Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession

One of the most précised advices I have seen on making a good confession is Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession. Fr. Z’s outline 20 tips one should consider when making a good confession. Here are the 20 tips.

We should. . .

1. …examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
2. …wait our turn in line patiently;
3. ..come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
4. ..speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
5. …state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
6. …confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
7. …listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
8. …confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
9. …carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10. …use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11. …never be afraid to say something “embarrassing”… just say it;
12. …never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13. …never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14. …never confess “tendencies” or “struggles”… just sins;
15. …never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16. …memorize an Act of Contrition;
17. …answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18. …ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19. …keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20. …remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.

Read More

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you for visiting our website…I hope you enjoyed your Christmas? As the year comes to close, different organizations like yahoo, Facebook and Google have reviewed their sites and published the leading stories of 2011 as well as the general expectation for next year. 2011 was a great year to reflect on. So much has happened in our lives that I think we need to review to see the things we have done and a few things that should have been done. End of the year becomes a time when we all reflect on our lives, relationships, family, career and our religious activities.

Gratitude is one thing I give to God when I reflect about what has happened in our parish this past year. There were times we felt like Elijah-fleeing for life and ready to lie down and give up on the journey. At those times, we felt quite drained but God is always God and knows exactly how to meet his children’s needs.

The beginning of the year is a time for thinking afresh. Even if our body is ageing, our thinking can be evergreen. God always thinks freshly, because God is young, and always in the present. It is another chance to repair a broken relationship, a family relationship, to reconcile you with God. Don't bear grudges, just forgive yourself, and then forgive everyone else who needs it. Make this a time to clear the decks and start this year full of excitement and expectation.

You are never too late to succeed in your career, your education, vocation and in life. Don’t ever thing this is the end; it’s never over until God says it’s over. You are never too late to get married, get an admission or become the person God created you to be.

Changing the world starts with one simple act. As St. Francis of Assisi once said, "Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." 2012, then becomes a time for us to prepare ourselves for great things. As sacred space once said “When we read the gospels we see that Jesus lived totally in the present. He was open to the emerging moment. We may think that being new is something for the future, that the next year will be new, even the next day. But nothing can be new except the now.”

Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience. "The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us a reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned.

May this New Year be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into every areas of our lives.

Wishing you all a prosperous new year..

Read More

Looking To The Future

During 2009 and 2010, our Bishop-Rt. Rev.Dr. John Niyiring-encouraged us to look to the future of the diocese and there was consultation in our parish about the way ahead. One of the issues that arose was why we were not creating a vision for our parish which would reflect the optimism and hope of the expected vision of the diocese. Fr. Peter Ebidero, our parish priest has started the process of creating that vision which will offer us in the parish a way forward, identifying priorities and allocating resources to enable the parish to be a living witness to the Gospel here in Kano

Over the next couple of years there will be massive constructions of both our church and vision statement. Together, we all need to join hands to build up this living, loving and worshiping community. This website is intended to help all our parishioners to know what it is to be a member of St Francis' Parish and how we can all use our talents as followers of Jesus today.

Read More

Good Counsel Parish

Sabon Gari is one of the main towns of Kano and has a population of over 500,000 people. Ojavascript:void(0)ur parish, our lady of good counsel is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kano with an assembly of people who are part of the world-wide communion of the Catholic Church. In this assembly there are no divisions because of race, tribe or colour - we are all God's children and this finds its expression especially in the celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday, the Lord's Day. We do recognize the need to make provision for people from different tribes who have come to live here in Kano. We therefore have special celebrations showing some of the rich cultural heritage in Nigeria.

Our parish is located at 38-40 emir road sabon gari kano. Here we celebrate the Eucharist.

Read More

Welcome to our Website!

"...We are nothing but clay in the hands of almighty God...the potter’s house"

These words on the doors of the Church porch express perfectly the purpose of our parish. We are a community centered round the Lord Jesus and our blessed virgin mary.

our lady of good counsel Parish in the heart of Kano precisely in Sabon Gari was founded in 2007 and since then has been the heart of the Catholic community in Sabon Gari area. It was founded from our lady of Fatima catholic cathedral Kano.
Today the faith which inspired its foundation some years ago continues to find its expression in a lively community bringing together people of many races all united by their love of God. It is this love which calls us all to work together to build up our community and to care for all in need.

I would like to welcome all who visit our website and hope you share something of our vision for the future of the church and parish. Thank you for being part of the potter’s family.

Fr. Peter Ebidero - Parish Priest

Read More

welcome to Our Lady Of Good Counsel Parish

You are welcome!

Sometimes if you are new to a parish, you may feel that there isn't a place for you. Please don't feel that! There is a place for you and one of the nicest things about being in good counsel’s parish is that we work together - in the parish office or committees to make it what it is - a lively and loving community. You’re welcome to join us in our celebration of the Eucharist.

Read More