In the Mass, we come before God in the presence of our community and our priest, to humbly ask for forgiveness in any way we have been separated from God's love--by our actions, words, thoughts or deeds.

Through frequent examination of conscience, we look at our lives and ask ourselves how well we have served or failed in being followers of Christ.

By naming these moments of separation, these sometimes deliberate and unloving acts, we prepare ourselves to let go of them and be washed free in the act of penance, to not carry them any longer through guilt, habit, choice or pain.

In the act of reconciliation, we ask God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through agreement with our brother-priest, to create a clean heart and a new spirit within us. We ask for the strength and grace of reconciliation within ourselves, and for forgiveness from any we have offended.

"Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth." Ephesians 4:24

For the updated schedule for confessions, click here and scroll under the Mass Times.


For parents seeking First Reconciliation preparation for children entering Second Grade, First Reconciliation is taught with First Communion preparation.
The completion of First Grade is a prerequisite. For more information, please contact Kathleen Kechnie at kathleen@saintstephencc.org.