Confession Appointment Troubles

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Melodeonist

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Today I went to daily Mass and intended to go to Confession after Mass as I’m working when Confession is usually scheduled. Unfortunately, the parish I went to was having a special event involving the Catholic school I assume and the priest was too busy so he told me to call him. I looked on their website, but couldn’t find his number, so I called the office and they said there was a funeral or something tomorrow morning so I couldn’t schedule Confession.

After this, I called my home parish. They said Father was busy at the moment, but that he could call me back in an hour or so. I had to go to work, so I told them to have him call around 9:45. Unfortunately, I haven’t received the call from Father yet, as I think they misunderstood and thought I meant 9:45 tomorrow morning, which is too late for me as I have a Prayer Hike with the Newman Club at 11:00 and I’d probably have to leave for that around 9:45 as the location for the hike is probably about 30 minutes away or so.

What should I do? I feel like I’m screwed, but there got to be light at the end of the tunnel, right? 🤔
 
Go on the hike and use Mass Times to figure out a time when there are open public confessions at a nearby church. Confession is typically available before Saturday Vigil Mass.
 
That’s the problem. I usually work 3:30-9:00 on Saturday which is when the majority of Confession times are. If a Parish had late night Cobfession or early afternoon Confession I’d be fine. However, most seem to be around 3:15-4:30. In theory 3:15 should work, but priests are busy guys so they often arrive late, or the Confessional is full and there’s a line. My two main bosses are fallen away Catholics, and while we are basically friends, I doubt they would understand the importance of faith.
 
When are you going to Mass this weekend? Ask your parish priest after Mass…or simply call the office tomorrow, dial the like for the priest, and ask if he’d mind ensuring he’s there a bit earlier.

Also, you can switch with a co-worker for a half hour or simply tell your manager that you will need to start at 4 due to an appointment, or a family matter or a health matter. All of which Confession can legitimately be.

Also, given weddings and funerals and that it’s nearing peak tourist season for leaf peepers in New England it is likely most priests will be unavailable tomorrow morning anyway. No sense ruining a much-needed social outing so you can wait around.
 
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Do you live in close proximity to the Cathedral, or is there another downtown parish, especially with a religious order? Often the cathedral or a downtown parish will have confessions during workdays. Do you live near any kind of monastery, seminary, or religious house of priests? Often they could assist you; or consider calling a retirement home for priests. Are there any that are willing/able to accept you?

Is there a Catholic Eastern Church near you?
 
I usually go at 8:00 on Sunday, but Father can’t hear confessions then because he has to go to the other church in our parish to say the Mass at 10:00.

I don’t think my boss would let me do that because we are a very small store and we are very short on workers this year. Usually we only have 3 people working per shift excluding the managers: a deli guy, a cashier, and a stock guy.
 
I live in a rural area in Connecticut. The nearest Cathedral is about 30 minutes away. However, I live very close to a Benedictine abbey.
 
Melodeonist said:
I usually go at 8:00 on Sunday, but Father can’t hear confessions then because he has to go to the other church in our parish to say the Mass at 10:00.

I don’t think my boss would let me do that because we are a very small store and we are very short on workers this year. Usually we only have 3 people working per shift excluding the managers: a deli guy, a cashier, and a stock guy.
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You’ve stated you’re in CT. You’ve got NYC that’s less than an hour and a half away from even the most rural parts tucked up near RI. You have access car. Use it.
 
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Mass Times website or app will show you all available confession times in your area. I use it all the time to find confession times on days other than Saturday.

Also, if your Newman Club has a priest assigned to it, I’d ask him since his main task is to minister to students and club members.
 
IS this an emergency???

There has to be ONE priest somewhere.
Try that Abbey. Plenty of priests to go around. It might be good to go to someone new anyway.
Speaking as a parish employee, don’t ever tell a secretary what time the priest should call you. They’re sure not to get that message. They consider it presumptuous.

If you can’t and go, and it prevents you from going to communion, so be it.
Tomorrow is another day. You do the best you can.
 
Hi @Melodeonist,

Since @Tis_Bearself was kind enough to mention the Mass Times website, I thought that I would bring up the link for it in case you wanted to take a look at it.

There is also another website too that I came across that I’ll post the link for as well.

Here is the link for Mass Times:

https://masstimes.org/

Here is the link for Catholic Mass Times, where you can also find info. on your Archdiocese or the other Archdiocesan offices in your area/state, other states, and so on:

http://catholic-mass-times.com/
 
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