The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia held a formation day for their catechist on September 19 with Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Dr. Mark Morozowich whose talk was entitled: Confession: An Encounter with Our Merciful Father. Beginning with the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, Fr. Mark outlined the work on God in continually brining about conversion and healing through repentance. He engaged the participants by reflecting on the various images of the merciful father from the lost sheep to the prodigal son parables. He emphasized that St. Paul’s entreaty in the 2 letter to the Corinthian 5:18-19: “And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” St. Paul’s reminder gives special emphasis this primary role to bring about the reconciliation of those who have transgressed. This great gift of confession provides for the release of guilt and the sure knowledge of God’s love. Thus, dispelling the popular concept of Catholic guilt. He stressed that catechists need to emphasize the forgiveness of God and that our salvation is not just the forgiveness of our sins, but the involvement in the healing of body and soul.
