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Rest in Peace

Cardinal Bevilacqua

Rest in Peace

Month’s Mind Mass

  

190days since
First Sunday of Advent ~ Rollout of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal

Confessions

The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation or Penance is celebrated at Saint Thomas the Apostle as follows:
  • Saturday Evenings from 3:30 to 4:15 PM in the Church. Please be considerate of the 4:30 PM Mass when planning to celebrate. 
  • Wednesdays after the 9:00 AM and 12 Noon Daily Mass in Church.
  • By appointment with a parish Priest at a time that is mutually convenient.  These appointments are in the Parish Office during business hours. 
Those seeking guidance, counselling or more complex spiritual guidance are asked to make an appointment with a priest.  
 
Those seeking advice on the proper way to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance please see below.


How To Go To Confession  

1. PREPARATION: Before going to confession, the penitent compares his or her life with the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the example of Christ and then prays to God for forgiveness.

2. GOING TO CONFESSION: After the priest welcomes you, both of you make the sign of the cross. Then you may wish to indicate facts about your life, the time of the last confession, difficulties in leading the Christian life, and anything else that may help the
priest.

3. THE WORD OF GOD: You or the priest may read one of the suggested scriptural
passages.

4. CONFESSION OF SINS AND THE ACT OF PENANCE: Confess your sins. The priest
then offers suitable advice and imposes an act of penance or satisfaction, which may include prayer, self-denial, or works of mercy.

5. PRAYER OF THE PENITENT: Pray a prayer expressing sorrow for your sins and
resolving not to sin again. Two suggested prayers are given here:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love
above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads
me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
(Rite of Penance, no. 45)

or

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lamb of God; you take away the sins of the world.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit restore me to friendship with your Father, cleanse
me from every stain of sin in the blood you shed for me, and raise me to new life
for the glory of your name.
(Rite of Penance, no. 91)

6. ABSOLUTION: The priest extends his hands over your head and pronounces the
formula of absolution, making the sign of the cross over your head during the final words.
You answer, ‘Amen.”

7. PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE: Praise the mercy of God and give him thanks in a short invocation taken from Scripture, such as “Rejoice in the Lord and sing for joy, friends of God” (Ps 32:1-7, 10-1 1), “The Lord has remembered his mercy” (Lk 1:46-55), or “Blessed be God who chose us in Christ” (Eph 1:3-10) (Rite of Penance, no. 206).

8. DISMISSAL: The priest dismisses you with the command to go in peace. Continue to express your conversion through a life renewed according to the Gospel and more and more steeped in the love of God.