Reconciliation
Confession is also referred to as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance. Confession is a healing encounter with Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord’s mercy, healing and grace are given to us through this encounter. In it Jesus also strengthens us to resist future or ongoing temptation.
The Sacrament of Confession is a moment of accountability for us and before the Lord. The Lord’s forgiveness and mercy is infinite. Nothing we have done or could do can ever separate us from experiencing God’s forgiveness through this sacrament.
It is also a salutary practice for us to go to confession regularly to confess our venial sins and receive the grace of the sacrament
Any Catholic who is aware of serious sin should partake of the Sacrament of Confession.
All Catholics should make at least one good Confession a year, the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent being an especially appropriate time for this.
Catholics who have deliberately missed Mass or otherwise freely disregarded God’s law should not receive Holy Communion until a good Confession has been made.
At St. Joseph’s, confessions are heard in the Church every Saturday before the 5.30pm Vigil Mass at 4.30 until 5.00pm.
The Parish Priest will also be happy to hear confessions on request at other times, for example, after weekday Mass or any other service in the Church.
Children are prepared to make their First Reconciliation in Year 3, which then leads on to the First Holy Communion programme in Year 4.
