Do even the dioceses care about confession anymore?

[dukecatholic187]

Hello: I’m a relatively new Catholic, in the sense that I was raised Catholic, underwent the sacraments of baptism, the Eucharist, and reconciliation, and recently found my way back to the church and am seeking to get confirmed.

I’m a graduate student at Duke University, and I’m baffled by how little time the Catholic churches in the area allot for confession. We’re talking one hour per week, usually on a Saturday, and usually attended by only about 20 people. These churches cannot possibly think that the hundreds and hundreds of people who comprise the rest of their congregations are all without mortal sin when they receive the Eucharist on Sunday. My last experience with confession before coming to Duke was at the St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at UW-Madison, where 30 minutes were allotted for confession before every mass, including both daily masses and all four Sunday masses.

Why do so many parishes these days only allow one day a week for confession, and even then only about an hour. Are they trying to discourage mortal sin? Are they trying to make the laity feel more at peace and avoid people becoming obsessive-compulsive about the sacrament? Thoughts would be greatly appreciated here!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Scheduled confession times are unfortunately limited at many parishes. However, you should always be able to get to confession by appointment with your priest. Does Duke have a Newman or FOCUS center? If so, the priests there may offer confession more often. You will also find that scheduled confession times increase during Lent as parishes help people prepare for Easter.

Pray for the priests in your area and for vocations to the priesthood.

 

[LilyM]

Scheduled confession times are unfortunately limited at many parishes. However, you should always be able to get to confession by appointment with your priest. Does Duke have a Newman or FOCUS center? If so, the priests there may offer confession more often. You will also find that scheduled confession times increase during Lent as parishes help people prepare for Easter.

Pray for the priests in your area and for vocations to the priesthood.

True. And you’ll also find that many dioceses will have at least one or two parishes that have a real charism of confession, offering it daily or multiple times a day. In the Archdiocese I am presently in, at the Cathedral three different times are scheduled for confession each weekday, two on Saturdays. In my previous Archdiocese there was one parish in particular that had SIX times each day (before each of its six daily Masses) and more on Sundays.

Some religious orders have even set up shopfront chapels in big malls for confession.

 

[IrishRush]

I feel the same as the OP. My church only has 30 minutes on Saturdays. And we usually have quite a few people show up. Not everyone gets through each week.
I remember as a child going every Saturday, and waiting in lines that stretched the length of the (rather large) church.

 

[Allegra]

It seems to me that they are trying to get people to favor these big confession events they have. (Where several priests come to one church and hear confessions for several hours.) I think this is a good thing, but I would also really like for confessions to be heard more frequently. Saturday is really difficult for alot of people too, because they take off Sunday and they may not get both off.

 

[1ke]

There are far fewer priests now than many years ago.

We have one priest who is our pastor and the pastor of two additional parishes. He does the best he can between weddings, funerals, visits to the nursing homes and hospitals, mass, and etc. confessions are 30 minutes prior to each Mass or by appointment.

 

[HonoraDominum]

In the Diocese of Dallas, there are a few “off the beaten path” places to get confession other than Saturday Afternoon between 3:30p and 4:15p, as is the standard around these parts. There’s a personal Polish parish with a bilingual priest near downtown Dallas that has daily confession before their 7p daily mass. There’s a Chapel downtown that is a diocean chapel but not a parish, and they offer confession before each daily noon mass.

My parish, which is an FSSP parish, has confession before and after every daily mass. There is more available confession time on a Monday at my small personal FSSP parish than there is for the entire week at the diocean Cathedral. It’s one of the reasons I changed parishes. :getholy:

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Why do so many parishes these days only allow one day a week for confession, and even then only about an hour. Are they trying to discourage mortal sin? Are they trying to make the laity feel more at peace and avoid people becoming obsessive-compulsive about the sacrament? Thoughts would be greatly appreciated here!

1. Fewer priests means fewer confession times.
2. Lack of demand. Priests have things to do besides sit in an empty box 3x per week.
3. Almost every bulletin I’ve seen lists the confession time(s) and also states the sacrament is available by appointment.

