-
-
The Sacrament of Penance
The sacrament of Penance is sometimes called Confession or Reconciliation. It is an encounter with God's merciful love and healing and not a place of condemnation. In this sacrament is the ordinary means of forgiveness of mortal sin.
When absolution is given in the sacrament of penance, you are forgiven of all your sins, both mortal and venial. If you had mortal sins forgiven, the state of justification is fully restored through receiving sanctifying grace. You are reconciled with God and with his people, the Church. In addition, you are given consolation and peace that your in right relationship with God. Lastly, the grace of this sacrament provides aid and strength in the battle against future temptation.
-
Confession Times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
- 1st Friday: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Or by appointment
-
-
-
Why should I confess to a priest?
The Priest represents both Christ and the Church. When the priest says “I absolve you…” it’s Christ forgiving through his minister. You can have assurance of forgiveness! Jesus himself gave the apostles and their successors this ministry (John 20:21-23) and thus the priest is the extension of Christ's ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Confessing your sins to the priest frees you from the shame and guilt and repairs our relationship with God and his Church. Psychologically also, it is freeing to confess your sins out loud to be unburdened from them.
Note that the Priest is bound by the seal of the confessional so you can be assured that nothing will be revealed. The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation is sacred and cannot be violated under any pretext. According to the Catechism, paragraph 2490, "The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason."
-
-
-
How do I go to Confession?
- Before you go to this sacrament, ensure you do an Examination of Conscience. This is a prayerful reflection and inventory on what sins of commission or omission you may have committed so you can best confess your sins. Ask God also for contrition and true sorrow for your sins and a desire to follow the law of of love in the future.
- When you enter, you can kneel behind the screen or sit face-to-face.
- You'll make the Sign of the Cross and say something like "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." Then tell Father how long it's been since your last confession. If this is your first time, simply tell him that and he will guide you.
- Father may say some welcoming words, or give you help as needed. Optionally scripture may be read here.
- Tell the priest your specific sins
- Don't be vague. Be honest and don’t hide your sin. It’s ok if you forget.
- Start with the mortal sins and then optionally the venial ones
- Don’t make excuses or blame it on faults of others
- Don’t go into excessive detail. It’s not a counseling/therapy session
- When done, you can say something like, "I am sorry for all my sins, the ones I can remember and the ones I cannot remember."
- Father may ask some questions as well as give you encouragement and spiritual guidance.
- You will then be assigned a penance for you to do as reparation. This is something to help you grow closer to Christ and also help in spiritually remedying the consequences of your sins.
- Father will then typically ask you to say an Act of Contrition. This is where you express sorrow for your sins and end show a desire for trying to avoid sins in the future. There are several good Acts of Contrition out there - here is one example: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all
my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin." - You will then receive absolution from the priest as he says following words: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
- You can then leave in peace. It's always a good idea here to spend some time in prayer, thanking God for his mercy and also start working on the assigned penance.
-
