Reconciliation

Confessions are held on the first Thursday of the month or by private appointment with the priest.

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

“When he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with mercy.  He ran to him and embraced and kissed him.”

“The Church is solicitous in calling the faithful to continual conversion and renewal.  It desires that the baptized who have sinned should acknowledge their sins against God and their neighbor .. The Church carries this ministry out by the Good News of salvation ...”
(Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship 1973)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the way the church celebrates repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, our giftedness, and ongoing conversion.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation presents us today with the task of healing and transforming our own individual hearts, as well as furthering Jesus’ mission of healing and transforming the sinful and unfinished condition of the world.

The revised rite allows for the Celebration of Reconciliation of individual penitents as well as the Celebration of Reconciliation for several penitents, emphasizing the relation of the Sacrament to the community.  Reconciliation, then, is an across-the-board matter: individual, familial, social, ecclesial.

At 5:45 PM on the first Thursday of the month we offer you the opportunity to gather in the chapel and celebrate the forgiveness of God in your life,  followed by individual confessions.  This Sacrament may also be celebrated at any time by scheduling an appointment with a priest.  There are two Communal Reconciliation Celebrations each year, one during Advent and one during Lent.  We celebrate First Reconciliation annually for children.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

The parish community supports and assists parents in preparing their children for the initial celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Details of this program are contained in the section of this booklet titled “Children’s Programs.”