The Sacrament of Reconciliation was instituted by Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It answers a deep need to confess our sins and receive pardon from God so reconciling us with God and with the community harmed by our sins.
Individual confession is available by contacting the parish priest.
Twice each year there is the opportunity for all to participate in a communal service of Reconciliation (including individual confession) during the seasons of Advent and Lent here in the parish church.
First Reconciliation
Children who are preparing to receive First Holy Communion will also prepare to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
Confessions available after 9.30am Mass every Friday.
Confessions also available on request by asking the priest.
Penitential Services during the seasons of Advent and Lent, in preparation for Christmas and Easter, are organised in our parish every year. Times and dates are announced in the Parish Newsletter.
“Those who approach the Sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense 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. It is called: Sacrament of Conversion, Sacrament of Penance, Sacrament of Confession, Sacrament of Forgiveness, or Sacrament of Reconciliation”. Catechism of the Catholic Church §1422-1442
The Sacrament of Reconciliation has three elements: Conversion, Confession and Celebration. In it we find God’s unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Various Prayers for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – Confession
You can use whichever prayers you are familiar with – the priest will guide you if you have difficulties in remembering. The following are a choice of prayers you may wish to use:
Prayer Before Confession
Dear Jesus, help me to make a good Confession, help me to find out my sins, help me to be sorry for them, help me to make up my mind not to sin again. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and forgive me. Mary, my mother, pray for me. Amen.
Prayer before Confession
O my God, help me to remember the times when I didn’t live as Jesus asked me to. Help me to be sorry and to try again. Amen.
The Confiteor
I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.
Act of Sorrow
O my God, I thank you for loving me.
I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and not loving you. Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen.
Prayer for Forgiveness
O my God, help me to remember the times when I didn’t live as Jesus asked me to. Help me to be sorry and to try again. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am very sorry for all my sins, because they offend you who are so good, and with your help I will not sin again. Amen
Act of Sorrow
O my God, I thank you for loving me, I am sorry for all my sins; for not loving others and not loving you. Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen
Act of Contrition
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.
Act of Contrition
Oh my God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
And failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
Prayer after Forgiveness
O my God thank you for forgiving me.
Help me to love others.
Help me to live as Jesus asked me to. Amen
Prayer after Confession
Dear Jesus, thank you for helping me to make a good Confession, and thank you for taking away my sins. Help me, dear Jesus, never to offend you again. Mary, my mother, pray to Jesus for me. My dear Angel Guardian help me. Amen
Prayer after Confession
O my God, thank you for forgiving me. Help me to love others. Help me to live as Jesus asked me to. Amen
“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
“Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven…” (John 20:23)
“Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:24)
“Forgive us our sins, for we too forgive all who wrong us.” (Luke 11:4)
Some Steps for a Good Confession
1. Examine your conscience – what sins have you committed since your last good confession.
2. Be sincerely sorry for your sins.
3. Confess your sins to the priest.
4. After your confession, do the penance the priest gives to you.
5. Pray daily for the strength to avoid the occasion of sin, especially for those sins you were just absolved from.