Confession avalability

[latingirl]

How often is it mandatory for a priest to be available for confession? Thanks.

 

[Corki]

I don’t think there is a rule.

Canon law simply says:

Can. 986 §1. All to whom the care of souls has been entrusted in virtue of some function are obliged to make provision so that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to them are heard when they reasonably seek to be heard and that they have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.

 

[latingirl]

Yep that’s exactly what I found!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

It doesn’t make sense for their to be such a rule. How could a priest drag a person into the confessional because he is required to hear confessions for a certain amount of time? Priests in parish settings should definately make confession times generous for the sake of their parishioners, but we can always seek out confession. I was amazed to see people pull aside the priest we were travelling with recently and have their confessions heard in quiet corners of hotels, airports, public parks, etc!

 

[MissRose73]

Most churches in my diocese only offer confessions on Saturdays for about an hour or so mainly in the morning. Its rare to encounter any in the afternoons.

I wish that a few churches would also offer the chance to come in for individual confessions without the need for appointments during the week, perhaps for a few hours in the evenings to accommodate working people and/or students who may not get a chance to go on Saturday mornings.