RETREAT #5 — BECOMING CLEAN

1.INTRODUCTION

We organized this retreat in the Lent of 2018 in Fényi Gyula Jesuit High School with 600 students. The description can be used by group leaders as is.

We can often and quite easily lose the purity of our souls. Conscious sins, unconscious errors, and unintended mistakes make us dirty. We can try in vain, our own resources are not enough to have a new beginning; we are not able to cleanse ourselves. The good news, the Gospel is that God unconditionally forgives us and cleanses us again and again, every time when we ask Him with just one word.

DATA

Age groups
  • 5-12th graders (11-18 years old) with various, age-appropriate activities
Time frame
  • 3 hours for activities plus a Holy Mass after
Symbol
  • The dirty canvas ribbons of our lives are washed clean in God’s washing machine

ACCESSORIES

Collect everything with the help of parents

  • Two stripes of 25x100 cm white linen for each participant (one old white sheet can be cut up into 8 stripes).
  • One big washing bowl or a large dustbin liner bag for each class.
  • One large washing machine made of a cardboard box or painted on a white sheet.

Each group will need:

  • blankets, a candle, a crucifix and anything that creates the ambiance
  • Everybody needs a pen or pencil. The younger children may bring their arts and crafts boxes with paints, brushes etc. (Announce this to the children a day earlier).
  • 3 sheets of A3 paper and a few markers
  • The younger groups need a broom and a dustpan.
  • Younger groups need a lot of scrap paper (at least one A4 sheet per person) to cut into small piece.

For the starting activity and Holy mass at the end:

  • The readings and the story printed.
  • Sound effect: the sound of a train.
  • Long branches forming a tree to tie the strips of cloth. If there are many people, we can hang the strips from the walls, the lectern, etc.

2.BEGINNING TOGETHER

2.1.ASSEMBLY IN THE CLASSROOMS | 20 MINUTES

  • Every class meets in their own classroom. The group leaders are still with their own class, they will join their group later, after the distribution of the mid-morning snacks.
  • The children are given their snacks now but will eat later.
  • Group leaders leave their class and go to the classroom where their groups are.
  • The group leaders take their groups to the location of the starting activity. It has to be a larger hall or outdoors where everyone can hear and see well.

2.2.BEGINNING TOGETHER | 15 MINUTES

If there is not a large enough hall available and it is too cold to meet outdoors, the beginning can be broadcast on the school radio. In this case, the groups can do the introductory activity in their rooms.

Recommended songs:

  • Mighty to save by Hillsong Worship
  • Amazing Grace
  • Beautiful Things by Gungor
  • Anima Christi with Francesca LaRosa’s music
  • It’s your love by Chemin Neuf Worship
  • Lord I offer my life to you by Hillsong United
  • Here I Am Lord by Chris Bray
  • Taste and See by James E. Moore Jr.

Greetings, announcing the program of the day.

Introduction story: Some students who can read well will read the story, also we may want to include some of the teachers too. We can play the sound of a train in the background.

„The train was slowly approaching the station. All the passengers seemed happily excited to finally arrive home. I noticed a young man who was anxiously looking out the window. We started talking and he told me his sad story. He had left home in a surge of rebelliousness against his parents when he was much younger. He could not bear the atmosphere of their home. With his new friends he tried everything his parents wanted to protect him from. Soon he found himself in jail where he truly regretted his past mistakes. He was released just that morning when we met. He had nowhere else to go, so he wrote to his parents. He asked them to forgive him and allow him to return home. He also wrote that he did understand if they were not able to forgive him. He was coming in the afternoon train. He asked his parents to give him a sign, tie a white handkerchief on the walnut tree in the garden, so that he can see from the train if they were ready to accept him, otherwise he would not even get off the train. As we were approaching the village the young man seemed to be so overwhelmed with anxiety that he was not able to look out the window. He asked me to look if there was the white handkerchief of forgiveness on the tree or not. Soon I got sight of the walnut tree. Its branches were full of white handkerchiefs, and, moreover, large white bed sheets were hanging from it to stop the boy continuing his journey.”

