RECOLLECTION DAY

PILGRIMS OF HOPE:
Exploring Pathways of Synodality

SESSION 1: MY PRAYER MAP

In our prayer journey experience, we have encountered many challenges and struggles along the way, some
encounters are happy and fulfilling while others are not. For us to get in touch once again with our prayer journey
experience, let us do this activity. To guide us, please take time to pause and reflect on the following questions:

 How is your prayer life?

 What challenges or roadblocks do you encounter in your prayer journey?
 How are you moved in your prayer journey experience?
 If you were to give status to your prayer life right now, what would you label it?

Using the available materials (crayons, pilot pen, clay, bond papers, colored papers, paint), answer the questions by
making your own Prayer Map. This prayer map will give us a glimpse of how we grow spiritually. There may be
roadblocks along the way, yet we can still transcend from all of these. Your Prayer Map will help you see how God
has been present in your life. Our Prayer Map varies from each other. No two experiences are the same.

How to use this Prayer Map

Background
This Prayer Map is a helpful tool that can make it easier for you to pray for other people and things around you.
Start by using it during your quiet time. It is especially helpful for young people, but anyone can use it.

Guide to the map

On the left is a list of prayer topics. These topics represent people and situations which are part of our daily life. The
rest of the map consists of the following elements, a starting point which is a cross, a winding forest trail, blank
circles, the "Hand of Blessing", various social media icons, and the end of the trail.

How to use this map

Start at the cross by spending a few minutes quietly in God's presence. Use this time to tell Jesus how wonderful he
is, how grateful you are for what He has done for you, and confess all those things which you might think, say, do or
see that do not glorify Jesus in your life.
Next, complete the empty circles by writing those topics listed on the left into the circles. You can choose as many
as you wish, but it does not need to be all of them. You may add others that are not listed here.

You are ready now to begin your prayer journey. Follow the trail to your first stop or circle. Spend some time in
order to pray for this topic. If it is for a person or persons, use the "hand of blessing" as a guideline as follows: -
B - Body. Pray for the person's health.
L - Labour. Pray for the person's work, or for him or her to find work, their responsibilities, and finances.
E - Emotions. Pray for the person's emotions to be healed, healthy and positive.
S- Social. Pray for the person's social relationships to be restored.
S- Spiritual. Pray for the person's relationship with Jesus to grow or for his or her salvation.

During a prayer journey, one's thoughts often start wandering. This is normal, and sometimes we get distracted by
all those social media apps on our phones. You will also see them on this map. Take some time to refocus your
thoughts on the prayer topics ahead of you. Or just be quiet for a while by spending time on one of those benches on
the trail. Once you are ready, continue your prayer journey. At the last stop on your prayer journey ask Jesus to
show you a person or persons with whom you can fellowship, pray for and maybe share, the good news of Jesus
Christ with them. You can complete the trial all at once, over a few days, or even over a longer period of time.

What did Jesus teach us about prayer?

Jesus spent much time in prayer. In contrast, his teachings on prayer were short and to the point. The following are a
few of the principles which He taught His followers.
& Don't be a hypocrite that likes to be seen praying on the streets. (Matthew 6:5)
& Go into a quiet place and spend time alone with Him. (Matthew 6:6)
& Don't babble like unbelieving persons who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
(Matthew 6:7)
& Ask, seek and knock. (Matthew 7:7)
& Be shameless and bold when you pray. (Luke 11:5)
 RECOLLECTION DAY
PILGRIMS OF HOPE:
Exploring Pathways of Synodality

SESSION 2: MY FAMILY JOURNEY

Adolescents on the exciting journey of self-discovery, welcome to today's session titled "My
Family Journey." Adolescence is a transformative phase where the dynamics of our relationships
with our parents and families undergo significant changes. Yet, as we embark on this path of
self-exploration, it's crucial to recognize that the bonds with our parents and families remain as
vital as ever.

