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Also known as the Sacrament of Penance, making a perfect confession frees us from our sins and challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers.
Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession, we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church.
If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, we want to welcome you back, and invite you to participate in this beautiful sacrament of healing.
Adapted from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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Confession Times
- Thursday: 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM After the 9 AM Mass in the Chapel
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM Anytime upon request.
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How to Go to Confession
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Before going to confession, take some time to prepare. Begin with prayer, and reflect on your life since your last confession. How have you—in your thoughts, words, and actions— neglected to live Christ’s commands to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37, 39)?
As a help with this process, consider an “examination of conscience,” or you might review the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. Take a look at the links below for an examination of conscience appopriate for you.
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The priest will welcome you; he may say a short blessing or read a Scripture passage.
Together, you and the priest will make the Sign of the Cross. You may then begin your confession with these or similar words: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [give days, months, or years] since my last confession.”
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Confess all your sins to the priest. If you are unsure what to say, ask the priest for help. When you are finished, conclude with these or similar words: “I am sorry for these and all my sins.
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The priest will propose an act of penance. The penance might be prayer, a work of mercy, or an act of charity. He might also counsel you on how to better live a Christian life.
After the priest has conferred your penance, you will be asked to make an Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for your sins and resolving to sin no more.
A suggested Act of Contrition is: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. (Rite of Penance, no. 45)
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The priest will then extend his hands over your head and pronounce the words of absolution. You respond, “Amen.”
The priest will usually praise the mercy of God and will invite you to do the same. For example, the priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” And your response can be, “His mercy endures forever” (Rite of Penance, no. 47 ). The priest will conclude the sacrament, often saying, “Go in peace.”
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Examination of Conscienceness