Unknown | A Contemporary Prodigal Son
Translation | Judit Szelenge
Source

Introductory words: A short introduction of the theme. Do not preach! The speaker can share his personal experiences with his own words.

„Today we are trying to look upon our merciful, loving God. It will help us understand sin better. It is so liberating to understand that the whole life of Jesus is a challenge, that even the biggest sinner can have a new start in life. Let us think about the story of the Prodigal son, or the lost sheep and the lost drachma. They were found, they were accepted, they found their places again. But we can also remember the miracles of Jesus. They show that there is healing and recovery from all human weaknesses. He healed the leper, the paralytic, the blind, to show us, by the power of God, that the most impossible person will be able to stand up and reach the light.”

We often reject the sinner. We quite often and quite easily forsake one another… for example we say things like, ‘well this person will not amount to anything’. But Jesus teaches us that God will never cease to be our Father. When we turn our backs on Him, He still keeps loving us and waits patiently for us to repent and come back to Him. There is no sin He can’t wash away, from which we can’t return to Him. Whatever may happen, the important thing is that you return to Jesus with full confidence, and start following him.

Setting of
After the introduction the group leaders give one piece of clean, white cloth to every group member (at this point do not explain what it is for).

3.GROUP ACTIVITY

The group leaders have to read the recommended activities as a preparation. It is not necessary to do all activities. Be bold and try to choose from among the less comfortable activities as well! Consider the age of your group, but make sure you have some quiet activities and prayer, whether they are older or younger children.

3.1. PREPARING THE CROUP ACTIVITY | 15 MINUTES
‹ Thorough preparation will lay solid foundations. ›

If we want to make sure we are going to spend some beautiful and meaningful hours with the group, we have to tune into the group activity, to one another and God.

  • Arrange the classroom differently than on school days. Put the seats in a circle, so that you can talk together. Light a candle, place blankets and cushions around for a cosy atmosphere. Prepare a playlist with some pleasant, calm, instrumental music on your mobile phone, and have a speaker.
  • Agree upon the rules of the group activity: attention, respect for each other, one person speaks at a time, no interruptions, trust, whatever we talk about here, we will not tell anyone outside this group.
  • Tell the group that there will be individual work, silence, discussion, and sharing. Tell them about the importance of silence.
  • Tell them when they can expect a break. (The group leaders decide the time of the break.)

3.2. WARM UP ACTIVITY AND GAMES — FOR EVERYBODY
‹ At least 30 minutes ›

Games are good ways to let the group members get used to being together, and quieten down. First play some livelier games, and after them some quieter ones.

  • It is OK if they know the game already, they can play it again this time. It is always a new experience.
  • You may need to play a quiet game after coming back from the break.

NOISY, LIVELY, ACTIVE GAMES TO HELP THE GROUP GET INTO THE MOOD

The children stand in a circle, and close their eyes. Tell them to step toward the centre with both arms stretched out in front of them and randomly grab two other hands. (The group leader who is leading the game can help here.) When every hand is holding another hand, they open their eyes. The task is to untangle themselves into one big circle again, or as much as possible, without letting any hands go.

The players form pairs and walk around in the room having a conversation about a given topic. They have to avoid saying yes or no. If someone accidentally says yes or no they have to find a new partner. The given topic can be anything like Christmas shopping, holiday plans, favourite food, interesting family stories etc. The players will soon figure out how to trick each other into saying the forbidden words, yes or no. The group leader signals the end of the game when he/she feels everyone has talked with everybody.

The group sits in a circle, somebody is standing in the middle. There are less chairs than children. The child in the centre, the wind-blower, starts with a statement: “A big wind blows away those who… ( are wearing black socks, have blue eyes, have two siblings… there are endless variations)”. The statement has to be true for the one who says it. Every time all the children for whom the statement is true, have to stand up and quickly sit down on another chair. They are not allowed to sit on the chair adjacent to their own chair. The child in the middle also tries to sit down. One person will be left without a seat, he will stand in the middle and say another statement. If the group leader notices that someone is always left out, he can suggest a tornado, when everybody must stand up. If the one in the middle runs out of ideas, the group leader can help with a question: “What is your favourite season? What is your favourite toy?” The group leader can also whisper a helpful idea in the ear of the wind-blower to make sure the game is fast paced.