 

[Cathryn]

There are far fewer priests now than many years ago.

We have one priest who is our pastor and the pastor of two additional parishes. He does the best he can between weddings, funerals, visits to the nursing homes and hospitals, mass, and etc. confessions are 30 minutes prior to each Mass or by appointment.

Exactly the same here. My pastor is doing the best he can before and after Mass and is available to anyone by appointment. Being the only priest at a parish is very demanding.

 

[centurionguard]

There are far fewer priests now than many years ago.

We have one priest who is our pastor and the pastor of two additional parishes. He does the best he can between weddings, funerals, visits to the nursing homes and hospitals, mass, and etc. confessions are 30 minutes prior to each Mass or by appointment.

Exact same situation in my parish. But because the Sacrament of Confession is not only the least frequented its also seems to me to be the most despised amongst Catholics.

Usually in my parish you either have to book an appointment in advance at the Rectory or search for the priest in the Sacristy a half hour before Mass in front of numerous people.
A lot of Catholics don’t like doing that out of embarrassment. I have no problem with it myself because I’m not concerned about others might think of me asking a priest to hear my confession.

IMHO I think the Catholic laity in general today are to blame for having the situation we see of infrequent use of this beautiful sacrament fall to the wayside.

 

[gh4]

Almost every Sunday our priest mentiones that people need confession. He’s especially concerned with it now that Lent is upon us. He will do a confession any time that he’s at the church. He does them during holy hour, he does them before each mass, weekend and daily. Very few people go to confession. There are probably 10-15 regulars who go a couple of times a month. People don’t seem to want to go to confession like they did 20 or 40 years ago.

 

[MissRose73]

I prefer to go at scheduled times instead of making an appointment. Also, most scheduled times conflict with my work schedule requirement to work on Saturday mornings and early afternoons. Hopefully, with Lent approaching, there will be more opportunities to go to Confession especially on weekday evenings.

 

[thomas_jd]

Hello: I’m a relatively new Catholic, in the sense that I was raised Catholic, underwent the sacraments of baptism, the Eucharist, and reconciliation, and recently found my way back to the church and am seeking to get confirmed.

I’m a graduate student at Duke University, and I’m baffled by how little time the Catholic churches in the area allot for confession. We’re talking one hour per week, usually on a Saturday, and usually attended by only about 20 people. These churches cannot possibly think that the hundreds and hundreds of people who comprise the rest of their congregations are all without mortal sin when they receive the Eucharist on Sunday. My last experience with confession before coming to Duke was at the St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at UW-Madison, where 30 minutes were allotted for confession before every mass, including both daily masses and all four Sunday masses.

Why do so many parishes these days only allow one day a week for confession, and even then only about an hour. Are they trying to discourage mortal sin? Are they trying to make the laity feel more at peace and avoid people becoming obsessive-compulsive about the sacrament? Thoughts would be greatly appreciated here!

Poor catechesis on sin and it’s effects! The domino effect.

 

[Celticnovice]

In the Diocese of Dallas, there are a few “off the beaten path” places to get confession other than Saturday Afternoon between 3:30p and 4:15p, as is the standard around these parts. There’s a personal Polish parish with a bilingual priest near downtown Dallas that has daily confession before their 7p daily mass. There’s a Chapel downtown that is a diocean chapel but not a parish, and they offer confession before each daily noon mass.

My parish, which is an FSSP parish, has confession before and after every daily mass. There is more available confession time on a Monday at my small personal FSSP parish than there is for the entire week at the diocean Cathedral. It’s one of the reasons I changed parishes. :getholy:

This. I have an FSSP parish that has daily confession times. Also someone earlier mentioned a Newman Center, they usually have multiple confession times throughout the week as well.

 

[KCT]

We had a visiting priest not long ago who said a vibrant parish is one that has long confession lines, not just long Communion lines.

There are many priests out there who value the sacrament. I hope you can find some.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

My last experience with confession before coming to Duke was at the St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at UW-Madison, where 30 minutes were allotted for confession before every mass, including both daily masses and all four Sunday masses.

