In Reconciliation, Christ meets us with mercy and gives grace to begin again. Confession is not a test to pass, but a sacrament of healing, truth, and peace.
Mercy, healing, truth, and peace.
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.
Who is Reconciliation for?
Any Catholic, whether it has been a week or fifty years. If you don't remember how it works, just say so: the priest will walk you through it.
What to prepare
Check the current confession schedule for all four parishes, or call the parish office to arrange 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.
More about Reconciliation
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 across our four parishes. Current times and appointment instructions are maintained on the Mass & Confession page. 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.