Reconciliation Schedule
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The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available:
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Saturday: 3:00 pm - 4:20 pm
- By appointment. Call the Parish Office.
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What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
- It is one of the 7 Sacraments of the Catholic Church also known as the Sacrament of Confession or Penance.
- It is a gift from Christ to offer forgiveness for sins and to restore the grace of friendship with God.
- It heals the spiritual wounds caused by sin and helps the faithful grow in their spiritual strength and peace of conscience.
Four Essential Parts of Reconciliation- Contrition: A sincere sorrow for having offended God and a firm resolve to avoid future sin.
- Confession: The act of confessing sins, especially mortal sins, to a priest.
- Penance (Satisfaction): An act of reparation for sins, given by the priest, that expresses a desire to avoid repeating the sin.
- Absolution: The words of forgiveness spoken by the priest in the name of God, which effectively grant pardon and peace.
The Process of Reconciliation- Examination of Conscience: Preparing for the Sacrament by prayerfully reflecting on one's actions and failures in relation to the call to love God and others.
- Greeting the Priest: Entering the confessional and greeting the priest, often starting with the Sign of the Cross.
- Confession of Sins: Stating one's sins to the priest.
- Contrition and Penance: The penitent expresses sorrow, often through an Act of Contrition, and the priest assigns a penance.
- Absolution: The priest pronounces the words of absolution, and the penitent responds with "Amen".
- Fulfilling Penance: The penitent departs and carries out the assigned penance as part of their healing and spiritual growth.
Spiritual Effects of Reconciliation- Reconciliation with God
- Reconciliation with the Church community
- Remission of eternal and temporal punishments for sins
- Increased spiritual strength and a greater sense of peace and serenity
- Healing of relationships with God and others