QUIETER GAMES TO HELP THE GROUP GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

The players sit in a circle, someone throws a ball or stuffed toy to another person. The receiver holds the objects for a few seconds, and laughs while holding it. Then they stop laughing and throw the object on to the next person. Nobody else is allowed to laugh, only the catcher. If somebody forgets to laugh or laughs when it is not their turn, they have to stand up while the others play. The players standing are allowed to laugh. Because laughter is quite contagious, most probably everyone will be standing up laughing by the end. Quiet variation: Toss the smile! (this version is more helpful to make the group focused) Everyone sits in a circle. The rule is to maintain a serious expression unless you have received the smile that is being tossed around. The leader smiles, then wipes the smile from their face into their hand and tosses it to someone in the circle, calling the person’s name. The „smile” catcher must put on the smile, wear it for a moment, then „wipe” it off and toss it to another person, calling their name. The person who does not wipe the smile completely off, or smiles out of turn, must stand up. Since smiling is contagious, the entire group will soon be standing... as well as smiling.

Base on Bogár 86.

The treasure is going to be a small object. The group is sitting or standing in a circle. Someone leaves the room (or just stands in a corner with their back to the group). The group members start quickly passing on the treasure to one another. Before the person waiting outside or in the corner wants to enter or turn back towards the room, they knock loudly three times and quickly enter or turn to the group. The person holding the treasure must hide it either on themselves or right by themselves as fast as possible as soon as the treasure hunter enters or turns around. The treasure hunter player has to find out who had the treasure at the moment of their entry and where it is hidden.

The players sit in a circle with someone sitting in the middle, blindfolded. The person in the middle has to guess who spoke. After blindfolding the person in the middle, the group members quietly change places. Then the person in the middle randomly points to someone. The chosen person has to change their voice and say the name of the player in the middle. If the one in the middle guesses correctly who said his name, they change places.

SILENT GAMES TO HELP PAYING ATTENTION

The players stand in a circle holding hands. One player is standing in the middle. Somebody in the circle sends a letter saying “I am sending my letter to XY’’ and sends the letter in one direction with a hand squeeze. When the person in the middle can see the hand squeeze, he points to the person sending it, and changes places with the sender. When the addressee gets the letter, he/she says “I got it!”. He can start sending the next letter.

The players have to line up according to their date of birth. It is forbidden to speak, but they can give signals. ‘The floor is lava!’ version: We may place newspapers on the floor, and the players must stand on them. There must be two extra newspapers on the floor on which they can stand. The floor is lava, therefore players are not allowed to step on the floor only on the newspapers. They are allowed to move the extra papers wherever they need to step in the line. When they are lined up, check the results by everybody telling their date of birth. Blindfolded version: You can play it allowing the players to speak, but they have to line up blindfolded.

Bogár 133.

3.3. THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Ask the group about the story in the introduction. „What touched you in the story? Is it a familiar situation? Can you forgive like that family? Which Bible story talks about something similar? What are the differences between the two stories?”

Note

It doesn’t matter if this time the discussion is rather flat and ends quickly. This is only the beginning. Later you can have a deeper conversation.

Read the Bible passage twice, very slowly | Lk 15:11-32

„A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‚Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off for a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought, ‚How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying of hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, „Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‚Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants, ‚Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.

(verses 25-31)

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‚Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.

He said to his father in reply, ‚Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

New American Bible

An example of how to tell the story simply with our own words:

Jesus told them one more story. It was about a young man who left the house of his parents, went to a faraway country and wasted all his money. When he had no money left, he did not know what to do. There was famine in that country at the time, and he was starving. He was so desperate that he took the worst possible of jobs: feeding the pigs in a pig farm. He was so hungry that he would have eaten even from the pigs’ food. Maybe that is what he ate actually. Then he thought to himself: “At home, in my father’s house the servants live much better than I live now. I will go back to my father, tell him how sorry I am that I have lived such a sinful life. I will tell him that I am truly sorry. I know I am not worthy to be called his son any more, but maybe he will take me back as his servant.”

