Reconciliation (Confession)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. in the Confessional in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Reconciliation is also available by appointment. Contact Fr. Mike Reinhardt at 763-745-3495 to set up an appointment.

Has it been a while since your last confession? Wondering how to prepare the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Read more about Reconciliation here.

As a result of Original Sin, human nature is weakened. Although Baptism takes away Original Sin, human nature's inclination to evil persists. Forgiveness of our sins is a necessity for every person who wishes to grow in their spiritual connection with Christ. A positive confession experience hinges on a person's mindset. We must return to God, like the prodigal son, and acknowledge our sins with true sorrow.

First Reconciliation at Holy Name of Jesus for Children

Please visit this webpage for information and registration for the First Sacraments program for elementary students.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 763-473-7901.


First Reconciliation at Holy Name of Jesus for Adults

Adults wishing to receive First Reconciliation are encouraged to join the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program.

About Confession

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk 2:17).

Why go to confession? Jesus gave us the sacrament of Confession (or Reconciliation) when he breathed on the Apostles saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:22-23). This authority to forgive sins has been passed on from the apostles to the priests of our own time through the sacrament of Holy Orders. Confession is the only ordinary means of forgiveness for mortal sins committed after baptism. Though other extraordinary means are possible, they are never guaranteed and shouldn’t be presumed upon. As all sacraments do, it also bestows an increase of grace.

How do I make a good confession? Essential to a good confession is contrition. Contrition means “turning away” from past sin with a resolve to sin no more (see Ezek 33:11; Jn 8:11). Since contrition implies a knowledge of one’s own sins, we should examine our conscience before confession (see page 2). During confession, we should state our sins humbly and frankly, avoiding any details that go beyond the nature of the sin or the circumstances affecting its gravity.

What do I need to confess? All known mortal sins must be confessed. This includes the number of times they were committed (at least approximately). Venial sins, strictly speaking, do not need to be confessed, but it is spiritually beneficial for us to do so. For a sin to be mortal it must meet three conditions: It must be (1) grave (i.e. serious) and it must be committed with (2) full knowledge and (3) deliberate consent. Just as a sick person must be willing to show his wound to the doctor to be healed, so must we be willing to confess any and all mortal sins we are conscious of to be forgiven. Though confessing our sins can sometimes be difficult, it is reassuring to remember that a good confession is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience.

What if I forget a sin? If a mortal sin is unintentionally forgotten, it is forgiven, but it must still be confessed at one’s next confession. If one is uncertain whether a mortal sin was already confessed in the past, there is no obligation to confess that sin. Nonetheless, it may be wise and prudent to do so.

Will the priest tell my sins to anyone? The priest is never allowed to disclose the sins of a penitent for any reason.

Adults