And when he had said this, 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.”
— John 20:23

Due to concupiscence, we are all prone to fall into temptation. At times, our sin can be serious enough to make us fall from grace. In order to be restored to the purity we received in baptism and to our state of grace, our Lord, Jesus Christ, instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through this sacrament, our sins are forgiven and our peace returned.

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins.  With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). 

Catholics may receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Genevieve Church daily from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. or by appointment by calling (773) 237-3011.