As he was approaching his home, his father saw him coming from afar. The father rejoiced and ran out of the house to meet him. He hugged his son. The young man said to his father: “Father, I know I have sinned. I am not worthy to be your son. Please, accept me as your servant.” But his father interrupted him and called his servants: “Hurry up, bring clean clothes, good shoes. Start cooking the nicest food because my son has come home!” They had a big celebration, they were all rejoicing, because the son returned home, to his father’s house.

3.4.VARIATIONS FOR PROCESSING THE STORY

The group leaders can choose the way they want to process the story based on the age of the group. You can change the order of the activities. You can do several activities, or just one or two but have more discussion. The important thing is that you look at all the possibilities before the retreat so that you know what to choose from.

Be sure to leave enough time for the last activity, the examination of conscience and the closing prayer!

THE LOST SHEEP AND THE LOST DRACHMA — SWEEPING OUT OUR SINS
‹ We recommend it for younger children ›

Ask the group to sit comfortably in silence, and try to imagine the events as they are listening to the story.

Read the story. Twice, and slowly. You may want to insert your own words to make it more vivid and detailed.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE | Lk 15:1-10
„The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. „Ez bűnösökkel áll szóba és velük eszik.” “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?

And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’

In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15

An example of telling these parables with our own words:

Jesus told them another story about a man who had one hundred sheep. One day a lamb strayed away from the flock. The shepherd immediately left the rest of the herd and set out to look for him. He searched as long as he found him. He put the lamb around his neck and walked home. At home he told his friends: “Rejoice with me, I found the lost lamb.”

Jesus also explained the story: There is great happiness in Heaven when just one repents and returns to the right way. To repent means to be truly sorry for the sins we committed and decide that we will not sin again.

Jesus told them one more story about a woman. She had ten silver coins. That was all the money she had, but one day she lost a coin. She was looking for it everywhere in her house, took a broom and started cleaning, hoping that she would find it. And that is how she eventually found it. She was very happy. Hesus explained that it is exactly like that in Heaven too. Everybody, even the angels in Heaven are happy when a sinner repents.

Finding ourselves, sweeping out our sins

We sometimes get lost too. We roll off to a dark, dusty corner, where, because of our sins, we can’t see how beautiful and good we are. Let us try to list everything we do that prevents us from seeing our own goodness.

  • Write down your sins on a small piece of scrap paper, one sin on each one. Scatter the pieces of paper around on the floor. (Every group member can write down a few, it does not matter if there are duplicates. Examples: “I do not obey my parents. I lied. I am too lazy to help at home. I did not comfort my friend. I betrayed my friend. I deliberately quarrel with… etc.” Choose examples from family life and school.)
  • Everybody writes their name on their white clothand makes a tight ball out of it. The balls represent us. Roll away the ball on the floor among the many sins. Hide ourselves under the scrap paper.
  • Let us contemplate the chaos. We can write further sins on scrap papers if anything comes to mind.
  • Read the story again, and emphasize the part about the woman searching and sweeping her house.

Talk about the theme along these or similar questions: What would you want God to find? The many bad things, or us? What would we like this room to be? Where do we want the balls to be? Where shall our mistakes and sins be? Nowhere? Do we want them not to exist at all? Shall they be in the corner? Or shall we sweep the room?

After the discussion, sweep the floor together and solemnly tidy up the whole room. Sweep all the rubbish, but be careful not to sweep up ourselves (the balls). Let us pick up all the scrap paper, tear them up into tiny pieces, and throw them in the dustbin. Let everything bad be thrown away, and only we and our goodness will stay on the floor.

Now let us collect ourselves. We can place all the balls in the center of the room. We can untie the knots to see the names, and see how clean we are. (Actually, the white fabric is not really clean any more, but that is what we are. It is all right.)

Discuss deeper questions. Here is a list of helping questions. The group leader should choose from these the ones he thinks will help the group.

  • How difficult was it to find sins?
  • What did you feel when you saw that everybody else is throwing down more and more sins next to your own? (Did you think yours were becoming less important? Or did new sins come to your mind?)
  • Do you sometimes tidy up your room and throw away things like this? Do you do it in your soul sometimes?
  • What did you feel when you saw your white ball among the sins? What did it feel like after throwing away all the papers and there was only us without sins?
  • Do you feel something similar after confession? Do you go to confession?

