In St Pius X Parish, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is made available on Saturdays between 6.30pm – 6.50pm before the 7pm Saturday evening vigil Mass. The Sacrament can also be celebrated on request after 10am weekday Mass (except after Funeral Celebrations).

What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also known as the ‘Sacrament of Penance’ or traditionally called ‘Confession’. It is the Sacramental Rite by which sins are confessed and forgiven. Sin is failure to recognise and live and love God in the way we think, speak or act.  Sin is not only a failure to love God directly but also a failure to love one another. This is referred to as ‘communal sin”.

Absolution

In this Sacrament people are forgiven, and ‘Absolution’ is gifted by God through the words and actions of the Priest. The priest in his ministry represents God and the community affected by sin. The Priest, under the instruction of the Lord Jesus and in the power of the Spirit, ministers’ forgiveness on behalf of God and the community.

Forms of Celebration

The sacrament is celebrated in a one-to-one encounter with a priest, known as ‘individual confession’. Parishes also organise ‘Penitential Services’ at special times e.g. Advent, Lent and Parish Missions. In this form of celebration, known as ‘Communal Celebration’, people prepare as a community, and gathered priests hear the confessions individually and absolution is received individually.

Penance

Penance is an act of compensation for an offence, signifying sorrow for sin and is a commitment to try to make amends, a sign of sincerity to change for the better. This is what is meant by conversion. When the Sacrament is a communal celebration, the penance is often in the form of prayer, offered with the gathered community once all have had the opportunity to confess. When celebrated in the traditional one-to-one form, a penance is given, and the person takes on that penance privately.