Reconciliation

Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:15, or at anytime by appointment. (Click here for Mass times.)

During the seasons of Advent and Lent, extra opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation are offered. Please check weekly bulletin, mailings, website and postings for updated times.

If you wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at a different time, simply call the Church office to schedule a time with our priest.

Forgiveness of Sins Involves Four Parts:

Contrition: Sincere sorrow for offending God, and the most important act of the penitent. There can be no forgiveness of sin if we do not have sorrow and a firm resolve not to repeat our sin.

Confession: Confronting our sins in a profound way by speaking about them – aloud– to the priest.

Penance: An act of reparation that the priest imposes to help us heal from our sins.

Absolution: The priest speaks the words by which God, the father of mercies, reconciles us to Himself through the healing power of the Cross.

Requirements for Children

Children in our parish who have reached the age of reason (considered to be seven years of age) should begin their studies to receive First Penance at the beginning of their 1st grade year, either in our parish school, St. Elizabeth Regional School or through our P.R.E.P. program. Two years of catechesis is necessary before receiving Sacraments. Please contact either the school 610-264-0143 or our Director of Religious Education Mrs. Mary Spieker, 610-266-0695 ext 208 for more information.

Children shall be prepared for and given the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before their First Holy Communion.

The child’s readiness for the celebration of the sacrament is to be determined by the child, the parent, and the pastor or his delegate.

A child’s readiness for the sacrament uses criteria such as:

• A trust in God’s forgiving love
• A sense of belonging to the church community
• An understanding of forgiveness, a desire to give and receive forgiveness
• A sense of right and wrong and of the reality of evil
• A knowledge of sin, an ability to describe wrong-doing in his/her own words
• An ability to say "I'm sorry" to express a sense of repentance.