Jesus said to his Apostles, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you…Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20:21-23).

Jesus, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Confession, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church. The sacrament “washes us clean,” and renews us in Christ.  In confession, we tell our sins to a priest and receive the forgiveness from God through the priest. (From Catholics Come Home)

Baptized Catholics can go to confession at any time.  Those who have committed serious sins should go to confession before receiving the Eucharist.

Children who are preparing for First Communion will first receive preparation for First Confession/Reconciliation in our Religious Education Program.

The steps of Confession:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and greet the priest with the words, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was ….” (weeks, months, years).  
2. Confess sins to the priest, who stands in the name of Christ and the Church. The priest will help you make a good confession. If you are unsure or uneasy, ask the priest to help. Place your trust in God, a merciful Father who wants to forgive you. Following the confession of sins, say, “This is all I can remember. I am sorry for these and all my sins.”
3. The priest will assign you a penance. The penance takes into account your personal situation and supports your spiritual good. It may be a prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service, or sacrifice; whatever the penance, the individual is joined in some way to Christ and the cross.
4. Pray an Act of Contrition. This prayer expresses true sorrow for the sins confessed. This prayer may be expressed in one’s own words or one may use one of the formal prayers of sorrow.
5. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, will absolve you from your sins by saying the prayer of Absolution. As the prayer is ending, the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross and responds, “Amen.