Sometimes on our journey to everlasting life we stumble and fall into sin. God is always ready to pick us up and restore us to the path of salvation. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation God restores us to fellowship with himself and his church. "Those who approach the Sacrament of [Reconciliation] obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins..." (CCC 1422). The priest, who we confess our sins to, represents both God and the Church, thus reuniting us with our Father and our brother. The priest in his words of absolution expresses the essential elements of this sacrament. The Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church (CCC 1449). In one of the forms of absolution the priest says:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

At St. Rita's, we can celebrate God's forgiveness at individual confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation which is also called Penance) on Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. or by appointment.

St. Rita's Guidelines for First Reconciliation for Children
First Reconciliation at St. Rita's usually occurs in February or March.

• Candidates are typically second graders.
• Instruction is during the School of Religion's second grade class held on Monday evenings.
• Parents are required to participate in their child's preparation.
• Adults prepare for first Reconciliation through the R.C.I.A. process.