The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1484; "Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession." There are profound reasons for this. Christ is at work in each of the sacraments. He personally addresses every sinner: "My son, your sins are forgiven." He is the physician tending each one of the sick who need him to cure them. He raises them up and reintegrates them into fraternal communion. Personal confession is thus the form most expressive of reconciliation with God and with the Church. Through Reconciliation, Christians are freed from sins committed after Baptism. 

The Sacrament has four elements, three on the part of the penitent (contrition, confession and satisfaction) and one on the part of the minister of the Sacrament (absolution).

Catholics distinguish between two types of sin: Mortal sins are a grave violation of God's law that turns man away from God. Someone who is aware of having committed mortal sins must repent of having done so, and must confess them in order to benefit from the Sacrament. Venial sins, the kind that "does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God", can be remitted by contrition and reception of other Sacraments, but they too are rightly and usefully declared in confession.

At Holy Family Notre Dame, confessions are heard by a priest on Saturdays from 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM, prior to the 5:00 PM Mass; please see the parish calendar for any changes to this schedule.  If you are unable to make this time, please contact the office for an appointment; it is important to phone or email ahead to schedule a time, as the priest is often away from the church building outside of Mass times.