Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (Confession)
Is God the center of my life? Do I understand my fundamental need for God, on account of my sin? Do I really embrace God's saving love and strive to live by it? This often misunderstood Sacrament is truly an encounter with the profound mercy and love of God, which encourages us to see our lives as God sees them, to accept healing, and to work to repair the broken relationships and do good in the example of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit--we cannot do this alone, and so we turn to God and our brothers and sisters in Christ to see and experience the miraculous forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available every Saturday at 3:30 pm (Except Holy Saturday) or by appointment with the priest. Please contact the parish office to arrange an appointment, or contact Fr. Steve directly.
Communal Penance Services with individual confession are available throughout the city during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Look for announcements on the upcoming communal penance services or contact the parish office for more information.
St. Thomas the Apostle hosts the Lenten communal penance service for the Billings West End, while St. Pius X hosts the Advent penance service.
Fr. Mike Schmitz from Ascension Press on making a good confession:
"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 422
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
For the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please make an appointment by contacting the parish office to arrange an appointment, or contact Fr. Steve directly.
The Sacred Scriptures tell us in the book of James 5:14-15: "Is anyone among you sick? ... summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over the sick person and anoint [him/her] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of the faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him [her] up. If he [she] has committed any sins, he [she] will be forgiven."
Infirmity of any kind can challenge us in our relationship with God, especially when that illness is prolonged, chronic, might involve surgery, serious or life-threatening. The temptations in such a vulnerable state serve as an invitation to renew our relationship with God and place our trust all the more in Jesus Christ who is the physician of life. Though physical/miraculous healing is possible, the Sacrament is above all about the most important healing we need--restoration of our relationship with God and forgiveness of our sins in the midst of trying times.
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1499