First
confession:
‘It was amazing’
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — “I practiced so hard that I might even be saying
it in my sleep.”
That’s how seriously Patrick McLean, a second-grader at St. Matthew
School, prepared for his first penance.
Cardinal Justin Rigali heard young Patrick’s confession Wednesday,
Feb. 27, during the archdiocesan Bicentennial Lenten program, Pardon and
Peace.
“It was a special night for a special sacrament,” 8-year-old
Patrick said. “The Cardinal was really nice. He understood my sins.”
Boys and girls who are afraid of confession shouldn’t be scared,
Patrick said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
As for Patrick, he said he wasn’t scared. On a chain around his
neck hung a St. Patrick medal he received from his godparents at his baptism.
The happy-go-lucky boy even looked brave as he sat attentively in his
church pew and as he stood in line waiting his turn for confession.
Afterward, as he emerged from the curtain covering the confessional, the
proud penitent flashed a smile of relief.
In addition to studying information he received at school about how to
examine one’s conscience and how to make a good confession, Patrick
also pointed out a practical example of what the sacrament is about.
He held two fingers, side by side — one representing him and one
representing Jesus, before the sacrament. Then, he crossed those two fingers
to demonstrate his closeness to Jesus during and after the sacrament.
What does it take to be a good Catholic boy on the playground, at home
and in church? According to Patrick: “If you bought some cars and
you’re playing with them and your friend says, ‘Can I play
with them?’ It would be good to say, ‘yes,’ but bad
to say, ‘no.’
Also: “You shouldn’t miss Mass on purpose.” And: “It’s
good to not talk back to your parents.”
The son of Peggy and the late Jack McLean, Patrick was accompanied to
St. Matthew Church for his first confession by his mother and by his maternal
grandmother, Marge Garvin.
Patrick was 13 months old when his father died. “When I was doing
my confession, I kind of felt him in the room and I kind of heard him
saying, ‘Good job, Patrick. I’m proud of you.’”
Patrick described his mother as kind, nice and understanding. “She
does a lot of stuff for me,” he said, such as comforting him when
he’s sick and helping him with his math homework.
Patrick and his peers will receive their first holy Communion in October
at St. Matthew Church. “It’s going to be awesome,” Patrick
said. But for now, he’s still basking in the fact that he’s
just made his first penance.
“It was amazing,” Patrick said. “I feel older.”
To congratulate Patrick McLean on his first confession, send correspondence
to him at St. Matthew School, 3040 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19149.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215)
587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.