Reconciliation is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness. At the same time, it offers sinners the opportunity to be reconciled with the Church because she is also wounded by our sins.
Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and His Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive forgiveness of Jesus, make reparation for what we have done and resolve to do better in the future.
Reconciliation involves four elements:
- Contrition – a sincere sorrow for having sinned against God.
- Confession – confronting our sins in a profound way to God by speaking aloud of them to the priest; God’s minister.
- Penance – a fundamental part of the healing process in which we are called to acts of good to reverse the harm done by our sin.
- Absolution – the priest speaks the words by which “God, the Father of Mercies” reconciles us to himself through the merits of the cross.
Celebrations of Reconciliation
Individual Confessions will be heard one half-hour before each mass or by appointment.