Dear Parishioners,

Pope Francis said last Sunday that Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, an occasion to demonstrate trust in God’s willingness to forgive his children and to help them back on the path of following Jesus. He then offered this examination of conscience:

•  Do I turn to God only when I’m in need?
•  Do I attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
•  Do I begin and end the day with prayer?
•  Am I embarrassed to show that I am a Christian?
•  Do I rebel against God’s plan?
•  Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
•  Am I honest and fair with everyone, or do I fuel the “throwaway culture?”
•  In my marital and family relations, do I uphold morality as taught in the Gospels?
•  Do I honour and respect my parents?
•  Have I refused newly conceived life? Have I snuffed out the gift of life? Have I helped do so?
•  Do I respect the environment?
•  Am I part worldly and part believer?
•  Do I overdo it with eating, drinking, smoking, and amusements?
•  Am I overly concerned about my physical well-being, my possessions?
•  How do I use my time? Am I lazy?
•  Do I want to be served?
•  Do I dream of revenge, hold grudges?
•  Am I meek, humble, and a builder of peace?

  He concluded “Whoever says he is without sin is a liar or is blind.”

Fr John