Confession
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offence committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labours for their conversion.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1422
Confession, penance, reconciliation…This is a sacrament of forgiveness in which Our Lord Jesus Christ through the ministry of His priests pardons the sins of the truly penitent, granting them mercy and reconciling them to Himself.
Whilst it is often difficult to approach a priest to confess our sins we remember that Our Lord said to His apostles, “Those whose sins you forgive shall be forgiven”, and that we come to receive God’s abounding mercy not because of the merits of His priests but because Jesus Christ works through them as His instruments, granting to all who come before Him, with sorrow for their sins, forgiveness.
It does not matter what the sin is, nor does it matter how long ago it was committed; please approach the sacrament of confession and ask God for His forgiveness for “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23)
The sacrament of confession is usually offered in Our Lady Immaculate Church every Saturday between 11 and 12, and in Holy Name Church between 5:30 and 6 p.m. There are extra opportunities during Lent, Holy Week and Advent.
If we have committed a grave sin we are commanded by Christ and His Church to confess this as soon as possible (Matt 5:23-24), and whenever possible before receiving Holy Communion; so please contact any priest and ask him to hear your confession, you may do this by calling the parish office and asking to speaking to a priest.
