Sacrament of Penance and Reconcilation
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week," Jesus showed himself to the apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained;" (Jn 20:19, 22-23)
Confessions are offered Saturdays at 3:00 pm at Ave Maria Parish-St Denis Church or by appointment.
"Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At. the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconcilation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconconcilation." (CCC 1440)
"Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification." (CCC 1446)
This Sacrament offers the free gifts of God’s mercy and forgiveness. This is a sacrament of spiritual healing and conversion in which we strive to be in a healthy relationship with God, others and ourselves. Confessing our sins and failings is a help to overcome sin forever in our lives. It brings us closer to the Heart of Christ, because as He forgives each person, they in turn learn to forgive others.