Reconciliation / Penance

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The sacrament of reconciliation is available at St. Helen: Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. in the Church, Sunday before each Mass by request, or by appointment with Fr. Jay. Communal Penance Services are available twice a year prior to Christmas and Easter, see the bulletin or calendar for times and exact dates.

"He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit, Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Jn. 20:22-23)

Christ instituted the Sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their Baptismal grace and wounded the ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers new possibility to convert and recover the grace of justification. The church fathers present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace." (cc 1446)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated for the first time prior to the reception of the Sacrament of Eucharist and after Baptism. If your child has not been baptized, please contact Maria Flauto 440.564.5805 X 211 to make arrangements to be baptized prior to celebrating Reconciliation.

1st Reconciliation & 1st Communion are received in the 2nd grade. Students must have been enrolled in either PSR or a Catholic School in the 1st grade and baptized to be eligible to prepare to receive these sacraments.