During our early years, our parents played the role of nurturers and guides, providing us with
care, emotional support, and a sense of security. As we've grown, you might have noticed that
the relationship with your parents is evolving, becoming more equal in many ways. They
continue to be a source of not just emotional support but also practical and financial assistance.

Despite the occasional differences in attitudes and behaviors, it's essential to remember that you
still love your parents, and they want to be involved in your life. Sometimes, their actions might
seem at odds with this desire, but their underlying love and concern persist.

Adolescence is a period of highs and lows for most of us, both for teenagers and our families.
However, as we progress through these transformative years, we tend to grow more mature, and
family relationships often emerge stronger than ever. These bonds often persist and thrive well
into late adolescence.

Today, we're here to explore and reflect upon our own unique family journeys, to better
understand the changing dynamics and the enduring importance of these relationships in our
lives. So, let's embark on this introspective journey together, sharing our experiences and
insights, as we navigate the intricate terrain of "My Family Journey."

Guide Questions:
Who feels loved by their parents? And whom are they not?
Have you ever felt not included in your family?
Who wishes to have different parents instead of what they have now?
Do you have untold secrets to your parents?
How much do you love your parents?
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 RECOLLECTION DAY
PILGRIMS OF HOPE:
Exploring Pathways of Synodality

SESSION 3: MY JOURNEY WITH GOD

Welcome to this special session titled "My Journey With God." As we gather here today, we
embark on a profound exploration of our personal relationships with the Divine Being. In the
hustle and bustle of our adolescent lives, it is easy to lose sight of the spiritual connection that
has the potential to anchor us, provide solace, and guide us through the maze of our teenage
years.

In the next few moments, we will embark on a transformative activity that invites us to put pen
to paper, and heart to soul, in a letter addressed to God. This activity is not about religious
dogma or rituals, but rather a personal and intimate dialogue with the higher power we each hold
dear. It's a journey within ourselves, an opportunity to pour out our thoughts, hopes, fears, and
gratitude to the Divine.

To guide you in this introspective journey, we have provided a set of guide questions to help you
navigate your letter to God:

1. Who is God to you?: Begin by reflecting on your personal beliefs and perceptions of God.
How do you envision this divine presence in your life?

2. What are you grateful for?: Take a moment to express your gratitude for the blessings, big
or small, that you have received in your life.

3. What are your fears and challenges?: Share your fears, doubts, and the challenges you are
currently facing. Use this opportunity to seek solace and guidance.

4. What are your hopes and dreams?: Share your dreams and aspirations with God. How do
you see your future unfolding, and how do you hope the divine will play a role in it?

5. How can you strengthen your relationship with God?: Reflect on practical steps you can
take to foster a deeper connection with the divine in your daily life.

Remember, this session is a safe and non-judgmental space for you to open your hearts and share
your innermost thoughts. The goal is not perfection but honesty and authenticity. Through this
activity, we aim to strengthen our spiritual bonds, nurture a sense of peace, and foster an intimate
relationship with God through the power of prayer.

Let's embark on this journey together, exploring our unique paths, and discovering the beauty of
our personal connections with God.
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 RECOLLECTION DAY
PILGRIMS OF HOPE:
Exploring Pathways of Synodality

SESSION 4: THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION

CONFESSION GUIDE

Examination of Conscience

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.
-Do I give God time every day in prayer?
-Do I seek to love Him with my whole heart?
-Have I been involved with superstitious practices or have I been involved with the occult?
-Do I seek to surrender myself to God´s word as taught by the Church?
-Have I ever received communion in the state of mortal sin?
-Have I ever deliberately told a lie in Confession or have I withheld a mortal sin from the priest in
Confession?
-Are there other "gods" in my life? Money, Security, Power, People, etc.?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
-Have I used God´s name in vain: lightly or carelessly?
-Have I been angry with God?
-Have I wished evil upon any other person?
-Have I insulted a sacred person or abused a sacred object?

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord´s Day.

