The Sacrament is freely available and may be received by arranging it with Fr Donal also during the year communal celebrations and individual celebrations which are advertised in the Parish newsletter.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation continues to be available during covid -19 times by requesting the Sacrament directly from Fr Donal.
There are four steps in the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
- We feel contrition for our sins and a conversion of heart to change our ways.
- We confess our sins and human sinfulness to a priest.
- We receive and accept forgiveness (absolution) and are absolved of our sins.
- We celebrate God’s everlasting love for us and commit to live out a Christian life.
Sin damages our relationship with God, ourselves, and others.
A mature understanding of what sin is includes reflecting upon our thoughts, actions, and lapses in judgement. As well as examining the patterns of sin that may arise in our lives, with contrite hearts, we are also called to reflect upon the effects of our sin upon the wider community.
Through contrition and conversion leads us to seek forgiveness for our sins that we can repair our damaged relationships with God, ourselves, and others.
The Spiritual effects of the Sacraments of Reconciliation include:
- Reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace
- Reconciliation with the Church
- Remission of our sins and peace and calmness of conscience, at being reconciled with God and one another.
Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are called to conversion to Christ.