The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
"And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained," (John 20: 23).
"During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins, but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the People of God from which sin had alienated or even excluded them. A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receives sinners at his table, a gesture that expresses an astonishing way both God's forgiveness and the return to the bosom of the People of God.
Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven." Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.
In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ's solemn words to Simon Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1441, 1443, 1444.
Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation:
The Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is available each Saturday from 4:30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. or by appointment.
Parish Penance Services are celebrated during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Children prepare for First Penance and Reconciliation by participating in Religious Education through CCD or the school.