What is Reconciliation?
Reconciliation is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus in his love and mercy to offer sinners forgiveness. At the same time, sinners are also reconciled with the Church because she is also wounded by our sins.
Every time we sin, we hurt God, other people and ourselves. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and his Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Jesus, make reparation for what we have done and resolve to do better in the future.
Reconciliation involves four elements: contrition, confession, penance and absolution.
- 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; and
- 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
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday from 4:00 to 4:30 pm at St. Mary’s, and every Sunday from 8:30 to 8:45 am at Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment. Please contact the Parish Office to schedule a time.
Penitential Services with individual confession are held twice annually during the seasons of Advent and Lent.