Reconciliation

Reconciliation at St. Francis of Assisi

Confession Schedule

• Every Saturday from 3:30pm – 4:30 p.m. in the Church. Typically two priests are available during this time, but during June-August, only one priest will be hearing confessions.
• First Thursday of the month from 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. (during Holy Hour) in the Church.
• Appointments for confession may also be scheduled, particularly for the homebound.

During Advent and Lent, check the website and Forum for more information about regional Penance services.

Other Local Confession Opportunities

The Ann Arbor region is blessed with many opportunities for you to have access to a priest to hear your confession in addition to the opportunities at St. Francis of Assisi. Contact neighboring parishes or the Ave Maria Chapel at Domino's Farms for their schedules.

A Sacrament of Healing

In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (commonly called Confession or Penance) is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism. For the confession to be acceptable according to Catholic teaching, the penitent (person seeking forgiveness) must tell his or her sins directly to an ordained Catholic priest or bishop. The priest or bishop will then recite the prayers of absolution to forgive the penitent’s sins. The penitent may confess his sins face to face with the priest, or anonymously through a screen known as a “grill”. In 1215 the Fourth Lateran Council made it canon law that every Catholic Christian receive this sacrament at least once a year.

Preparing for Confession

Examination of Conscience

Examination of conscience is a review of one’s past thoughts, words, actions, and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with, or deviation from, the moral law. This is a private review; the Catholic Church encourage penitents who wish to receive the sacrament of reconciliation to examine their conscience using the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, or the Corporal Works of Mercy as a guide.

Recently, several electronic applications have been introduced that can aid a penitent in making a good confession, similar to printed works known as “examinations of conscience”. Electronic aids, according to Vatican statements, cannot replace confession direct to a priest, as only a priest in person can confer sacramental absolution. As of February 2011, one widely publicized example was an “app” for the iPhone called “Confession: A Roman Catholic App”.

First Reconciliation Preparation

Preparation for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation normally takes place in the second grade for children baptized in the Catholic Faith. For more information please visit the First Reconciliation page.