-Have I deliberately missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation?
-Have I tried to observe Sunday as a family day and a day of rest?
-Do I do needless work on Sunday?

4. Honor your father and your mother.

-Do I honor and obey my parents?
-Have I neglected my duties to my spouse and children?
-Have I given my family good religious example?
-Do I try to bring peace into my home life?
-Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?

5. You shall not kill.

-Have I had an abortion or encouraged or helped anyone to have an abortion?
-Have I physically harmed anyone?
-Have I abused alcohol or drugs?
-Did I give scandal to anyone, thereby leading him or her into sin?
-Have I been angry or resentful?
-Have I harbored hatred in my heart?
-Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?
-Have I encouraged or condoned sterilization?
-Have I engaged, in any way, in sins against humanlife such as artificial insemination or in vitro
fertilization?
-Have I participated in or approved of euthanasia?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

-Have I been faithful to my marriage vows in thought and action?
-Have I engaged in any sexual activity outside of marriage?
-Have I used any method of contraception or artificial birth control in my marriage?
-Has each sexual act in my marriage been open to the transmission of new life?
-Have I been guilty of masturbation?
-Do I seek to control my thoughts and imaginations?
-Have I respected all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as mere objects?
-Have I been guilty of any homosexual activity?
-Do I seek to be chaste in my thoughts, words,actions?
-Am I careful to dress modestly?
7. You shall not steal.
-Have I stolen what is not mine?
-Have I returned or made restitution for what I have stolen?
-Do I waste time at work, school, and home?
-Do I gamble excessively, thereby denying my family of their needs?
-Do I pay my debts promptly?
-Do I seek to share what I have with the poor?
-Have I cheated anyone out of what is justly theirs, for example creditors, insurance companies, big
corporations?

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

-Have I lied? Have I gossiped?
-Do I speak badly of others behind their back?
-Am I sincere in my dealings with others?
-Am I critical, negative or uncharitable in my thoughts of others?
-Do I keep secret what should be kept confidential?
-Have I injured the reputation of others by slanders?

9. You shall not desire your neighbor´s wife.

-Have I consented to impure thoughts?
-Have I caused them by impure reading, movies, television, conversation or curiosity?
-Do I pray at once to banish impure thoughts and temptations?
-Have I behaved in an inappropriate way with members of the opposite sex: flirting, being superficial,
etc.?

10. You shall not desire your neighbor´s goods.

-Am I jealous of what other people have?
-Do I envy the families or possessions of others?
-Am I greedy or selfish?
-Are material possessions the purpose of my life?

A GUIDE TO CONFESSION

How to go to Confession?

1. You always have the option to go to confession anonymously, that is, behind a screen or face to face, if
you so desire.

2. After the priest greets you in the name of Christ, make the sign of the cross. He may choose to recite a
reading from Scripture, after which you say: "Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (state how
long) since my last confession. These are my sins."

3. Tell your sins simply and honestly to the priest. You might even want to discuss the circumstances and
the root causes of your sins and ask the priest for advice or direction.

4. Listen to the advice the priest gives you and accept the penance from him. Then make an Act of
Contrition for your sins.

5. The priest will then dismiss you with the words of praise: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. You
respond: "For His mercy endures forever." The priest will then conclude with: "The Lord has freed you
from your sins. Go in peace." And you respond by saying: "Thanks be to God."

6. Spend some time with Our Lord thanking and praising Him for the gift of His mercy. Try to perform
your penance as soon as possible.

PRAYER BEFORE CONFESSION

O most merciful God! Prostrate at your feet, I implore your forgiveness. I sincerely desire to leave all my
evil ways and to confess my sins with all sincerity to you and to your priest. I am a sinner, have mercy on
me, O Lord. Give me a lively faith and a firm hope in the Passion of my Redeemer. Give me, for your
mercy´s sake a sorrow for having offended so good a God. Mary, my mother, refuge of sinners, pray for
me that I may make a good confession. Amen.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION
Oh my God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
And failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.