St. Patrick Catholic Church, Crosby

09/04/2026

Why Should I Confess My Sins to a Priest?
***In our series on the Sacraments, this week we continue the topic of Confession and its Biblical roots.

The Short Answer:
You don’t confess your sins to a priest - you confess to Jesus Christ, who uses His priest as His instrument.

1. Only GOD Forgives Sins
Scripture is clear: God alone forgives sins (See Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12).

The Catholic Church fully agrees. No priest replaces God. But here’s the key: How does God choose to forgive?

2. GOD Uses Human Instruments
When Jesus walked the earth, He forgave sins through His human nature:
“Your sins are forgiven…” (Matthew 9:2–7)

Then something shocking happens: The people glorified God because He gave this authority to MEN (Matthew 9:8). So the issue is not “Can God forgive?” The real question is: Can God give that authority to men?

Scripture says YES.

3. Even in the Old Testament, GOD Worked Through Priests
In the Book of Leviticus, we repeatedly see:
“The priest shall make atonement… and he shall be forgiven.”
God didn’t bypass His ministers—He worked through them. Pattern established: God forgives > But He uses visible mediators.

4. Confession to GOD Still Included Confession to Man
King David spoke directly to God… Yet after his sin:
- He confessed to the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13)
- And heard God’s forgiveness through him
Even with direct prayer to God, God still used a human voice to declare forgiveness.

5. Jesus Gave This Authority to the Apostles
This is the turning point:
“Whatever you bind… whatever you loose…” (Matthew 16:19, 18:18)
“Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them…” (John 20:21–23)
This is not symbolic language. Jesus literally entrusted His authority. Important question: How can apostles forgive or retain sins… unless sins are confessed to them?

6. The Apostles Continued This Ministry
“God… gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18)
“We are ambassadors for Christ… God making His appeal through us”
And even more clearly:
“Confess your sins…” (1 John 1:9)
“Confess your sins to one another…” (James 5:16)
This is not optional spirituality—This is apostolic practice.

7. The Priest Acts In Persona Christi
When a priest says: “I absolve you…” He is not speaking for himself. He is acting in the Person of Christ (in persona Christi). Just like:
- Prophets spoke in God’s name
- Apostles acted in Christ’s authority
The priest becomes the visible sign of Christ’s invisible mercy.

8. Why Not Just Confess Directly to GOD?
You can pray directly to God—and you should. But Jesus established something more:
- A visible sacrament
- A guaranteed assurance of forgiveness
- A personal encounter with His mercy
Because we are not just spiritual beings— we are body and soul. So God gives us a visible way to receive invisible grace.

Simple Analogy:
God is the Divine Healer. The priest is the instrument (like a scalpel).
> You don’t trust the scalpel
> You trust the Doctor using it

Final Apologetic Summary
- Yes, only God forgives sins
- But God chooses to forgive through His ministers
- This pattern exists in both Old and New Testaments
- Jesus explicitly gave the Apostles authority to forgive sins
- That authority continues today through the priesthood

Therefore, confession to a priest is not replacing God—
it is obeying the way Christ Himself established forgiveness

Reflection
Confession is not humiliation—it is liberation. Not judgment—but mercy made audible. When you kneel in confession, you are not speaking to a mere man… You are kneeling before Christ, the Divine Physician, who heals your soul through His Church.

***Source: Catholic Faith Defenders - San Pedro Cathedral Chapter. Reprinted with permission.

09/03/2026

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08/29/2026

Imagine your 3–6-year old willingly engaging in a relationship with God.
Imagine your child sitting in silence, praying, listening, and meditating. Does that seem unbelievable at this age?

This is what Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) helps make possible.

St. Patrick’s is excited to offer our second year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level 1, for children ages 3–6!

CGS is a Montessori method of faith formation that invites children into a deep relationship with God - in a special way, the Good Shepherd. It is a hands-on experience where the catechist serves as a guide rather than simply filling the child with information.

