Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace" (Catechism of the Catholic Chruch 1446).
Penance is a sacrament of healing and a sign of God’s mercy and love. Penance welcomes us back to a close relationship with God and the community.
At least one parent is to attend all scheduled Confessions with their child. The Sacrament of Penance will be celebrated in the first year of sacramental formation, normally First Grade. Each child preparing for 1st Communion will be required to attend four Confessions each year of sacramental formation here at St. John the Baptist.
The goal is to form a lifelong habit of going to confession regularly rather than a one-time event.
Our prayer is that with regular Confession, our children will grow to see the beauty of God’s mercy and forgiveness given to us through the Sacrament of Penance and flee to Him to keep their souls strong in the Lord.