As you bless yourself, say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confession" OR
It has been (HOWEVER LONG) since my last confession and these are my sins.”
Tell your sins to the priest.
When you are finished confession your sins, say “I am sorry for these and for all my sins.”
Father will give you a penance (some prayers or actions to perform).
Father will then ask you to say the Act of Contrition.** You can say: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. And I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments. But most of all, because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.”
Father will then give you absolution. He will say a prayer over you that ends with “…“I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Make the sign of the cross as he says these words)
You answer: Amen.
Father will say “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” (or something similar)".
You answer “Thank you, Father.”
Go to your pew and immediately say the penance Father gave you.
**You will not be asked to say an Act of Contrition in the confessional when you attend with your class. Your group will make an Act of Contrition before individual confessions begin. You will be asked to say this prayer whenever you come to confession by yourself or with your family.
Confessions are held every weekend 30 minutes before mass begins. Check schedule posted in the bulletin and in front of the Chapel.
