Confession

All Confessions are in the Chapel

Confession times

Wednesdays at 4:30 PM

Thursdays at 4:30 PM

Saturdays at 8:30 AM & 3:30PM

how to go to confession

examination of conscience

Examination of Conscience
for adults

To begin, set aside some quiet time for reflection. Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good examination to prepare for Confession. Read through the items on the following pages to help reflect honestly on ways you may be sinning in your life. If necessary, take this list or some brief notes (keep them private!) with you to Confession to help you remember what you need to confess. This examination is based on the 10 Commandments and the 5 Precepts of the Church. It is meant to be merely a starting point for your reflection and to help identify patterns of sin in order to repent of them.

the ten commandments

the five precepts of the church

Examination of Conscience
for Teens

To begin, set aside some quiet time for reflection. Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good examination to prepare for Confession. Read through the items on the following pages to help reflect honestly on ways you may be sinning in your life. If necessary, take this list or some brief notes (keep them private!) with you to Confession to help you remember what you need to confess. This examination is based on the 10 Commandments and the 5 Precepts of the Church. It is meant to be merely a starting point for your reflection and to help identify patterns of sin in order to repent of them.

the ten commandments

the five precepts of the church

Examination of Conscience
for kids

Before going to confession, set aside some quiet time to think about what sins you need to confess to Jesus. Start by praying to the Holy Spirit, asking for help in making a good preparation for Confession. Read through the items on this list to help you think about the ways in which you may have sinned. When ready, go to confession and ask Jesus for forgiveness for the sins you have committed.

the ten commandments

Confession guide

How to go to confession

1. when you are ready to begin, you say:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

2. THE PRIEST WILL THEN SAY THESE OR SIMILAR WORDS:

“May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in His mercy.”

3. THEN YOU SAY THESE OR SIMILAR WORDS:    

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been _____ (weeks, months, years) since my last confession. These are my sins…”

4. BRIEFLY DECLARE YOUR SINS AND HOW OFTEN YOU COMMITTED THEM. ONLY ESSENTIAL DETAILS ARE NECESSARY.

WHEN FINISHED DECLARING YOUR SINS, YOU SAY:

“I am sorry for these and all of my sins.”

5. THE PRIEST WILL THEN GIVE YOU COUNSEL AND ASSIGN YOU A PENANCE.

THEN YOU WILL PRAY THE PRAYER OF THE PENITENT (ACT OF CONTRITION) OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

“My God, 
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. 
In choosing to do wrong 
and failing to do good, 
I have sinned against you 
whom I should love above all things. 
I firmly intend, with your help 
to do penance, to sin no more, 
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. 
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. 
In His name, my God, have mercy.”

6. THEN THE PRIEST WILL PRAY THE PRAYER OF ABSOLUTION, ABSOLVING YOU FROM YOUR SINS.

THEN THE PRIEST WILL END THE CONFESSION WITH AN ACCLAMATION OF PRAISE TO GOD AND A DISMISSAL, SUCH AS THIS:

PRIEST: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”

YOU: “HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.”

PRIEST: “The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”

7. AFTER LEAVING THE CONFESSIONAL, BE SURE TO COMPLETE YOUR ASSIGNED PENANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.