Reconciliation (Confession)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession or Penance, is understood to be a sacrament of healing. ‘Nobody’s perfect’ as the saying goes. As Catholics we understand this to mean that each of us falls short of what God expects of us in thought, word and deed. We call this sin. You have probably heard of mortal and venial sins. These descriptions signify the seriousness of the offense. Mortal sin is something so serious that it not only cuts us off from God’s grace but can also do immense spiritual and indeed psychological harm to a person and to others. Venial sin, while not so serious, still disrupts our relationship with God and our ability to lead a full and fruitful Christian life. Just as Jesus forgave the sins of many people he met, so the church has passed on this gift down the years to the priests of today to allow us to experience the love of God, have our sins forgiven, and reconcile us to one another and to God Himself. Check under the ‘Mass Times’ option for times when the priest is available in church for confessions.

For children, preparation for First Confession goes hand in hand with getting ready for First Holy Communion.