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  • Home
  • About
      • Welcome Home!
      • Staff
      • Holy Rood? Please explain...
      • Our History
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      • From the Pastor
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  • Worship & Sacraments
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  • sacrament of reconciliation
    • EXPERIENCE PEACE AND LOVE: If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, the Catholic Church wants to welcome you back, and invites you to participate in this beautiful sacrament of healing. Take a step in faith. You’ll be surprised about how free you feel after taking part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So many Catholics describe incredible feelings of peace, joy, relief, and love that they never expected. Jesus is calling you to experience His mercy in this way too.​​​​​

      In addition to our regular Wednesday confession schedule, priests will be also be available from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at ALL of our churches.

    • Confession Schedule

      St. John the Evangelist
      Monday • 4:30-5:30 pm  | Saturday • 3:00 - 3:45 pm

      St. Margaret of Scotland
      Tuesday • 4:30-5:30 pm  | Saturday • 1:00 - 2:00 pm

      St. Mary
      Wednesday • 4:30-5:30 pm  | Saturday • ​​​​​​​11:00 am - 12:00 pm
    • FAQ's about Reconciliation    
      Guide to Reconciliation 1         
      Guide to Reconciliation 2        
      Examination of Conscience     
      Teen Guide to Reconciliation

    • "Those who have been far away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation and forgiving love I make this appeal: come back to this source of grace; Do not be afraid! Christ himself is waiting for you. He will heal youand you will beat peace with God."

                                                   -John Paul II: September 13, 1987: San Antonio, Texas


      Sin separates us not only from God, but from His family, the Church. In this beautiful sacrament, the person experiences a healing encounter with Jesus Christ. We receive the Lord’s abundant mercy, healing and grace, which are infinite, and are given the strength to resist future temptation. Nothing we have done, or could do, can ever separate us from experiencing God’s forgiveness through this sacrament. Christ commissioned the Apostles to forgive sins when he said: "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained"  (John 20:23). At Ordination, our priests receive this same capacity to free us from our sins. The priest, In Persona Christi, represents the whole community of the faithful with whom we are also being reconciled. Catholics are required to receive this sacrament once a year. Especially appropriate times are Advent and Lent, which are penitential seasons; however, this sacrament may be received as often as necessary. Any Catholic who is aware of serious sin should receive this sacrament before receiving Holy Communion.

      The Essential Rite of Reconciliation

      There are four parts to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
      1. Confessing sins -  The person desiring the sacrament confesses his/her sins to a priest or bishop. Part of their ministry is to be an agent of divine mercy. They hear our confession, perhaps offer some words of counsel.
      2. Penance - The priest will suggest some external expression of our gratitude for God's mercy and intent to avoid sin. Penance may take the form of a prayer or work of charity.
      3. Act of Contrition - Having confessed sins, the penitent must freely express regret for the sin. The Act of Contrition may be a memorized formula or may be spoken freely from the heart.
      4. Absolution - After expressing sorrow, the priest prays with the penitent and in the name of Christ absolves him/her of all sin. (The priest does not confer absolution unless the first three parts are present.)

      Examination of Conscience

      Before the Sacrament of Penance, each individual should examine his/her conscience by asking him/herself these questions.
      • Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?
      • Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?
      • Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?
      • Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?
      • Have I any habits of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?  

      Prayer Before Confession

      O Lord, grant me light to see myself as you see me and the grace to be truly sorry for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.

      Making Your Confession

      • The penitent and the priest begin with the sign of the Cross, saying:In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
      • The priest urges the penitent to have confidence in God. The priest may say: May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.
      • The penitent then states: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (however many days, weeks, months or years) since my last confession.
      • The penitent then confesses his or her sins:
      • For the confession to be valid, the penitent must confess all of the mortal sins he or she is aware of having committed since the last confession, be sorry for them, and have a firm purpose of amendment to try not to commit the same sins in the future.
      • After this, the priest will generally give some advice to the penitent and impose a penance. Then he will ask the penitent to make an Act of Contrition. The penitent may do so in his or her own words, or may say one of the following:
       
      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.

