Confessions on Saturday only?

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silentdeb

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Hello everyone,

I’m looking at the web page ( stbernadetteparish.ca/parish/home.html ) for the church I’m hoping to attend (when I work up the nerve!), and I’m a bit baffled by the mention that confessions are held from 10:00am to 10:45am Saturdays.

Saturdays ONLY, it appears.

:confused:

Is that usual, that there’s a) only ONE day in a week you can go for confession, and b) it’s not the same day you’d normally be going to Mass? Are you still in a state of grace, 24 hours later, to partake in Communion?

And goodness, isn’t it possible for people that WORK to go to Mass during the week? 😦 I mean, is this the norm and I’m just clueless, or is this particular church a bit different?

(and I didn’t realize ‘pastor’ was a title used for Catholic priests, for some reason… I thought that was a Protestant thing?)

(AND SINCE I’M TAKING UP YOUR TIME WITH STUPID QUESTIONS ANYWAY 😃 😃 😃 , what’s ‘CSJB’?)

Thank you, forgive my stupidity, any nudges towards enlightenment are greatly appreciated! (I know, the sensible thing would be to approach the priest … er, pastor, whatever … and ask him all this myself, but everyone here is always so kind about responding to my dumb questions - and as an ‘inching towards being a Catholic’, I’m finding this another one of those things that makes me panic a bit and realize there’s just SO much I still don’t grasp… so I feel better about digesting the answers at home alone!)

:blessyou:
 
Our church has them only on Saturdays as well, from like 4-4:30. Except for the Thursday before first Friday. For as large as our church is, you’d think there would be more at more convenient times. I can never remember to go on a Sat. afternoon. :o
 
The pastor is the “head priest” at the parish.

There is no need to go to confession before each Mass…unless of course you want to. Unfortunately, confession has fallen out of favor in our current society. The priests cannot man the confessional as often as they used to…it’s just not worth it because so few people go.

Most parishes only offer a limited confession schedule, but you can always call and make an appointment for confession that better fits your schedule!

Your questions aren’t stupid. Keep asking!
 
annb said:
Our church has them only on Saturdays as well, from like 4-4:30. Except for the Thursday before first Friday. For as large as our church is, you’d think there would be more at more convenient times. I can never remember to go on a Sat. afternoon. :o
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Thank you for responding, Ann. 🙂 I just looked at another website for another church close by, and it’s similar … 20 minutes bunged in Saturday afternoon.

That surprises me - it doesn’t seem to encourage people to go to confession, does it? 🤷

Well, good for me to know, anyway … thanks for letting me know that! 🙂
 
Here’s a link from a site called Masstimes.org. I typed in Vancouver, BC. Here’s all the churches. You can check out the individual churches to find out when they offer confession. You can go to any Catholic church for confession, so if your parish does not offer confession at a time that is convenient, perhaps one of these other churches does.
 
JoeSchmeau said:
The pastor is the “head priest” at the parish.
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I had no idea - thank you, sir!
There is no need to go to confession before each Mass…unless of course you want to. Unfortunately, confession has fallen out of favor in our current society. The priests cannot man the confessional as often as they used to…it’s just not worth it because so few people go.
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sadly That’s a shame - I haven’t been to confession yet, but I’ve been looking forward to it… it just makes sense to me.
Most parishes only offer a limited confession schedule, but you can always call and make an appointment for confession that better fits your schedule!
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Really? 🙂 I feel much better - thank you!
Your questions aren’t stupid. Keep asking!
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Aren’t you kind - thank you so very much! 🙂
 
lak611 said:
Here’s a link from a site called Masstimes.org. I typed in Vancouver, BC. Here’s all the churches. You can check out the individual churches to find out when they offer confession. You can go to any Catholic church for confession, so if your parish does not offer confession at a time that is convenient, perhaps one of these other churches does.
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beaming Oh, that IS splendid - thank you so much, that was very thoughtful of you! :hug1:
 
silentdeb said:
beaming Oh, that IS splendid - thank you so much, that was very thoughtful of you! :hug1:
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You’re welcome. 🙂 It’s also a great way to find a Mass or confession if you are travelling. They have countries all over the world listed.
 
lak611 said:
You’re welcome. 🙂 It’s also a great way to find a Mass or confession if you are travelling. They have countries all over the world listed.
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NICE - I’d never be at a loss, then! Thank you again!
 
silentdeb said:
Is that usual, that there’s a) only ONE day in a week you can go for confession, and b) it’s not the same day you’d normally be going to Mass? Are you still in a state of grace, 24 hours later, to partake in Communion?

And goodness, isn’t it possible for people that WORK to go to Mass during the week? 😦 I mean, is this the norm and I’m just clueless, or is this particular church a bit different?
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A half hour to an hour of scheduled confession time once a week (usually Saturday) seems to be the norm these days, unfortunately.

You are in a state of grace as long as you haven’t committed a mortal (serious) sin since your last good confession.

