Confession
The Sacrament of Confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is meant to reconcile us to Christ and His Church. As we hear in the gospels, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10).
This sacrament is completely confidential and a priest celebrating this sacrament is bound to what is known as the Seal of Confession: A priest hearing a person's confession can never disclose for any reason what a person reveals in the Sacrament of Confession. Through the Sacrament of Confession, Jesus acts through the priest extends His mercy in a tremendous way by forgiving us of all our sins.
Confession Schedule
Monday: No Confession
Tuesday: 7:45 am
Wednesday: 7:45 am
Thursday: 7:45 am
Friday: 7:45 am
Saturday: 8:45 am
Sunday: 10:15 am and 4:15 pm
How to Go to Confession
The priest will greet you.
The penitent says: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” You then say how long it has been since your last Confession.
The penitent tells the priest his sins and briefly answers any relevant questions.
The priest will give you some advice and will assign you a penance.
The penitent will next pray the Act of Contrition (see prayer below).
The priest then gives the penitent absolution.
The priest will then say: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
The penitent responds: “His mercy endures for ever.” The priest will then dismiss you.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, because they have offended Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.
Prayer After Confession
Almighty and Merciful God, Whose mercy is boundless and everlasting and of Whose goodness the riches are infinite, I thank You because You have so graciously pardoned all my sins and restored Your Heavenly favor. I am awed by Your divine compassion and the incomprehensible love of Your Son, which has led Him to institute so gentle and powerful a remedy for sins. In union with all the gratitude that has ever ascended to You from truly penitent hearts, I proclaim Your merciful praises on behalf of all in Heaven, on earth and in purgatory, for ever and ever. Amen.
*Taken from the Fathers of Mercy “Examination of Conscience for Adults and Teens”
Learn more about Confession
Wondering where Confession comes from or why you have to confess your sins to a priest? This video gives a good background to what Confession is and why Catholics do it.