Communal Penance Service: Tomorrow!
>> Wednesday, March 17, 2010
From the Parish Website:
Lenten Communal Penance Service
This year’s Lenten Communal Penance service will be on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:00pm
A Gentle Guide for Penance
The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the “prodigal son” and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest. Remember, if you need help–especially if you have been away for some time–simply ask the priest and he will help you by “walking” you through the steps to make a good confession.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is an integral part of Lenten and Easter seasons. If we, as a community, celebrate the loving presence of Christ in the Eucharist, it would be beautiful if we can also celebrate the forgiving presence of Christ in a Communal Penance service. We beg for God’s forgiveness and we receive the grace to forgive one another. If God accepts us as we are, we also accept one another as brothers and sisters.
We are inviting and encouraging all parishioners to make time for this penance service.
Looking for a little more encouragement to go? Take this for a reflection (I found it in the comments section of an article entitled "Because We Don't Celebrate Sin").
My 8 year-old made her First Penance yesterday. She chose 'face-to-face' because she said "I wanted to look into the the priest's eyes, have a conversation with him about some things I had done wrong." She added that while she was bit "scared", she felt "really good" after talking to him and receiving absolution. She literally left the confessional skipping. It was a beautiful day for our family yesterday. Her penance: to walk to the front of the church and stand before the main crucifix and say "I love you Jesus with all my heart."
Beautiful Stuff.
