Reconciliation and First Reconciliation

The regular schedule for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is every Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:00 AM.  (subject to change - check home page schedule)

The Confessional is now located in the old day chapel off of the Narthex.  Please park in the upper level large parking lot by the church.

If needed, special appointments for confession may be made through the parish office or directly with the pastor.
 

Catechesis on Sin

All sin is an offense against God and a rejection of his perfect love and justice. Yet, Jesus makes a distinction between two types of sins. We call the most serious and grave sins, mortal sins. Mortal sins destroy the grace of God in the heart of the sinner. By their very grave nature, a mortal sin cuts our relationship off from God and turns man away from his creator. St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews tell us that “if we sin willfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).

The second type of sin, venial sin, that of less grave matter, does not cut us off from Christ. However, venial sin does weaken grace in the soul and damages our relationship with God. A person who frequently indulges in venial sin is very likely to collapse into mortal sin if they persist in their evil ways.

In order for a sin to be mortal, it must meet three conditions:

• Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter
• Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
• Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner

This means that mortal sins cannot be done “accidentally.” A person who commits a mortal sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway. This means that mortal sins are “premeditated” by the sinner and thus are truly a rejection of God’s law and love.

How to make a confession:

Prior to entering the confessional, examine one's conscience (see documents below).

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You:  "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.  It has been ___________ (days, weeks, months,                       years) since my last confession."

          Then you tell your sins.  When you have finished add:

          "For these and all the sins I can't remember, I ask pardon of God and penance and                absolution of you, Father."

The priest then may offer you some advice and then gives you a penance.  Then you will                  pray the Act of Contrition:
          
          O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins                       because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but most of all because                   they offend Thee, my God, who are so good and deserving of all my love.  I firmly                 resolve, with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to                           amend my life. Amen.

The priest gives the absolution and dismissal. 

Before leaving, say to the priest:  Thank you, Father.