Reconciliation

“When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1465)

The Sacrament of Penance is the sacrament of spiritual healing.  Reconciliation involves contrition, confession to a priest, absolution by the priest, and penance.  After making an examination of conscience, the penitent confesses his/her sins to the priest, who is the minister of Christ’s mercy.  The intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin.

SCHEDULE:

MONDAY – FRIDAY:  Confessions will be heard from 7:30 am until 7:55 am. 

SATURDAY:  Confessions will be heard from 4:00 - 4:45 pm. If you desire to receive the Sacrament at a different time, please contact the parish office.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." --John 20:21-23

What happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? In the Sacrament of Penance, "the sinner who by grace of a merciful God embraces the way of penance and comes back to the Father who ‘first loved us' (1 Jn 4:19), to Christ who gave himself up for us, and to the Holy Spirit who has been poured out on us abundantly.

What is the role of the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? According to the Rite of Penance, "the Church exercises the ministry of the sacrament of penance through bishops and priests. By preaching God's word they call the faithful to conversion; in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit they declare and grant the forgiveness of sins. In the exercise of this ministry priest’s act in communion with the bishop and share in his power and office . . ."

What is the role of the community in the sacrament? According to the Rite of Penance, "the whole Church, as a priestly people, acts in different ways in the work of reconciliation which has been entrusted to it by the Lord. Not only does the Church call sinners to repentance by preaching the word of God, but it also intercedes for them and helps penitents with maternal care and solicitude to acknowledge and admit their sins and so obtain the mercy of God who alone can forgive sins.