Penance: Encounter God's Boundless Mercy

GOOD NEWS: Confessions by Appointment will remain open after the 7/13 CDPH Order! Contact the parish office to RSVP. Your priest will celebrate the sacrament with you in a safe and designated spot outside. Public Penance Services at St. Catherine's remain temporarily suspended.

All those who remain homebound due to quarantine, health issues or age are invited to make a Perfect Act of Contrition and celebrate Spiritual Penance to immediately remove the guilt and punishment caused by sin and then later receive sacramental confession as soon as it is safe to do so.

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Sacramental Reconciliation frees us from our sins and further challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us. Through this sacrament, Christ invites you to turn away from sin and obtain a new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned."

Making a Good Confession

Act of Contrition Prayer | How to Examine Your Conscience | Additional USCCB Resources

How to Receive Sacramental Reconciliation

If it has been a while since your last confession, remember, “Do not fear” (Is 41:10). The priest will help guide you. And feel free to download and take this USCCB How-to-Guide with you!

“He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” (Lk 15: 31-32)

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Receive the Gift of Mercy

Outdoor Confessions by Appointment

Penance Service with Individual Confessions

Spend quality one-to-one time with your confessor by contacting our Parish Office and scheduling a time to celebrate the Sacrament privately.

Note: To accommodate everyone's needs during the pandemic, appointments will last approximately ten minutes and will be celebrated outside.

Contact Office »

Penance Service with Individual Confessions

First Wednesday 6:30 p.m

First Saturday 8:00 a.m.

Don't forget that the Examination of Conscience is an essential part of the Penance Service. Arrange to come early.

Note: Public Penance Services at St. Catherine's remain temporarily suspended.

Act of Perfect Contrition for the Homebound

During this pandemic, we are reminded of the Church teaching from CCC1452 of which St. Maximilian Kolbe echoes: "Whoever can, should receive the Sacrament of Penance. Whoever cannot, because of prohibiting circumstances, should cleanse his soul by acts of perfect contrition."

Making an Act of Perfect Contrition out of Love of God removes the guilt and punishment caused by sin:

Conversion - Being willing to turn back to God.
Avoiding Sin
Avoiding Temptations
Living the Gospel by Loving God and Loving Your Neighbor

The Act of Perfect Contrition includes the desire for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the intention to receive sacramental confession at the very first opportunity.

Start the process of forgiveness now:

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