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valient_Lucy
Guest
Does anyone have advice or information about going to Confession in a foreign country, where the dominant language is not English? Has anyone been in this situation before, and how did you deal with it?
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gvogt4
Guest
One possibility
Can. 990 No one is prohibited from confessing through an interpreter as long as abuses and scandals are avoided and without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 983, §2.
Can. 990 No one is prohibited from confessing through an interpreter as long as abuses and scandals are avoided and without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 983, §2.
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Amateur_Soul
Guest
Type your confession in one of those on-line translators and read it or give it to the priest?
Not sure what to do with getting your penance unless the priest is willing to write it out and you can bring it back to type into the translator again…
Not sure what to do with getting your penance unless the priest is willing to write it out and you can bring it back to type into the translator again…
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Catholic_Hammer
Guest
My advice:
Don’t commit any mortal sins, and let your confession of venial sins “do all the talking”.
If you’re used to going to weekly confession, do it anyway, and understand that the local priest doesn’t [understand [[what you’re saying]]].
Jesus knows what you’re saying, and that’s what’s important
Don’t commit any mortal sins, and let your confession of venial sins “do all the talking”.
If you’re used to going to weekly confession, do it anyway, and understand that the local priest doesn’t [understand [[what you’re saying]]].
Jesus knows what you’re saying, and that’s what’s important
J
jbuck919
Guest
Well, I happen to have a blue ribbon story about this topic. In 1975 I was in Rome for the Jubilee Holy Week along with a bunch of college classmates, and I went to confession at none other than St. Peter’s in one of those confessionals that said “English” on the outside.
In 1975, a liberal Catholic chaplaincy at a famous secular university was already quite past telling a penitent who was “healthily” into post-adolescent hormone-driven reality that he was deep in mortal sin for sexual pecadillos and headed straight for hell if he didn’t perform a rather humiliating penance (I performed the penance).
The bottom line is that any time you step into a confessional, you risk encountering a priest who still takes a literal and technical view of mortal sin, i.e., there is no moral difference between missing Mass last Sunday and murdering your mother. The danger is exacerbated if you are in unfamiliar territory. Go to confession with a priest you know before you go on the trip.
In 1975, a liberal Catholic chaplaincy at a famous secular university was already quite past telling a penitent who was “healthily” into post-adolescent hormone-driven reality that he was deep in mortal sin for sexual pecadillos and headed straight for hell if he didn’t perform a rather humiliating penance (I performed the penance).
The bottom line is that any time you step into a confessional, you risk encountering a priest who still takes a literal and technical view of mortal sin, i.e., there is no moral difference between missing Mass last Sunday and murdering your mother. The danger is exacerbated if you are in unfamiliar territory. Go to confession with a priest you know before you go on the trip.
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Moneo
Guest
A few more details would help to orient you better, i.e., what’s the motive for your trip? Pilgrimage? Study trip? Semester abroad? Job-related move? Visiting relatives? Fleeing the mob? 
If you are travelling in western Europe, you can always check with the local U.S. Embassy for a list of churches which offer English-language services in the area. They usually have a listing for at least the capital cities and the like. Cities with Catholic universities are a good place to check as well. The chaplaincy may have a priest who can speak English well enough to help you.
If you are going on an organised trip, check with your tour organisers and see if they can help you find mass times and English-speaking priests in the area.
Without knowing more about your trip though, it’s hard to offer much that’s more helpful than that.
If you are travelling in western Europe, you can always check with the local U.S. Embassy for a list of churches which offer English-language services in the area. They usually have a listing for at least the capital cities and the like. Cities with Catholic universities are a good place to check as well. The chaplaincy may have a priest who can speak English well enough to help you.
If you are going on an organised trip, check with your tour organisers and see if they can help you find mass times and English-speaking priests in the area.
Without knowing more about your trip though, it’s hard to offer much that’s more helpful than that.
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valient_Lucy
Guest
I’m fleeing the mob.A few more details would help to orient you better, i.e., what’s the motive for your trip? Pilgrimage? Study trip? Semester abroad? Job-related move? Visiting relatives? Fleeing the mob?
