The Sacrament of Reconciliation
The forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is conferred by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as confession or penance. To return to communion with God after having lost it through sin is a process born of the grace of God, who is rich in mercy and who desires our salvation.
The movement of return to God entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm purpose of sinning no more in the future. One who desires this grace must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins they remember after having carefully examined their conscience. The priest may offer some words of counsel, before giving a penance to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ. He then prays the Prayer of Absolution, through which Christ himself forgives the sins of the penitent.
This sacrament reconciles the penitent to God and the Church, and remits the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins. It confers spiritual peace and consolation, as well as an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
For those who have been brought up Catholic, the celebration of First Reconciliation generally takes place during Year 3. The candidates are prepared through the parish school in collaboration with the parish, or, for those at non-Catholic schools, preparation is conducted through the parish’s after-school Chi Rho program. For more information about the Chi Rho program, please contact Helen Lesniak through the parish office.
Adults who are preparing to enter the Church will most commonly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time shortly before the Easter Vigil (if they are already baptised) or a short time after the Easter Vigil (if they were not previously baptised). This is prepared for during the process known as the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. For more information about our parish’s RCIA program, click here.
To learn more about making a good confession, click here.
Reconciliation Times
St Francis Xavier, Hilbert
Saturday 8.30am – 9.00am (with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Saturday 5.30pm – 6.15pm
Sunday 5.15pm – 5.45pm
St Kevin, Serpentine
After the 9.00am Mass, every first Sunday of the month.
Reconciliation is also available at other times upon request.