Schedule

Saturdays 3:30 - 4:30

Wednesdays during Lent 6:00pm - 7:00pm

1. Take time to think about this special opportunity to have the loving touch of Christ in your life through this Sacrament. Remember this Sacrament is a sign and celebration of the great love and mercy of Jesus, who forgives totally all those who approach Him with contrite and humble hearts.

2. Think of your sins, what wrong choices you have made, what it is in your life that you need to change in order to be more Christ-like. The Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and teachings of the Church are good guides.

3. A feeling of Contrition or Sorrow for the sins that have offended Christ who is all good and deserving of our love.

4. Resolve to change your heart. A firm resolution not to commit these sins in the future.

5. Enter the Confessional; you may sit behind the screen or in front of the priest.

6. Make the Sign of the Cross and say: Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been ____ long since my last Confession. (Give approximate amount of time)

7. The priest will probably say some words of greeting and then a prayer, you respond, Amen.

8. Confess your sins to the priest and then say: I am sorry for these and all the sins of my life.

9. Listen to the Priest, he will help you to make a complete confession, give counsel and encouragement, and then he will give you a penance. Penance can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, and sacrifices. (Penance is an act of love that is the reversal of sin. Confession takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused; it does not take away vice or bad habits in our lives. Therefore we must work to overcome the sinful habits in our lives; penance helps us to overcome sinful habits by doing loving acts.)

10. Pray the Act of Contrition out loud, it is appropriate to bring a copy of the Prayer into the Confessional with you.

11. Representing Christ and the Church, the Priest says the words of absolution. Through absolution Christ forgives our sins and pours into our souls an increase of His life, love and strength. This grace enlightens our intellect and strengthens our will to overcome the sins that keep us from true happiness.

12. The priest will then probably say a prayer and words of dismissal.

13. Leave the Confessional, thank God for the gift of forgiveness and do the penance the priest has given you.

* Confess all grave or serious sins and the smaller sins you struggle with on a daily basis like, pride, selfishness, anger, impatience, gossip, etc. *

* A daily examination of conscience is the best way to identify the sins in our life we must rid ourselves of in order to find true and lasting happiness and to deepen our relationship with Christ. *

Prayer Before Confession
Come Holy Spirit into my soul,
Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess,
and grant me Your grace to confess them fully,
humbly and with contrite heart.
Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again.
O Blessed Virgin,
Mother of my Redeemer,
mirror of innocence and sanctity,
and refuge of penitent sinners,
intercede for me through the Passion of Your Son,
that I may obtain the grace to make a good confession.

All you blessed Angels and Saints of God,
pray for me,
a most miserable sinner,
that I may repent from my evil ways,
that my heart may henceforth
be forever united with yours in eternal love.



Prayer After Confession
My dearest Jesus,
I have told all my sins to the best of my ability.
I have sincerely tried to make a good confession
and I know that you have forgiven me.
Thank you dear Jesus!
Your divine heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners.
I love You dear Jesus;
you are so good to me.
My loving Savior,
I shall try to keep from sin
and to love You more each day.
Dearest Mother Mary,
pray for me and help me to keep all my promises.
Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin.
Dear God,
help me to lead a good life.
Without Your grace I can do nothing.
Amen.