Come to Him. Experience God's mercy firsthand.

 The sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is necessary in order to lead a fruitful life of holiness in full communion with Christ's Mystical Body, the Church: "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 reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation" (CCC No. 1440).

John Paul II further explains that the sacrament of Penance is the primary way of obtaining forgiveness of grave sin:

"The first conviction is that for a Christian the sacrament of penance is the primary way of obtaining forgiveness and the remission of serious sin committed after baptism. Certainly the Savior and his salvific action are not so bound to a sacramental sign as to be unable in any period or area of the history of salvation to work outside and above the sacraments. But in the school of faith we learn that the same Savior desired and provided that the simple and precious sacraments of faith would ordinarily be the effective means through which his redemptive power passes and operates. It would therefore be foolish, as well as presumptuous, to wish arbitrarily to disregard the means of grace and salvation which the Lord has provided and, in the specific case, to claim to receive forgiveness while doing without the sacrament which was instituted by Christ precisely for forgiveness" (RAP, 31).

source: catholic.org

There are four steps in the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

1. We feel contrition for our sins and a conversion of heart to change our ways.
2. We confess our sins and human sinfulness to a priest.
3. We receive and accept forgiveness (absolution) and are absolved of our sins.
4. We celebrate God’s everlasting love for us and commit to live out a Christian life.

The sinner wounds God’s honor and love, his own human dignity…and the spiritual well-being of the Church, of which each Christian ought to be a living stone. To the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin and nothing has worse consequences for the sinners themselves, for the Church, and for the whole world. 

- Catechism of the Cathoic Church 1487, 1488

The Spiritual effects of the Sacraments of Reconciliation include:

• reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace
• reconciliation with the Church
• remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins
• remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin
• peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation
• an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle 

The Sacaraments at St. Joseph's: Reconciliation

Weekly Celebration: 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in the church every Saturday from 4:00 - 4:45 pm, and on Sunday from 7:00 - 7:15 am.  If it is not possible for an individual to come at that time, he or she should feel free to call one of the priests to arrange a time that would be mutually convenient.

Advent and Lenten Reconciliation: 
Twice yearly, during the seasons of Advent and Lent, the sacrament of reconciliation is offered all day for parishioners. Emphasis is placed on the healing power of the sacrament and our experience of God’s saving love.

Initiation to Reconciliation: 
As part of their preparation for the reception of First Eucharist, the children are invited with their families to experience God’s loving acceptance through a communal celebration of Reconciliation. This sacrament is usually scheduled during the season of Advent.