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WHAT TO DO

1. Wait at the chairs outside of the confessional until the priest is available. This is a good time to pray and do an Examination of Conscience.
2. Walk into the confessional and sit down across from the priest.
3. Pray the sign of the cross.
4. Tell the priest how long it has been since your last confession. ("Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been _____ days/weeks/months/years since I have been to confession.")
5. Name your sins. Many people finish their confession with something like, "for these and all past sins, I am truly sorry."
6. The priest may offer some type of counsel, then gives you some penance to do.
7. The priest asks you to say an Act of Contrition (See Below).
8. The priest absolves you of your sins. You will cross yourself as he mentions the Blessed Trinity.
9. The priest will say something like, "Your sins have been forgiven, now go in peace."
10. You can thank the priest for his time and exit the confessional.

ACT OF CONTRITION
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION

1. Catechesis should stress the place of Reconciliation in the process of ongoing conversion and growth in holiness of the human person.
2. The catechesis itself emphasizes GodŐs mercy and loving forgiveness.
3. Catechesis should include an understanding of sin and its effect on person in relationship to other and God.
4. Various forms of the sacrament should be explained while stressing that individual confession and absolution remains the ordinary way of reconciling the faithful with God and the Church.
5. The historical development of the Sacrament should be covered.
6. Catechesis for 1st Reconciliation is to precede 1st Communion and must be kept distinct from catechesis for 1st communion.
7. Reconciliation should normally be celebrated before 1ST communion for those Baptized as infants.
8. Parents should be involved in the preparation of their children for this sacraments.

CONTACT
Dan McGowan
Office of Religious Education 863-644-0585