The catechist prepares a beautiful, sacred space called an atrium and offers presentations rooted in Scripture and the Liturgy, along with questions that invite wonder and reflection. This creates an environment where the Holy Spirit has the space to work and speak to the child’s heart.

Shane Gunlock and Mary Minwegen, our trained catechists, are offering two atrium times through the school year, each lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes:

📅 Beginning

Tuesday, September 15
🕓 4:45 PM

Wednesday, September 16th
🕕 4:15 PM

Registration deadline: September 8

There will also be a parent meeting on Tuesday, September 8 at 4:30 PM at St. Patrick’s.

CGS is open to any child, regardless of faith background. Although originally developed by Catholics, many other faith beliefs use this method now because of its effectiveness.

Interested in learning more? We would love to show you our atrium and answer any questions you may have!

📞 Contact Mary at 701-799-0663 to arrange a tour.

🔗 The registration link can be found in the comments.

🎥 We also have a brief video in the comments so you can get a glimpse of what CGS looked like in our atrium!

Share this post and tell others about this opportunity for the young children in our community!

**********

The following are testimonials from parents/grandparents of children from our first atrium year:

“My son loves the hands on learning that CGS offers.” - Kayla Jacobs

"I knew a little bit about the atrium environment and wasn’t sure this energetic, bouncy kid who thinks he’s a dinosaur would respond. He seemed to gradually grasp an understanding of “sacred space”. He didn’t relate a lot of his experience to me verbally, but through some of his questions and day to day conversations I knew there was something beautiful unfolding in his heart." - Kay Garbel

"When I attended the Atrium open house for families…., I was truly amazed when Mayley was sharing what she had learned. One moment that really stood out to me was when she explained to me, in her own words, about the Parable of the Mustard Seed. I also was so impressed when she was able to show me on her own exactly how the altar should be set up. But by far my favorite part has been seeing Mayley’s curiosity and love for her faith grow. She is asking more questions about her relationship with God and showing a greater interest in prayer" - Rayme Haggin

08/28/2026

The Biblical Prefigurement of Confession: From Genesis to Christ

***Last week, we began a series on the Sacraments, starting with baptism. This week we continue with Confession and the biblical basis for it.

Why confess to a priest?

One of the most common objections against the Catholic faith is the Sacrament of Confession. Many non-Catholics sincerely ask: “Why should I confess my sins to a priest when I can go directly to Jesus?” At first, this question sounds reasonable. After all, Catholics believe that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior, and only God has the power to forgive sins. But here is the deeper question: How did Jesus choose to give His forgiveness? Catholics do not believe priests replace Jesus. Rather, we believe that Jesus works through the ministry He Himself established — just as He uses men to preach the Gospel, baptize believers, and shepherd His flock. The Sacrament of Confession was not invented by the Catholic Church. It is deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture — prefigured in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Covenant through Christ. Let us journey from Genesis to the Gospel and discover God's plan of reconciliation.

1. Genesis: Sin Was Never Meant to Be Hidden

The story begins in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God. In Book of Genesis Genesis 3:9, God asks: “Where are you?” Did God suddenly lose sight of Adam? Of course not. God was not seeking information — He was inviting confession. He was calling Adam out of hiding and into truth. Yet Adam hesitated, blamed others, and concealed his guilt. This reveals an important spiritual truth: Sin isolates. Sin hides. Sin wounds relationships. But God calls us back into communion. Even at the dawn of salvation history, we see a pattern:
> Sin enters
> God calls the sinner
> Accountability follows
> Restoration is offered.
Confession begins with the humility to stop hiding.

2. Leviticus: Confession and Priestly Mediation

In the Old Covenant, forgiveness was never merely private or invisible. God established a sacred pattern. In the Book of Leviticus: Leviticus 5:5–6, the sinner was instructed to:
> acknowledge guilt
> confess sin
> bring sacrifice
> approach God's priest

Scripture says: “When anyone becomes aware that they are guilty… they must confess in what way they have sinned.” Then the offering was presented through the priest, who made atonement. Notice what God did not say: “Just confess privately in your heart and move on.” Instead, forgiveness involved:
- confession
- priestly mediation
- sacrificial reconciliation

This was not yet the Sacrament of Confession — but it was a shadow pointing toward it. The Old Testament often contains types and prefigurements of New Testament realities.