If you are travelling in western Europe, you can always check with the local U.S. Embassy for a list of churches which offer English-language services in the area. They usually have a listing for at least the capital cities and the like. Cities with Catholic universities are a good place to check as well. The chaplaincy may have a priest who can speak English well enough to help you.
If you are going on an organised trip, check with your tour organisers and see if they can help you find mass times and English-speaking priests in the area.
Without knowing more about your trip though, it’s hard to offer much that’s more helpful than that.
In all seriousness, I have taken a job teaching English in South Korea. I’m in a medium sized town/small city. I have found a parish, but I have not had a chance to actually go up to the priest and ask him if he speaks English. I am going to do this on Sunday. He might know at least some English, since most people in South Korea are beginning English lessons in elementary school, and some parents are beginning to send their children off to English speaking countries for a year or so to learn more English.
In most of the big cities in South Korea, I could most likely find a priest who will hear confessions in English. But I’m not in a large city, with the local population of around 100,000. I’m only 2 hours away from Busan, the second largest city in South Korea. So I could travel there on weekends (which I would do anyway, Busan’s supposed to be reall amazing) and confess. I’m just trying to find out what other people have done in similar situations, if people have been in similar situations.
I went to confession the week I left, but I’ll be here for a year, so going a year without confession is not an option for me.
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Moneo
Guest
Approaching your parish priest is the best idea then. While he may not speak English himself (or perhaps he does and would be glad to have the chance to practice with you! Though I don’t mean in the confessional, obviously … ) he may know of another priest who does. It is not entirely unknown for priests in Southeast Asia to have picked up a little along the way during their studies, although it may be difficult to find one who is fluent enough to feel confident about hearing your confession in English. But he can certainly enquire and help you find someone I should think. Particularly as there might be a missionary order with priests in the area too. Have a go and see.
Failing that, the U.S. Embassy Citizen Services is still a good bet I should think. As I mentioned before, they normally have lists of things like churches with English language services for U.S. citizens living and working in the country.
Good luck!
) he may know of another priest who does. It is not entirely unknown for priests in Southeast Asia to have picked up a little along the way during their studies, although it may be difficult to find one who is fluent enough to feel confident about hearing your confession in English. But he can certainly enquire and help you find someone I should think. Particularly as there might be a missionary order with priests in the area too. Have a go and see.Failing that, the U.S. Embassy Citizen Services is still a good bet I should think. As I mentioned before, they normally have lists of things like churches with English language services for U.S. citizens living and working in the country.
Good luck!
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Gearoidin
Guest
I’m in a similar situation but I’m in Japan. None of the local parsih priests speak much English, certainly not enough for confession, and my Japanese is not at a level where I can easily explain details. We do have a priest from the Philippines but I can understand almost nothing he says (it’s not just me. All the forigners here except for the other people from the Philippines, have the same problem). For me, I have to travel to either Hiroshima or Osaka, both about 3 hours away by train, so I only get there once or twice a year. I usually go back to Ireland once a year an always go to confession there.
If I do have to go to confession in this parish, I make a list before hand and jsut read it out. I’m never 100 % sure what penance I get and I know the priest doesn’t understand what I say, but God does and I think he understand if I mess up the penance.
Can you make a list in Korean and just read it in the confessional? Not perfect, but better than nothing.
Gearoidin
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Gearoidin
Guest
I’m in a similar situation but I’m in Japan. None of the local parsih priests speak much English, certainly not enough for confession, and my Japanese is not at a level where I can easily explain details. We do have a priest from the Philippines but I can understand almost nothing he says (it’s not just me. All the forigners here except for the other people from the Philippines, have the same problem). For me, I have to travel to either Hiroshima or Osaka, both about 3 hours away by train, so I only get there once or twice a year. I usually go back to Ireland once a year an always go to confession there.
If I do have to go to confession in this parish, I make a list before hand and jsut read it out. I’m never 100 % sure what penance I get and I know the priest doesn’t understand what I say, but God does and I think he understand if I mess up the penance.
