Not long after the Mission Store opened 18 months ago, the occasional phone call or letter began arriving – a message from a parent or teacher apologizing for a child who had put something small and shiny in their pocket without paying.

Parents would often send money for damages, accompanied by a letter from the child admitting his or her faults.

But to the Mission Store staff, here were opportunities to teach lessons. After all, the mission is centered on the tenets of Christianity, and so staff members needed to find a way to most effectively convey the “thou shalt not steal” message to 10-year-olds.

Using one part kindness and one part contrition, the staff created an apology book in which children could admit their faults, say they’re sorry, sign their first name and move forward.

“Dear Manager, I knew I did something wrong by stealing something that wasn’t mine,” wrote one child. “I hope you will accept my apology. I knew I did a sin. I am sorry for what I have done. I promise that I will never do it again.”

The book started when a teacher noticed that two students had put mission rocks and coins in their pockets without having paid for them. Mission Store floor manager Max Gutierrez grabbed two pencils and took the children, accompanied by their chaperone, to a quiet place.

“We didn’t want a lot of attention,” Gutierrez said.

Trembling and teary, the two kids thought about their response for several minutes and finally wrote: “I am sorry.”

They were given handshakes, coins with an imprint of the mission’s founder, Father Junipero Serra, and most of all, the children were forgiven.

The book now has six names – some parents have decided against having their child sign. Although there’s any number of ways the mission could handle this type of situation, staff members say they’ve tried to do it in a responsible and kind way.

“As a mom, I think signing your names implies seriousness, but it also allows you to see your name forgiven,” said the mission’s executive director, Mechelle Lawrence-Adams.

“We all need forgiveness. Not heavy-handedness, but treating them respectfully in the process,” she said.

The mission has many meanings to many people, but it’s rooted in Catholicism. According to Monsignor Arthur Holquin, the mission’s pastor emeritus, Jesus responded to the question, “How many times should we forgive,” by saying “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.”

To Holquin, however, the mission chooses to deal with theft by the question: What would Jesus do?

“Provide the opportunity for one to honestly ‘name’ the sin of taking something that does not belong to you,” Holquin answered. “Be morally mature and responsible – name it, claim it and then look for ways to make amends.”

“The process of reconciliation begins simply with an expression of sorrow and the graced opportunity to begin again,” Holquin said.

Contact the writer: mfleming@ocregister.com; @mattfleming1181