HOW FAR AWAY ARE YOU FROM GOD? - ACTIVITY AND PRAYER
‹ More suitable for older children ›

The prodigal son went quite far away from his home. When we look at our cloth, we can see that we are not that close either. Where are we? Where would we like to return from?

  • Mark a place in the room that represents the parental home with God in it, who allowed us to leave, and now he is waiting for us, whatever we have done. You can mark this point with a crucifix, a candle or another symbol.
  • Find the place where you are now (take your linen). How far away are you from the home? What body posture represents your situation? (E.g.: squatting, turning your back, stretching out your arm toward God, staring at your navel?)
  • Try out other places and postures, maybe they better represent the reality in your soul.
  • Listen to the story staying in this position. Read the story of the Prodigal son until verse 19 when he decides to go home.
  • Now listen to the father’s reactions: Read the end of the story, you can add your own words to make it more lively.
  • In silence, with little steps, everybody approaches the Father who is waiting for him. The group meets in front of the Father. Say the Lord’s prayer to let Him know what you ask of Him.

A CONTEMPORARY VERSION OF THE STORY — VIDEO
‹ We recommend it for older children. ›

The following videos may be used for this activity:

Note

Watch these videos during the preparatory time and choose the one you think will be most suitable and helpful for your group and yourself.

Prepare the room beforehand: Projector, sound system, internet. What do you do if there is no Internet?

Sit comfortably, and watch the video.

Watch it again and pay attention to the differences between the Scripture passage and the video. In what way is it different from Scripture?

Discuss the video:

  • Which part is the most expressive? Which part feels closest to you?
  • Collect the most important differences between the Scripture and the video. Discuss them one by one. Does this difference help understanding the point better? Or does it make the storey less understandable? Was it useful or bad to leave that part out?
  • What would you have done differently in the video? What would you show about the Father? What else would it be useful to show about the prodigal son?

Talk about ourselves and the Father who is waiting for us to return home.

  • Share an example from your own life:
    • When someone forgave you something big.
    • Tell a story about someone hurting you (deliberately or by accident), and you were able to forgive.
    • When was it easier to forgive and when was it more difficult?
    • Did it happen that you were not able to forgive someone although it would have been better to?
    • What are the things God does not forgive? (Tip: There are no such things. Really.)
  • What does confession mean to you? Do you feel God’s forgiveness? Maybe not? Can someone share a confession experience? What do you think would help you? What makes it difficult? Is it important for you?

SILENT ASSOCIATION ACTIVITY
‹ For both younger and older children. ›

We silently collect words that will gradually convey our message.

Put three sheets of A3 paper in the centre of the room. They do not have to touch.

Listen to the story again. What is our central theme? What are the most important words that come to our mind? (Is it already boring that we have to listen to the story so many times? Let us be patient, and listen to the story again and again.)

Everybody shares one word, expression or thought that comes to his mind. Repetitions are OK.

Note

With less mature groups it may be helpful to ask everybody to bow their head and keep it down until they find the word or expression. Then they can look up. This way we can help the children to decide upon their own word and not just repeat someone else’s.

  • Write down the three most frequently used words on a sheet. Write neatly, with block capital letters, so that everyone can read it easily. If there were only two strong words, let the group vote on the third one. (Let the group decide on these 3 words, do not try to control the choice, whatever these are. It is really not necessary to choose “sin”, “Forgiveness” and “God”).
  • Stay in silence for a few minutes.
  • Everybody writes some words on each sheet related to the word on it. Anything that feels important or comes to mind. If it is similar to the word on the paper, write your word very near it.
  • Stay in silence for a while, and then say: „Read the words the others wrote. If it brings something else to mind, write it down next to it with smaller letters.”
  • Continue like that several times. Spend enough time on this activity. Maybe they are too shy to write first. Just wait until the ice breaks. Keep the silence.
  • Continue for ten minutes. Patience.
  • Read the story again at one point, or say it with your own words.

