A green banner with the words 'Signs of Grace—You Are Forgiven' written on it.

A collection of Catholic religious education materials for First Reconciliation titled 'Signs of Grace: You Are Forgiven.' The set includes green teacher and student activity guides with illustrations of the Prodigal Son, a matching DVD case and disc, an instructional sheet on making a good confession, activity pages with drawings of biblical figures, and saint cards featuring portraits and names of saints. Two additional booklets titled 'Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession' are also included, with a desert landscape cover design.

Signs of Grace: You Are Forgiven prepares children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time by revealing that God is indeed “rich in mercy.” Parent sessions using award-winning Augustine Institute Studio’s Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession help meet the crucial need for ongoing formation and catechesis for the entire family.

The curriculum includes seven sessions. Each presents the good news of salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ, with a focus on helping children understand intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a real encounter with him and that he desires to forgive and heal us at the deepest levels of our humanity.

Activities, Scripture, videos, and stories are provided to engage both the mind and the heart so that the child can come to fully understand the gift of grace and mercy offered through the Sacrament.

And while the curriculum is focused on the child, it also recognizes that it is in the Christian family that the Faith is first learned and is most effectively understood and lived out. A Family Take-Home Page is provided with each session in English and Spanish to engage parents and the entire family in this journey of faith.

A detailed teacher guide provides instructions for parent sessions using Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession, the acclaimed series about the Sacrament of Confession produced by the award-winning Augustine Institute Studios.

Purchase a Starter Kit

Signs of Grace: You Are Forgiven includes:

Student Guide

Each session includes a story from Scripture as well as a story of a saint relevant to the lesson, key word definitions, a fun activity, a story featuring fictional characters children can relate to, and a session recap.

Activity book page spread with workbook activities.

Student Activity Book

Each session includes sticker pages and engaging, lively activities including family take-home pages in English and Spanish, word searches, songs, crossword puzzles, and flash cards.

Teacher Guide

Each session includes a clear overview and outline of the main objectives as well as discussion questions to prompt engagement with the students and detailed instructions for each activity.

Supplemental activities are also provided with a list of necessary materials and instructions. Also included is information for a parish leader on how to implement the program within a parish, specifics on how to hold parent sessions using the Augustine Institute’s Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession, and an attendance poster to help teachers incentivize their students to complete take-home pages.

DVD with text: Signs of Grace; You are Forgiven. Preparing for First Reconciliaton.

Engaging Video Segments for each session

Each session includes a short video that is carefully crafted to ease the child into the lesson for the day, helping them become open and excited for what they will learn. Animation, hand-drawn Catholic symbols and graphics, engaging sound, and warm, entertaining presenters meet them at their level and convey the big idea of what is about to be unpacked by their teacher.

Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession

The Augustine Institute series Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession (available on FORMED), along with Leader Guide and Participant Guides, is for use in parent sessions. This series provides the Church’s teaching about the Sacrament of Confession, including a practical “walk through” of what happens in the confessional and how every moment connects to Scripture, Catholic Tradition, and God’s passionate desire to be with you.

Prayer Cards

Saint prayer cards that coincide with the saints highlighted throughout the program
Confession cards that include the Examination of Conscience based on the 10 Commandments, the “7 Steps to Make a Good Confession” based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Act of Contrition prayer

Lessons in You Are Forgiven Include:

Video thumbnail of Matt Fradd sitting with his daughter on his lap. They are both laughing.

Session 1: God is Our Loving Father

Key focus: Relationship with God the Father and our happiness
Scripture Story: Genesis 1–3
Saint: Saint Francis of Assisi
Children’s Story: The Birthday Gifts

Session 2: God Reveals His Saving Plan

Key focus: Emphasize virtues – laws are intended to make us happy
Scripture Story: Genesis 12–22
Saint: Saint Therese of Lisieux
Children’s Story: Rules

Video thumbnail of Jules Miles. There is text to her left reading 'GREAT STORIES'.

Session 3: Jesus Comes to Save Us

Key focus: Christ dies for us to save us from our sins
Scripture Story: Matthew 18:12–14 and Luke 15:3–7
Saint: Saint Jose Sanchez de Rio
Children’s Story: The Deep End

Video thumbnail of Mary Pollice. To her left is an illustration of a hand pointing at the viewer, to her right is an illustration of Jesus.

Session 4: The Church Continues Christ’s Saving Mission

Key focus: The Church
Scripture Story: Matthew 16:17–19
Saint: Pope Saint John Paul II
Children’s Story: Grace
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Video thumbnail of Matt Fradd. Text to his left reads: FREE WILL.

Session 5: Morality: Life in Christ

Key focus: God’s laws make us happy
Scripture Story: Matthew 5:1–12
Saint: Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Children’s Story: The High Road
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Video thumbnail of Chenele Shaw. To her left is an illustration of a phone with the words ' HE LOVES US' on the screen.

Session 6: The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Key focus: Christ forgives us
Scripture Story: John 20:19–23
Saint: Saint Faustina Kowalska
Children’s Story: The Low Road

Video thumbnail with text: SIGNS of GRACE

Session 7: Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Key focus: How to make a good confession
Scripture Story: Luke 15:11–32
Saint: Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Children’s Story: The Long Road

Flyer with text: SIGNS of GRACE; You Are Forgiven. How to Make a Good Confession.

Bonus Material: How to Make a Good Confession

The “7 Steps to Make a Good Confession”
based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Click here for a sample of the Teacher Guide
Section on how to implement in a parish
Click here for a sample of the Student Guide
Click here for a sample of the Activity Guide
Scope and Sequence

For Children

VIDEO CLIP SAMPLE
Session 5: You Are Forgiven

For Parents

VIDEO TRAILER
Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession

Signs of Grace: You Are Forgiven includes:

You Are Forgiven Kit: $149.00

This Starter Kit (valued at over $250!) includes everything you need to run your class:

1 Teacher Guide 232 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9991778-5-3
You Are Forgiven DVD Video for each of 8 sessions; approximately 35 total minutes of video content.
1 Student Guide 128 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9991778-4-6
1 Student Activity Guide 128 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9991778-6-0
1 set of Confession Cards Pack of 20
1 set of Mass Response Cards Pack of 20
1 pack of Saint Prayer Cards 20 sets of 7
1 Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession – Leader Guide
1 Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession – Participant Guide

Now Available Online!

Online Course: Prepared for Grace – You are Forgiven $29.95 each – additional discounts for 5 or more students.
$59.95 for group analyst role.

Program Components

Teacher Guide: $44.95 232 pages
(volume discounts available)
Student Guide: $14.95 128 pages
Student Activity Book: $7.95 128 pages
Confession Cards for children $14.95 Packs of 20
Saint Prayer Cards $39.95 20-Packs of 7 Featured Saints

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