Can you make a list in Korean and just read it in the confessional? Not perfect, but better than nothing.
Gearoidin
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1ke
Guest
I would also suggest investigating where the English speaking Church is in that country. There is almost always one in the captial city-- where the ex-pats and diplomats go to church. It is staffed by an American, Irish, English, etc, priest (usually from an Order). In some countries they’ll have an Engish speaking Catholic parish in all the major cities, it just depends.
So, check the major cities (tourist books can sometimes by helpful).
A quick Google for English speaking Catholic churches in Korea turned up this. Contacting these parishes would be a good start, they may know of others where English is spoken:
MYONGDONG CATHEDRAL (774-3890)
Weekday and Saturday masses in Korean at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday masses in English at 9:00 a.m.
SONGBUK-DONG CATHOLIC CHURCH (762-1986)
English mass every Sunday at 10 a.m.
CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL PARISH OF SEOUL (793-2070)
French mass every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Francis Chapel; English mass every Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Francis Hall; German mass every Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Francis Chapel (792-7372); Italian and Spanish mass every Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Francis Chapel.
INCHON CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (032-761-6645)
Fr. Raymond T. Sabio, M.S.C., Inchon Port Catholic Chaplain celebrates Sunday Holy Mass in English at 4 p.m. in the Catholic Center basement hall.
MAADI
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:
4 Ahmed Sabri, Zamalek. Father Angelo, 340-8902. Mass in English Sunday 6 pm.
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWNTOWN:
2 Bank Misr., contact Father Michael, 393-6677 Mass in English Sunday 4:30 pm.
Ansan Won-gok Church
English and Tagalog Mass at 3 p.m. For information, call Ilkun’s House at (034)499-7294/497-7151
Suwon Godeung-dong Church
English Mass at 4:30 p.m. for foreign workers. People of all nationalities are welcome. For information, call Emmaus at (031) 257-8501.
Songnam Songnam-dong Church
Mass for foreign workers at 12:30 p.m. For information, call Emmaus at (031) 257-8501.
So, check the major cities (tourist books can sometimes by helpful).
A quick Google for English speaking Catholic churches in Korea turned up this. Contacting these parishes would be a good start, they may know of others where English is spoken:
MYONGDONG CATHEDRAL (774-3890)
Weekday and Saturday masses in Korean at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday masses in English at 9:00 a.m.
SONGBUK-DONG CATHOLIC CHURCH (762-1986)
English mass every Sunday at 10 a.m.
CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL PARISH OF SEOUL (793-2070)
French mass every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Francis Chapel; English mass every Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Francis Hall; German mass every Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Francis Chapel (792-7372); Italian and Spanish mass every Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Francis Chapel.
INCHON CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (032-761-6645)
Fr. Raymond T. Sabio, M.S.C., Inchon Port Catholic Chaplain celebrates Sunday Holy Mass in English at 4 p.m. in the Catholic Center basement hall.
MAADI
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:
4 Ahmed Sabri, Zamalek. Father Angelo, 340-8902. Mass in English Sunday 6 pm.
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWNTOWN:
2 Bank Misr., contact Father Michael, 393-6677 Mass in English Sunday 4:30 pm.
Ansan Won-gok Church
English and Tagalog Mass at 3 p.m. For information, call Ilkun’s House at (034)499-7294/497-7151
Suwon Godeung-dong Church
English Mass at 4:30 p.m. for foreign workers. People of all nationalities are welcome. For information, call Emmaus at (031) 257-8501.
Songnam Songnam-dong Church
Mass for foreign workers at 12:30 p.m. For information, call Emmaus at (031) 257-8501.
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valient_Lucy
Guest
I might try making a list in Korean. I’ve only been here 3 weeks, so my Korean is not very good. But I’ve talked to other people who can read Korean, and they are going to help me learn to read it, and I want to ask some of the Koreans I know if they can help me learn Korean.
I might try making a list in Korean and seeing what happens. And I will check out the Masses in Busan and Seoul.
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valient_Lucy
Guest
I have another question, about the same topic. If I did go to confession at my parish, and the priest does not speak English, would my confession and absolution still be valid?
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