"Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained." (John 20:23)

Those who approach the sacrament of Reconciliation obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offenses 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 labors for their conversion.


HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION

• The priest greets you.
• The penitent makes the sign of the cross which the priest may make also. 
• It is proper for the penitent to indicate his or her state of life, the time of the last confession, di culties in leading the Christian life, and anything else that may help the confessor in exercising his ministry. 
• The penitent then confesses his or her sins. 
• The priest then offers suitable advice to help the penitent begin a new life.
• The priest proposes an act of penance which the penitent accepts to make satisfaction for sin and to amend his life. 
• The sorrow a penitent feels for his or her sins is known as contrition and must include a resolve to sin no more and to avoid all future occasions of sin. 
• The penitent then prays the Act of Contrition.
• The priest then gives absolution.
• The penitent says: "Amen".
• The priest will then say and bid you go in the peace of the Lord.
• The penitent says: "Thank you father."

Act of Contrition: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, 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 Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.


THANKSGIVING AFTER CONFESSION

Say your penance and add the Magnificat or prayer of thanksgiving.

Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Almighty and wonderful God, how wonderfully you created man and still more wonderfully remade him. You do not abandon the sinner but seek him out with a father's love. You sent your Son into the world to destroy sin and death by his passion, and to restore life and joy by his resurrection. You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us your children and heirs to your kingdom. You constantly renew our spirit in the sacrament of your redeeming love, freeing us from slavery to sin and transforming us ever more closely into the likeness of your beloved Son. We thank you for the wonders of your mercy and with heart and hand and voice we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise: Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.


TIMING OF CONFESSIONS
Every day before, during and after the Mass; and at other times upon request.