Reconciliation

Confessions are held Weekly after the 10am Saturday Mass.

"In the sacrament of reconciliation the Father embraces the prodigal who comes back to him, Christ places the lost sheep on his shoulders and brings it back to the sheepfold, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies this temple of God again or lives more fully within it. This is finally expressed in a renewed and more fervent sharing of the Lord’s table of the Eucharist, and there is great joy at the banquet of God’s Church over the one who has returned from afar."

- Adapted from the Preface to the Rite of Penance

A Brief Guide to Confession

• Begin by saying:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It is [state the length of time] since my last Confession."

• Then briefly tell the priest your ‘state of life,’ to help him understand your situation;  e.g. ‘I am at school’ or ‘I am a wife and mother’.

• If you have not been to Confession for a while and are unsure of what to do, do not worry.  Tell the priest and he will help you through the Sacrament.

• Now confess your sins.  Be simple and straightforward.  Just put into words what you have done wrong since you last went to Confession.  Don’t make excuses; but if it helps, say a little bit about what happened and why.  When you have finished, say:

 "I am sorry for all these and all my sins."

• The priest will then give you some advice. He will give you a penance to do (a prayer or action that expresses your sorrow and your desire to put things right and live a new life). The priest will then ask you to make an Act of Contrition. You say one you know, or use the following: 

"O my God, because you are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you; and by the help of your grace, I will not sin again. Amen."

• The priest then says the prayer of absolution, which is the moment when God forgives your sins. He may add some other prayers as well.