Schedules of the Celebration of the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
The regular schedule is every FIRST FRIDAY of the month, from 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM.
By appointment options are on First Saturday, 9:30 am–10:00 am and Sunday, 11:30 AM–12:00 noon.
Please contact the Parish Office for the celebration of First Confession & First Communion of school-age children of registered parishioners of our parish.
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, Jesus showed himself to his apostles. He breathed on them, and said to them: ‘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 20:19, 22-23) – Catechism #1485
“The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest’s absolution. The penitent’s acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.” – Catechism #1491
5 Steps to a Good Confession
1. Examine your conscience (based on the Ten Commandments).
2. Be sincerely sorry for your sins.
3. Resolve to amend your life.
4. Confess your sins to the priest.
5. After confession, do or pray the penance the priest assigns to you.
Act of Contrition Prayer
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”
Procedure for Going to Confession
1. You start by saying “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (state the length of time) since my last confession. These are my sins: (enumerate your mortal or venial sins, stating the number of times committed if you remember)
2. When you have finished, say “For these and all the sins of my past, I am truly sorry”.
3. The priest now gives the necessary advice, assigns penance and asks you to pray the Act of Contrition.
4. Wait and listen as the priest gives the absolution. You respond with “Amen”.
5. As you leave the Confessional, thank the priest. In the pew, pray the assigned penance.
Some Questions for the Examination of Conscience
1. Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God?
2. Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, His Church, or His people?
3. Do I go to mass every Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) and on Holy Days of Obligation? Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on Sunday?
4. Do I show my parents or elders due respect? Do I seek to maintain good communication with them where possible? Do I criticize them for lacking skills they should have?
5. Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind?
6. Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself?
7. Have I taken things that belonged to others; have I taken credit that belongs to others; have I wasted the time of others?
8. Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of others?
9. Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love?
10. Am I content with my own means and needs, or do I compare myself to others unnecessarily?