Discussion

At the end of this activity read some more interesting parts. Do not try to find who wrote the word. rather:

  • I feel that this topic is important for us. Can anybody give us an example of when this happened?
  • How does it relate to the Scripture passage?
  • Cross your feet if you have ever experienced something like that, or if it is important for you.
  • If we ask the Father who was left at home, what do you think He would say? We can ask the children to be brave and speak in the first person like? “I, the Father, would like you to know that...” This is quite a bold step, and the children may be afraid to speak like that, but it can turn out very well in a group whose members are more open.

Discuss the Father waiting at home, and talk about yourselves.

  • Share an example from your own life: when someone forgave you something big.
  • Tell a story about someone hurting you (deliberately or by accident), and you were able to forgive.
  • When was it easier to forgive and when was it more difficult?
  • Did it happen that you were not able to forgive someone although it would have been better to?
  • What are the things God does not forgive? (Tip: There are no such things. Really.)

DRAMATIZATION OF THE STORY
‹ With younger children ›

If there is time, a dramatization of the story may be helpful. It is not absolutely essential, and certainly not every group can do it, but it could be very useful for the children.

Close your eyes and listen to the story. Try to feel which person you may be.

Note

Ask the children to cross their legs while they are thinking, and uncross it only when they already know which character they will be in the story. This way everybody has time to think and we can wait for one another.

In a round everyone tells the group which character he or she chose. (There is no wrong answer. It is ok to imagine oneself even in God’s place. Or the pig’s food. The important thing is to be serious about it.)

  • Which character can you imagine yourself as?
  • In what way are you similar to him? How would you like to be like that character?

Dramatize the story together.

  • Assign the roles so that everyone has a part to play. Try to allocate the role he or she chose earlier. (There may be several of the same character. Or you may have two performances. It is OK to be a stone.
  • Mark the locations: home, faraway country etc.
  • The children go to the location where they are going to start the performance. When everyone is in place, the group leader asks them to close their eyes and imagine the whole story. Think through what they are going to do. (Encourage the children to add colorful details.)

The performance can begin. It is ok if it is funny, if there are some jokes. But try to maintain some seriousness so that it is not empty clowning about.

  • The group leaders can encourage the children to make the skit longer. For example: „You are the son. Take your time saying goodbye to your father. What are you telling him? Tell him everything you want before you leave!”
  • The other actors wait and listen until it is their turn.
  • Stop the performance from time to time and direct the attention to another character in the background. For example, while the son is having a drinking party abroad, freeze the skit, and ask the group to look at what the father is doing at home. Ask the father to start performing. What does the father feel?
  • Interview the actors during the skit. Freeze the performance, and ask the son’s drinking buddies in the party what they think about the son. Is he a good guy? Is he cool? Does he love his father? What do they know about him?

Discussion

  • Who were you in the skit? What did you find difficult? What was easy for you? Were you surprised at something? What was different from the Scripture passage?
  • What else would you add? What did it tell you?

Talk about the Father who is waiting at home, and about yourselves.

  • Share an example from your own life: when someone forgave you something big
  • Tell a story about someone hurting you (deliberately or by accident), and you were able to forgive.
  • When was it easier to forgive and when was it more difficult?
  • Did it happen that you were not able to forgive someone although it would have been better to?
  • What are the things God does not forgive? (Tip: There are no such things. Really.)

3.5. STAINING THE WHITE LINEN OF OUR LIVES | 15-20 MINUTES ‹ Do it by all means! ›

As we are reading the story of the prodigal son we all look into ourselves: How was it, when we did wrong things or made a wrong choice? How do we turn away from God again and again? This is a sort of an examination of conscience, when we quietly review our deviations. For younger children these are usually breaking rules and regulations given by authorities: the parents and the school. For older children the relational sins get more emphasis: omissions, and hurting someone.

Prepare the accessories. For the younger groups use paint, brushes, water. Older children just use pens.

Ask the group to be quiet. „Let us listen to the story and try to imagine what is happening.”

YOUNGER CHILDREN — MAKING THE LINENS MESSY

The younger children have already named their sins in the activity about the lost coin. Now it is not necessary to name them again.

Try to keep the activity silent.

Ask the children to think about a particular sin or deviation of theirs, and smear the white linen all over according to that.

