Mercy received, and life begun again.
Reconciliation: also called confession: is an experience of God's forgiving love. It clears away past failures and gives grace for better choices ahead, in complete confidentiality.
A gift of grace
In confession, Christ forgives sins through the ministry of the priest and restores peace with God and the Church.
A call to grow
Regular confession forms the conscience, strengthens freedom, and helps a person begin again with concrete grace.
How Reconciliation begins
- 1
Come as you are
If you forgot the words, simply tell the priest.
- 2
Examine your conscience
Spend a few quiet minutes reviewing where grace is needed.
- 3
Confess
The priest listens, gives counsel, and speaks absolution.
- 4
Begin again
Penance is a small concrete act of repair and prayer.
What to prepare
Come to St. James on Saturday between 9:30 and 10:30 AM or 4:00 and 4:45 PM, drop into the confessional after the 10:30 Mass at Our Lady of the Valley, or call the office for an appointment.
- A quiet examination of conscience
- The approximate time since your last confession, if you know it
- Any question about how the rite works
- A willingness to receive counsel and absolution
If you are unsure what to say, tell the priest. He will guide you through it.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an experience of God's forgiving love. It not only absolves us from past failures: more importantly, it gives God an opportunity to gift us with grace to make better choices in the future. It is also a chance to talk over a particular worry with a priest, in absolute confidentiality.
When and where
Confession is available at all four of our churches. At St. James, come on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM or from 4:00 to 4:45 PM. At Our Lady of the Valley, head to the confessional after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass. At Sacred Heart and St. Benedict's, speak with the priest before Mass to arrange a time. You can also call the parish office for an appointment.
A communal Parish Reconciliation Service is celebrated each Advent and Lent.
Preparing
Many people find it helpful to prepare with an examination of conscience: a short, prayerful review of life. Free guides for adults and teens are available from the Fathers of Mercy, the National Catholic Register, the Archdiocese of Toronto (in many languages), and the USCCB. And if you have been away a long time: welcome back. There is no better place to start again.