If the scheduled times are not convenient, most priests will hear your confession if you make an appointment. Sometimes I just ask when I happen to see him, and if he’s not busy he’ll do it right away. Of course, if you want your confession to be anonymous, that might not be the best approach!
 
Ours is split 1/2 hour before Vigil Mass, and 1/2 hour before Sunday Mass. Or by appointment. It’s quite convenient just to get to church earlier.
 
PhilotheaZ said:
A half hour to an hour of scheduled confession time once a week (usually Saturday) seems to be the norm these days, unfortunately.
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How depressing. 😦
You are in a state of grace as long as you haven’t committed a mortal (serious) sin since your last good confession.
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Oh good! I didn’t realize that - thank you!
If the scheduled times are not convenient, most priests will hear your confession if you make an appointment. Sometimes I just ask when I happen to see him, and if he’s not busy he’ll do it right away. Of course, if you want your confession to be anonymous, that might not be the best approach!
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chortling Well, having not been to confession yet, I probably shouldn’t have a preference … but it seems to me that having to tell someone I know - even slightly - about my sins is going to properly impress upon me the gravity of them… and I figure that’s important if I’m going to truly be contrite…

…or maybe I’m just weird. 😃

Thank you very much - you’ve been a big help! :hug1:
 
My parish has confession every day except Sunday. However, I don’t have time to go to confession at my parish, I go to the cathedral next to where I work.
 
silentdeb said:
Hello everyone,

I’m looking at the web page ( stbernadetteparish.ca/parish/home.html ) for the church I’m hoping to attend (when I work up the nerve!), and I’m a bit baffled by the mention that confessions are held from 10:00am to 10:45am Saturdays.

Saturdays ONLY, it appears.

:confused:

Is that usual, that there’s a) only ONE day in a week you can go for confession, and b) it’s not the same day you’d normally be going to Mass? Are you still in a state of grace, 24 hours later, to partake in Communion?
Click to expand...
First, Confession itself gives you the graces to stay out of trouble for at least a little while, and second, it is only mortal sin that can prevent you from receiving Holy Communion - and you can’t commit a mortal sin by accident - so, it’s unlikely that you would commit a mortal sin on Saturday after going to Confession, if you were intending to receive Holy Communion.

Doesn’t mean that the odd naughty word won’t inadvertently slip out of your mouth, but that’s covered by Holy Communion itself, since, typically, it’s a venial sin, rather than a mortal sin.
 
water said:
My parish has confession every day except Sunday. However, I don’t have time to go to confession at my parish, I go to the cathedral next to where I work.
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NICE. There aren’t enough Catholic churches around my immediate area (I work not terribly far from home) for that, alas, but it sounds great!
 
jmcrae said:
First, Confession itself gives you the graces to stay out of trouble for at least a little while, and second, it is only mortal sin that can prevent you from receiving Holy Communion - and you can’t commit a mortal sin by accident - so, it’s unlikely that you would commit a mortal sin on Saturday after going to Confession, if you were intending to receive Holy Communion.
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Gotcha. 🙂 I was obviously very unclear on the concept - thank you for straightening me out.
Doesn’t mean that the odd naughty word won’t inadvertently slip out of your mouth, but that’s covered by Holy Communion itself, since, typically, it’s a venial sin, rather than a mortal sin.
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Hmm, sounds like there really wasn’t a need for concern then … I just thought, for some reason, that Confession always came just prior to Mass … now I know better, thank you!
 
I would encourage you to go to confession as soon possible. If you were baptized Catholic and have fallen away from the church, then you are just one confession away from being fully back in the church! If you grew up in a different faith, than you’ll need to contact your parish and find out the steps to take to be received into the church. Usually you’ll take a course at your parish (RCIA) and be baptized (if necessary) and confirmed and receive Holy Communion at the Easter Mass.
 
Canonically (that means, according to canon law, the law that governs the administration of the Church, as opposed to the moral laws) the pastor is the priest appointed by the bishop to share the bishop’s role as pastor or shepherd of the flock in a particular parish. a parish is a geographic designation and includes all Catholics of that area. (a parish can sometimes be set up on other lines, such as old ethnic parishes, where you have the Italian parish, the Slovenian parish etc). The pastor literally shares the role of the bishop, under is authorities. He may have other priests assigned to assist him. They used to be called curates, associates, or assistants, depending on time and place. In this diocese they are called parochial vicars, vicar meaning someone who is kind of a vice-pastor (same root word) who like a vice-president, has some specific duties and fills in for the pastor when he is not available, or shares some of his work.

confessions should be available by appointment in every parish, simply call the office and tell the secretary you need to speak to the priest to make an appointment to discuss a pastoral matter.

most cities also have some churches, shrines or other big or famous churches where confessions are offered more frequently.

masstimes.org helps you search by city or zip code and find out what times churches around you have Mass, Confession and Eucharistic Adoration. this is a great help when travelling.

the initials, I have no idea, and I forgot the rest of your question. there are no stupid questions

if you are a newbie, or thinking about becoming one, welcome home.
 
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