Dear Parishioners,

This Thursday at 6 pm, I will be hearing confessions in the chapel during an Advent Holy Hour. If you do not regularly go to confession, now is a great time to take advantage of the sacrament. In order to help you with Confession, here is a short examination of conscience on some common sins:

• Have you ever received communion in a state of mortal sin?
• Have you ever participated in non-Catholic worship or superstitious practices?
• Do I neglect prayer or other important aspects of my faith?
• Have you used Our Lord’s name in an unworthy manner?
• Have you missed Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation?
• Have you fulfilled all your obligations to your parents or children?
• Have you ever purposefully harmed someone? Or wished harm on them?
• Have you participated in an abortion?
• Have you committed any of the sexual sins such as adultery, fornication, pornography, masturbation or lust in general?
• Have you stolen anything?
• Have I wasted time?
• Have you lied to anyone? Especially to someone who ought to know the truth?
• Have you gossiped or defamed someone?
• Have you been greedy or put the acquiring of things over treating others well?
• Have you been jealous about the relationships other people have?

I hope you find that helpful and when you come to confession, here is the Act of Contrition:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

God bless!

Fr. Carter

P.S. Also as a reminder, sometimes people participate in General Confession services where many people are absolved at once and no one confesses their sins individually to the priest. This is unfortunate and misleading because this form of confession is only valid during times of dire emergency when it would be impossible for the priest to hear every confession. Furthermore, even in those circumstances, those penitents are required to make an individual confession if they survive the emergency. So, if you have participated in this kind of service, please make a real confession.