The shadow comes first. The fulfillment comes in Christ.

3. The Day of Atonement: Sin Confessed Through the Priest

In Leviticus 16:21, during the Day of Atonement, the High Priest laid his hands upon the scapegoat and:

“confessed over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites.” Again we see something profound: Sin was spoken and acknowledged. God used a priestly mediator. Reconciliation had visible signs. Catholics often ask: If God used priests under the Old Covenant…

Why would the New Covenant — established by Christ and filled with greater grace — suddenly have less means of reconciliation? The New Covenant does not abolish God's mercy. It fulfills it.

4. King David: Confession Brings Assurance

After David's grave sins involving Bathsheba, he repented deeply. In Book of Psalms: Psalm 32:5, David says: “I acknowledged my sin to You…” But something important also happens in 2 Samuel 12. David confesses before the prophet Nathan: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan then declares: “The Lord has taken away your sin.” Pause and reflect on this. God already knew David's heart. Yet God still used His appointed minister to speak forgiveness. This resembles what Catholics hear in confession: “I absolve you from your sins…” Not because the priest is God — but because God works through the office He established.

5. Jesus Establishes the Sacrament

Everything in the Old Testament points to Christ. After His Resurrection, Jesus does something extraordinary.

In Gospel of John John 20:21–23, He breathes on the Apostles and says: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” This is one of the clearest biblical foundations for confession. Notice carefully: Jesus did not merely say: “Tell sinners to pray privately.” No. He entrusted His Apostles with authority:

- to forgive sins
- to retain sins
- to judge repentance

But ask yourself:

How could the Apostles know whether to forgive or retain sins… unless sins were confessed to them? This passage makes little sense without confession. Christ intentionally created a ministry of reconciliation.

6. The Authority of Binding and Loosing

In Gospel of Matthew Matthew 16:19, Jesus tells Peter:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom…” And later in Matthew 18:18, authority is shared with the Apostles.

This language of binding and loosing refers to spiritual authority — including matters concerning sin and discipline. Christ established a Church, not isolated individuals. And He entrusted authority to shepherds.

7. Christians Confessed Sins Openly

In the Epistle of James (James 5:16), Scripture says: “Confess your sins to one another.” Interestingly, the surrounding verses mention the elders (presbyters/priests) praying over believers. This reflects an early sacramental reality. Likewise, in Acts of the Apostles Acts 19:18: “Many who believed came confessing and divulging their practices.” Confession was visible and communal in the early Church before developing into private sacramental confession for pastoral care.

***Confession to be continued next week....

***Source: Catholic Faith Defenders - San Pedro Cathedral Chapter. Reprinted with permission.

08/27/2026

Some encouragement to parents concerned for their children. Blessed feast of St Monica!

Today is the Feast of Saint Monica. In his homily this morning, Fr. Nicholas said that when Saint Monica pleaded for Augustine’s conversion, a bishop told her: Quit telling Augustine about God and start telling God about Augustine. This is a modern paraphrase of the advice recorded by Saint Augustine:

“Leave him alone for a time; only pray to God for him. It is not possible that the son of these tears should perish.”

The bishop was essentially encouraging Monica to stop pressing Augustine with arguments and instead to pray for him, trusting in God’s grace. Monica’s perseverance reminds us: have confidence in God and never underestimate the power of a mother’s prayer. Her tears were not wasted—and Augustine eventually became a Catholic, bishop, Doctor of the Church, and saint.

08/25/2026

This story is incredible! If you love honest discussions and debates, give Matt Fradd a follow and subscribe to his discussions and interviews on Pints with Aquinas on YouTube or podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon music.

Full video in the comments.