Not only that, the good Fathers at St. Paul’s will also be in the confessional all day Ash Wednesday, from 6:30am-9pm. Those two wonderful priests are perhaps the opposite extreme (but thanks be to God for them!)

It would be wonderful if more priests followed such an example – or if there were more priests available to make it possible for more parishes to follow such an example. And when Father does spend time in the confessional, be sure to thank him for taking the time to hear and absolve your sins! (And when he’s not available, pray for more priestly vocations…)

 

[CatholicZ09]

The scheduling for confession is really inconvenient at times. My parish offers confession from 12:00-12:30 every Saturday of the year, and then there is confession from 6:00-6:20 before Wednesday evening Mass throughout the year. During Lent confessions are from 12:00-1:00 every Saturday and then 5:30-6:20 before Wednesday evening Mass. My parish also hosts a Lenten Penance Service, but it is really inconveniently scheduled. It’s on a weekday at 2:30 in the afternoon when most people are at work and school.

I go to Saturday confession every other week, and there is no one there ever. I was there right at 12:00 to make my confession, and I stayed until about 12:30, and only one other person came.

I think that confession isn’t widely issued because of the lack of participation, which is sad. I probably won’t see anyone in the confession line during the Easter season.

Does anyone’s parish offer confession on Ash Wednesday? My parish has confession on Wednesdays, but they do not do it on Ash Wednesday, which I think is kind of odd, especially for those who wish to wipe the slate clean for the start of Lent.

 

[Joannm]

Does anyone’s parish offer confession on Ash Wednesday? My parish has confession on Wednesdays, but they do not do it on Ash Wednesday, which I think is kind of odd, especially for those who wish to wipe the slate clean for the start of Lent.

As someone who works in a parish I can tell you that Ash Wednesday is a crazy day. Between our four masses, and services of the word for both our schools, plus dealing with what we call “drive in” ashes, and bringing ashes to the homebound (with the help of EMHCs), the priests really don’t have time for confessions on Ash Wednesday. It’s a good idea but impractical.

 

[MissRose73]

The scheduling for confession is really inconvenient at times. My parish offers confession from 12:00-12:30 every Saturday of the year, and then there is confession from 6:00-6:20 before Wednesday evening Mass throughout the year. During Lent confessions are from 12:00-1:00 every Saturday and then 5:30-6:20 before Wednesday evening Mass. My parish also hosts a Lenten Penance Service, but it is really inconveniently scheduled. It’s on a weekday at 2:30 in the afternoon when most people are at work and school.

I go to Saturday confession every other week, and there is no one there ever. I was there right at 12:00 to make my confession, and I stayed until about 12:30, and only one other person came.

I think that confession isn’t widely issued because of the lack of participation, which is sad. I probably won’t see anyone in the confession line during the Easter season.

Does anyone’s parish offer confession on Ash Wednesday? My parish has confession on Wednesdays, but they do not do it on Ash Wednesday, which I think is kind of odd, especially for those who wish to wipe the slate clean for the start of Lent.

No parishes near me are offering Confessions on Ash Wednesday that I am aware of yet. I will have to read the bulletins online to see when and if extra times for Confessions will be available. Hopefully, a few will have Confession available on a week night which makes things easier for those who cannot go on Saturday mornings which seem to be most popular in my diocese.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Does anyone’s parish offer confession on Ash Wednesday? My parish has confession on Wednesdays, but they do not do it on Ash Wednesday, which I think is kind of odd, especially for those who wish to wipe the slate clean for the start of Lent.

I’d say, once again, its more of a practicality issue. For starters parishes tend to have several masses on Ash Wednesday and then there’s people who stop in for ashes and also the shutins who would like to receive them.
On top of all that, you are correct that its a day many people might like to go to confession. However in many parishes there’s only one priest. Its impractical for him to to hear all those confessions alone. That’s why Lenten penance services tend to include invited priests to help out, however on Ash Wednesday everyone is busy in their own parish and can’t help each other out.

I think we need to remember that priests do not have unlimited energy. They do need recovery time (mental and physical) just like everyone else.