Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. It is also called the Sacrament of Penance or the Sacrament of Confession. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
Not only does it [the Sacrament of Penance] free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. We are liberated to be forgivers. We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."
At St. Mary's, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturdays (except on Holy Saturday) 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, or at anytime by appointment. Please visit the USCCB Penance Page for more information about confession, examinations of conscience, acts of contrition, and more.