      OR...O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

      OR...Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
       
      • After this the priest will absolve the penitent in the following words: "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;   through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
      • The penitent makes the sign of the Cross and answers: Amen
      • The priest will then dismiss the penitent with a short prayer and encouragement. 
      • The penitent should then try to fulfill the penance imposed if it is something that can be done quickly.
      •  
  • Home
  • About
      • Welcome Home!
      • Staff
      • Holy Rood? Please explain...
      • Our History
      • Our Patron Saints
      • New Collaborative Signage
      • Directions
      • From the Pastor
      • Homilies
      • Deacon John's Blog
      • Our Lady Star of the Sea
      • The Windows of St. Mary's
  • Worship & Sacraments
    • Worship
      • Lent 2023
      • Holy Week/Easter 2023
      • Mass Times & Devotions
      • Liturgical Ministers
      • Holy Days of Obligation
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • St. John Music Ministry
      • St. Margaret Music Ministry
      • St. Mary Music Ministry
      • The Rosary
      • The Divine Mercy Chaplet
      • Funerals
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • Marriage
      • Holy Orders/ Vocations
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Faith Formation
    • FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
      • Welcome
      • Program Overview 2022/23
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Tuition Angels
      • Ways of Praying
      • Deep Dives
      • Faith Fundamentals Tracking
      • Confirmation
      • Catechist Corner
      • Calendar & Schedules
      • FORMED
      • RCIA (for youth)
    • YOUTH FORMATION
      • Youth Ministry
      • Permission Slip
      • Catholic Heart Work Camp
      • Discipleship Week
      • Mass On A Mountain
      • Steubenville East
      • Teen-Led Stations of the Cross
      • VBF (Coming Soon!)
    • ADULT FORMATION
      • Adult Bible Study
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Catholic Resources
      • The Institute for the New Evangelization
      • And The Answer Is...
  • Parish Life
    • Up and Coming Events
      • Parish Events
      • Lent 2023
      • Blood Pressure Clinics
      • Capuchin Mobile Ministries
      • First Friday
      • Ministry Fair
      • Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage
      • St. Patrick's Day Dinner
      • Trivia Night!
      • $5000 Bonanza WINNERS
    • Video Library
      • Fr. Brian Video Messages
      • Parish Presentations
      • Photo Albums
      • Other
    • Parish Life
      • Bulletins
      • Calendar
      • African Community
      • Annual Outdoor Mass and BBQ
      • Bible Study
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • Faith and Family
      • Hail Mary Challenge
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Outreach Ministries
      • Parish Councils
      • Parish Ministries
      • Protecting God's Children
      • Register in the Collaborative
      • Scholarship News and Announcements
      • St. Vincent de Paul
      • Social Justice Committee
    • Community
      • ACTS
      • Archdiocese of Boston
      • BINGO
      • Boy Scouts: Troop 77
      • Knights of Columbus
      • La Salette Shrine: Attleboro
      • Marriage Encounter
      • National Marriage Week
      • Natural Family Planning
      • Project Rachel Ministry
      • Pro Life
      • Recovery
      • St. Vincent de Paul
      • The Institute for the New Evangelization
  • Stewardship
      • Stewardship: Living a Christ-Centered Life
      • On Line Giving
      • Weekly Offertory
      • 2023 Second Collection Schedule
      • 2023 Grand Annual Campaign
      • 2023 Catholic Appeal
      • Financial Reports
      • St. Mary Elevator
      • Building Updates
      • End-Of-Year Donations
  • I would like to
      • Watch Mass via Livestream
      • Register in the Collaborative
      • Get Married
      • Have My Child Baptized
      • Plan a Funeral
      • Request a Prayer Shawl
      • Reserve a Room
      • Subscribe to FLOCKNOTE
      • Complete My CORI Form
      • Be an Altar Server
      • Remember a Loved One
      • Request A Prayer
      • Report a Facility Issue
      • Get Directions
 
Home to St. John the Evangelist, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Mary Parish Families. Leading ALL to the ONE TRUE CROSS!

Parish Offices: 115 Middlesex St. | North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Phone: (978)-256-2374

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 am - 5 pm | Wednesday 9:30 am - 5 pm | Friday 9 am - 3 pm

Please contact Christine Trznadel, Communications Director, with any edits or comments regarding our website. Thank you!

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