Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Penance or Confession) is an invitation for Catholics to experience the love and mercy of God the Father through the ministry of priests. Catholics can experience healing through forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God and His Church. Catholics are always welcomed back to receive this sacrament - whether it has been two weeks or two decades since the last Confession. Often those who have gone to Confession relay experiencing peace and joy and feeling the weight come off their shoulders as they receive forgiveness for their sins. If you have not gone to Confession in a while, we want to welcome you back and take part in this beautiful sacrament of healing.
Confession at St. Edmund's currently takes place at the following times:
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Tuesday to Friday after the 9:00 am Mass
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Saturdays from 3:30 – 4:15 pm
Children preparing for their First Holy Communion receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in April of each year. This is preceded by classroom formation beginning in September and a parent meeting. Please contact the parish office for more information on First Communion.
What are Sacraments?
As Catholics, we believe that the sacraments are, as St. Augustine put it, outward and visible signs of inward and invisible grace. Outwardly, the sacraments involve words and physical matter and actions, while inwardly they are the direct means by which we experience God’s grace in our lives. The sacraments are far more than mere rituals, or symbols of events that happened long ago; rather, they are a vital source of the help that God freely offers to aid us in our journey of faith.
Each of the seven sacraments was instituted by Jesus Christ, and they are the primary way for us to engage in our faith and grow in our relationship with God. The Father gave his Son out of absolute and perfect love for us, and in the sacraments we encounter the Son’s self-giving love. As we participate in the Church’s liturgies and receive the sacraments, the Holy Spirit works in us to make us more like Jesus.
The sacraments are at the heart of our Catholic faith, and we want to encourage you to receive the sacraments as often as you are able. If you have any questions or would like to receive any of the sacraments, please contact the parish office and we would be happy to assist you.