Help the children by asking questions from an examination of conscience. (The example below may help. You do not have to ask all the questions, and you may add your own.)

God is asking you to love Him with all your heart, all your soul and with all your will.
I deliberately did not talk to God… I did not pray, and avoided Holy Mass.
I was not grateful for the many good things in my life. I was not willing to learn about the faith (For example, I did not pay attention in religion class.)

We are to love our friends, neighbours and enemies….
I deliberately disobeyed my parents, teachers, and acted contrary to their advice. I did not tell them something important despite knowing I should let them know.I deliberately did not help someone, although they asked me, and I could have helped.
I lied to somebody or betrayed him.
I did not care about my classmates. I did not comfort the sad one, although I could have. I tempted my friend to do something bad. I was envious, or wished someone ill. I did something bad against somebody. I was teasing, mocking or excluding someone. I did it offline or online. I saw serious bullying, or something really wrong, but I did not tell an adult who could have helped.

God is calling us to love ourselves too.
I risked my own health or safety. I did not do something good that I could have. I used bad, ugly language, and obscene words. I excessively ate, drank, or sat in front of the computer without caring for myself.

God gave us the created world to take care of.
I damaged the environment. I littered. I allowed someone else to do so. I deliberately destroyed nature. I was wasteful. I spent money on things I did not need.

Sometimes the children really enjoy making their linens dirty. It is not a bad thing. In such cases we can tell them the following:

„Oftentimes, unfortunately we actually have a good time when we commit sin. Just like the way you enjoy smearing paint on your linens. We do not commit sins to feel bad. On the contrary. We lie because at the time it may be more comfortable than telling the truth. We hurt someone so that we can enjoy having power over him, etc. But somehow we are not happy in the end. Somehow these bad actions do not help us to be happier. As you are smearing beautiful colours on the whine linen, remember that in the end it will look simply dirty and chaotic.”

But there is hope: God is good. And He is happy to wash our dirty linens so that only the beautiful colors stay. We just have to ask Him. We just have to tell Him, “I am sorry, it has become too dirty. Please help!”

OLDER CHILDREN — GATHERING THE ELEMENTS OF OUR LIVES WE LIVED WITHOUT GOD

In an examination of conscience we collect our sins and wrongdoings that we committed while turning our backs on God. Even the ones that just happened without us wanting them to.

Keep the silence.

Ask the children to write down all their sins and errors that come to mind.

  • They will not all fit, so they can just write them on top of one another. The more the better.
  • They will not have to show their linen to anybody.

Help the examination of conscience by asking questions. You can use the list below. You can leave out some questions or add more.

We are not focusing only on the actual sins in this examination of conscience, but everything that we may do accidentally. Whatever pulls us further away from God.

  • Leave some quiet time after each group of questions, so that they have enough time to write down whatever touches them.
  • Encourage them to write everything, the more the better. They can write all over the linen, make it chaotic, as disorderly as they feel like. Tell them that nobody will read this.
  • Leave more silent time after the examination for them to think more and write more.

God is asking you to love Him with all your heart, all your soul and with all your will.
I deliberately did not talk to God… I did not pray, and avoided Holy Mass.
I was not grateful for the many good things in my life. I was not willing to learn about the faith (For example, I did not pay attention in religion class.)

We are to love our friends, neighbours and enemies….
I deliberately disobeyed my parents, teachers, and did contrary to their advice. I did not tell them something important despite knowing I should let them know. I deliberately did not help someone, although they asked me, and I could have helped.
I lied to somebody or betrayed him.
I did not care about my classmates. I did not comfort the sad one, although I could have. I tempted my friend to do something bad. I was envious, or wished someone ill. I did something bad against somebody. I was teasing, mocking or excluding someone. I did it offline or online. I saw serious bullying, or something really wrong, but I did not tell an adult who could have helped.

God is calling us to love ourselves too.
I risked my own health or safety. I did not do something good that I could have. I used bad, ugly language, and obscene words. I excessively ate, drank, or sat in front of the computer without caring for myself.

God gave us the created world to take care of it.
I damaged the environment. I littered. I allowed someone else to do so. I deliberately destroyed nature. I was wasteful. I spent money on things I did not need.

