sent home to go and tell what the Lord has done for us. We are asked to go on mission, too, not keeping the joy of this forgiveness to ourselves. (67) 

The joy of forgiveness — what a wonderful concept to foster in our families. Read First Reconciliation and Beyond and discover the powerful ways Confession can heal and sustain us.        

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Copyright 2025 Maria V. Gallagher
Images: Canva