Communal
Reconciliation Services
The gift of God’s grace always
highlights our need for it as we stumble
through sin and broken-ness in our lives.
Ruptured relationships, dishonesty and
selfishness obscure God’s image in us.
Personal, one to one confession with the
priest offers solace and healing but can
seem disconnected from the social
ramifications of sin.
In the past thirty years, the Church
has offered a venue in which we, as a
Christian community, can come to find
God’s mercy and forgiveness. Communal
penance services provide a liturgical
environment in which we hear the Word of
God and beautiful healing music as we
acknowledge that we have hurt others and
stand in need of reconciliation. These
celebrations culminate with a time for
individual confessions followed by a
commonly recited Our Father and offering
the sign of peace to each other.
St. Raphael’s parish offers these
celebrations at least twice a year,
during Advent and Lent. Please check the
bulletins or call the office for exact
dates.
Communal reconciliation services are
most suited to confessing venial
(minor) sin. If someone is in the
state of grave or serious sin, the
Church advises the penitent to avail
themselves to individual confession
with a priest.
We offer individual confessions on
Saturday afternoons from 4:00 - 4:30 PM
or by appointment (just call the office
and ask for one of the priests).
Contact Person: St. Raphael
Parish (905) 637-2346.
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