"Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God." - Saint John Paul II
About Confession
Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people, and God. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation was given to us by Christ to help us reconcile with Christ and his Church when we have committed harm. Through the Sacrament, we acknowledge our sins, express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future. During his public life, Jesus both forgave sins and reintegrated sinners into the community. This is the goal of the Sacrament of Confession: to forgive sins and to provide reconciliation with the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaching on Confession
The Names of the Sacrament
Called the Sacrament of Conversion, Penance, Confession, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation, each name highlighting a different aspect of God's mercy (CCC 1423–1424).
Institution by Christ
Jesus gave the apostles authority to forgive sins after His resurrection: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23; CCC 1441–1442)
Why Confession is Needed
Even after Baptism, Christians sin. Confession reconciles us with God and the Church when we fall (CCC 1425–1426).
The Effects of the Sacrament
Reconciliation with God (CCC 1468)
Reconciliation with the Church (CCC 1469)
Peace and spiritual consolation (CCC 1468)
Spiritual strength to resist future sin (CCC 1496)
The Essential Elements of the Sacrament
Contrition – sincere sorrow for sin (CCC 1451)
Confession – telling sins to a priest (CCC 1455–1456)
Absolution – priest grants forgiveness in Christ’s name (CCC 1449)
Satisfaction – doing penance to repair harm caused by sin (CCC 1459)
The Minister of the Sacrament of Confession
Bishops and priests have the authority to forgive sins (CCC 1461)
When and Where is Confession at Seton Parish
Confession is regularly offered at Seton Parish every Saturday from 3:30 - 4:15 pm, on the first Friday of the month from 9:00 - 10:00 am, and by appointment.
Additional times for confession are offered during Advent and Lent.
There are two confessionals located to the right when facing the altar.
First Confession for Youth
First Confession is celebrated prior to the reception of First Eucharist. Students should be registered in our Seton Parish Youth (SPY) Faith Formation Program to prepare to receive this and other Sacraments. For more information visit our Seton Parish Youth page.
First Confession for Adults
First Confession for adults is also celebrated prior to the reception of First Eucharist for those already Baptized. Adults seeking to learn more about the Sacraments and the Catholic faith should contact the OCIA team for more information. OCIA is the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults seeking to become Catholic.
Our OCIA team is ready to help wherever you are in your journey to learn more about the Catholic faith and complete your Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, we have a place for you here and want to help you grow and develop within the beauty of our Catholic faith and its Sacraments.
The easiest place to begin is to fill out our online inquiry form and Tina Bowie, our OCIA director, will reach out to you. You can also contact Tina directly at 614-833-0485 Ext. 227 or tbowie@setonparish.com
Have Questions?
Please contact our parish office staff for additional information.
