The Sacrament of Reconciliation (commonly called Confession or Penance) is the method given by Christ to the Church by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving Baptism.

Catholics believe that no priest, as an individual man, however pious or learned, has the power to forgive sins apart from God. However, God can and does accomplish the forgiveness of sins through the Catholic priesthood in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is validly administered by any validly ordained priest or bishop having jurisdiction to absolve the penitent.

In the Catholic tradition, after making an examination of conscience that often involves review of the Ten Commandments, the penitent confesses his/her sins in order to restore his/her relationship to God and to receive the fullness of God's grace and salvation. The intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin.

For Catholic priests, the confidentiality of all statements made by penitents during the course of confession is absolute. This strict confidentiality is known as the Seal of the Confessional. Priests may not reveal what they have learned during confession to anyone, even under the threat of their own death or that of others.

For our schedule of Reconciliation at St. Peter Church, click here. For information regarding the preparation for First Reconciliation, click here. For further details, please contact our Director of Faith Formation by calling the parish office at (859) 252-7551.