3.6.CLOSING PRAYER | AT LEAST 15 MINUTES
‹ Prayer is very important here, do not leave it ou under any circumstances! ›

Dim the light if possible. Everyone puts their dirty linens around the candle or the crucifix. Put them as close to God as you can.

  • Start with quiet singing. E.g.: Bless the Lord, My Soul, Nada te turbe, In Manus Tuas Pater, Confitemini Dominum, Jesus, remember Me.
  • Read the Parable of the Lost Coin | Lk 15:1-10
  • „God is very glad to see us. He is happy when he sees that we would like to be good, even when we turn out differently sometimes. Let us talk to the Father, and thank Him for something that He had given us to take us back home to Him. Everybody finishes their thanksgiving with an ‘Amen,’ and after each thanksgiving let us all respond with an ‘Amen!’” (If you feel too shy to say your prayer loudly, just pray silently, and finish it with a loud ‘Amen’’) ”
  • Everybody says their thanksgiving prayer in a circle.
  • „We are all the children of the same Father. We all go astray from time to time, but we are all happy that the Father is waiting for us at home. Let us hold hands and say the Lord’s Prayer in which we tell our forgiving Father what we would like to ask of Him.”
  • “Our Father...”

4.SETTING OFF TO THE CHURCH — BECOMING CLEAN

No matter how many times we get dirty or turn our backs on God, the Father forgives us again and again. He gives us his cleansing love through the people around us.

A large washing machine is awaiting the children in front of the church or in a location where there is enough space for all the classes. This washing machine is a sign of God washing away our sins.

Tip

We can paint the symbolic washing machine on a big sheet or build one from cardboard boxes. We can write Scripture verses next to the program buttons.

We can ask one class to prepare the washing machine well before the retreat. Usually the children happily do such creative projects in an art lesson.

There are “cleansing points” in a circle as the gates in an airport.

  • The class teachers are waiting for the students at each point with a large, empty basin.
  • There are clean strips of white linen prepared at each point.
  • The class teachers have a piece of paper with Psalm 103:12 written on it.

The students line up at the cleansing point of their class.

They stand in front of their class teacher one by one.

  • Class teacher: „Do you want to be clean and good again?” Student: „Yes, I do.”
  • „As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”
  • The class teacher asks the student for the dirty linen, throws it into the basin, and gives him a clean linen. Taking the clean linen the student enters the church.

The students take their seats in the church. (Some teachers or group leaders coordinate this.) The students practise songs while they are waiting for everybody to take their seats.

At the end the class teachers put all the dirty linens into the washing machine and they carry it into the church.

5.HOLY MASS

We will take our cleansed selves (the white linens) And hang them on the trees. We divide the participants into three groups (by age or seats), and these groups will bring their linens during the penitential rite, the offertory and at the sign of peace.

While in small groups, practise/learn one or two of the songs of the mass

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE

Reading | Micah 7:18-20

Gospel about the Father | Lk 15:11-24

AS PART OF THE PENITENTIAL RITE

During the silence of the examination of conscience read the story about the train journey from the beginning of the retreat. Then while we sing the ‘Lord have mercy’ the first third of the groups bring their white linens in an orderly manner, row by row, and hang them on the trees.

DURING THE OFFERTORY

„Let us bring our white linens that represent our cleansed selves, so that God can make us the signs of His merciful, forgiving love for the world.”

The second group brings their linens and hangs them on the trees while everybody sings.

AFTER THE LORD’S PRAYER — BEFORE THE AGNUS DEI

„ We have just asked God to forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Let us pass on his forgiveness with shaking hands. And let us bring this forgiveness in the white linens to these trees next to the altar, so that whoever comes into this church can see that God indeed forgives.”

We sing a song about peace and the third group brings their linens. When everyone returns to their seats we can start the Agnus Dei song.

CLOSING

We can tell the children to take home one white linen to remind him of this day. They can make something out of it, either by painting it with pretty colours or writing something on it.

6. EVALUATION | IMMEDIATELY AFTER HOLY MASS

„Let us thank the group leaders for their service. Please all group leaders come to a short meeting at the meeting place right after Holy Mass!”