Current issues: Iphones and Ipad confessions app

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/confession-app-blessed-by-catholic-bishop-1.1059804

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1355479/iPhone-confessions-app-banned-Catholics-Vatican.html

https://todayscatholic.org/confession-app-helps-with-reconciliation/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293101323_The_role_of_media_literacy_development_as_a_part_of_religious_education_curriculum

http://catholicmom.com/2015/01/19/5-ways-to-prepare-your-child-for-first-reconciliation/

Aimed at young Catholics learning about confession

Can be used in all grades especially grade 2, a time when students are preparing for their first reconciliation

Teachers can benefit from this app as well, because they can use it to incorporate media aspects into religion, which can help older students connect with the reconciliation sacrament

Educating students on how they can practice with a confession app to help prepare them for reconciliation

Incorporating media into religious practices and explaining that the app is not intended to replace confession, it is supposed to prepare people for confession as it walks it through the steps

Connection to bible passages: The Healing of a Paralytic in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2: 1 – 12, is a good example of Jesus’s authority to forgive sins and an example of faith and trust in His healing power

Connection to bible passages: Jesus instituted the Sacrament and gave his apostles the authority to forgive sins in His Name in the Gospel of John 20: 19 – 23.

Use a graphic organizer to order the steps of reconciliation presented on the app

Have students practice in pairs using the confession app, to ease their nervousness about the sacrament

What is a confession app?

Can a confession app replace reconciliation with a priest?

What purpose does a confession app have in the classroom?

What age can students understand the purpose of a confession app and its usefulness for practice?

Media can help students connect to religious practices, making them relevant

Students are digital natives, therefore incorporating media into the religion classroom can be beneficial

Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the 7 sacraments and usually done in grade 2. It is instituted by Christ and the Catholic church to offer us His mercy and grace

It is both the teacher and the parents responsibility to help prepare students for this sacrament, as it is important for students to understand why they need to do it

When preparing for First reconciliation

When preparing older grades for confession and having them practice and remind them of the steps

Incorporating media literacy into religion class, making cross curricular connections to language arts

Role playing the act of confession and encouraging this role play to be continued at home or with a partner