08/22/2026

Are you or someone you know struggling in a marriage? The diocesan program for troubled marriages called Corazon (Spanish for heart) is available the weekend of Sept. 25-27. Couples who may be in a marriage in crisis are encouraged to attend a weekend. All confidences are kept and privacy for anyone inquiring about or attending a Corazon weekend is a priority. For questions, contact Amanda at 701-204-7205. For couple registration or additional information, visit bismarckdiocese.com/corazon.

08/21/2026

"A Baby Cannot Believe!" So Why Does the Catholic Church Baptize Infants?

***Last week, we focused on core characteristics of a faithful Catholic. This week we begin a series delving into understanding the Sacraments and the Mass. We begin with baptism, the first Sacrament we receive - most of us as infants.

INTRODUCTION

One of the most common objections against the Catholic Church is: “A baby cannot believe, so why baptize infants?” The Catholic Church answers this not with opinion, but with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

CCC 1213 Baptism is the “gateway to life in the Spirit” and the foundation of Christian life.

CCC 1250 Children are born with original sin and therefore need Baptism for new life in Christ.

Baptism is not only a human decision; It is primarily God’s gift of grace.

WHY INFANTS ARE BAPTIZED

- They are born with original sin

- God’s grace is not limited by age

- Salvation is God’s initiative, not human achievement

- The Church acts as a mother providing spiritual life early

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

Household Baptisms

Acts 16:15 – Lydia and her household
Acts 16:33 – The jailer and his household
1 Corinthians 1:16 – Household of Stephanas
Scripture consistently shows whole households being baptized

Baptism & Covenant

Colossians 2:11–12 Baptism is the New Covenant fulfillment of circumcision.

In the Old Covenant: Infants were included (circumcision)

In the New Covenant: God’s grace is not less inclusive

Jesus and Children

Mark 10:14 “Let the little children come to me.” Jesus does not delay grace—He welcomes children.

EARLY CHURCH PRACTICE

St. Irenaeus (2nd century) – speaks of Christ saving all ages
Origen (3rd century) – mentions Apostolic origin of infant baptism
St. Augustine – confirms universal practice of infant baptism
Infant Baptism is ancient, not modern invention.

COMMON OBJECTIONS & ANSWERS

“A baby cannot believe.”

Faith is supplied by parents and godparents. The child later personally affirms faith in Confirmation.

“Baptism requires personal decision.”

Scripture shows households were baptized

Grace is received before full understanding (like life itself)

“Jesus was baptized as an adult.”

Jesus had no sin. His baptism was not for cleansing but revelation of mission.

ROLE OF PARENTS

Promise to raise the child in the faith
Teach prayer and Christian living
Bring the child to the Sacraments
Baptism is the beginning—not the end—of formation.

ROLE OF GODPARENTS

Support the child spiritually
Help in Catholic formation
Serve as faith witnesses
WHY GODPARENTS MUST BE CATHOLIC

Canon Law requires godparents to:

Be confirmed Catholics
Live according to the faith
Be able to help form the child in Catholic teaching - because their mission is to guide the child specifically in the Catholic faith
CONCLUSION

Infant Baptism is not about forcing faith. It is about receiving grace early in life, just as God gives life before we can understand it. The Church baptizes infants because:

God’s grace is a gift
Salvation begins with God’s love
The Church is a spiritual mother to all believers
REFLECTION

Before we could choose God, He already chose to love us. Before we could speak His name, He already gave us life. Infant Baptism reminds us: Grace always comes first.

***Source: Catholic Faith Defenders - San Pedro Cathedral Chapter. Reprinted with permission.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Sam and Audrey Owan (Saint Boniface parishioners) on the birth of their son, William Abraham, on July 25, 2026.

William became a child of God through baptism on Sunday, August 9. May he keep his baptismal innocence and be a radiant light of truth, goodness, and joy in this world!

08/18/2026

What a blessing to have this resource!

August is National Make-A-Will Month, serving as an annual reminder to create a new legal will or update an existing one to protect your family and secure your legacy. Consider this free option made available by the Bismarck Diocese. Find more information at https://bismarckdiocese.com/freewill