Hard to find sacrament of reconciliation

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Ruth_Catherine

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Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that it is harder and harder to get to the sacrament of reconciliation.

It seems like most parishes give a half an hour to an hour a day for confessions. Usually on Saturdays only. Very few offer confessions during the week, anymore. There is only one church in our area that offers confessions in the afternoon, during the week for a half an hour. The line is usually long and three times now I have gone to go to confession at that parish and just as I get through the line and it is my turn the priest comes out and confessions are over. I need to say he does need to go and say mass and I understand that but no other parish offers this during the day, during the week, so this particular parish does usually have a pretty good line. On occasion, one of the priests will hear confessions after mass but today there was a sign that said no confessions after mass. I understand he may be busy and I am not blaming him I just wish more parishes would have weekday afternoon confessions or weekday evening confessions. Just more opportunity to participate in the sacrament. Today including myself, three people were turned away from the sacrament. I find that sad.

Weekends in the past have been hard for me to make it because of my job. Gratefully that has recently changed so I should be able to make it to confessions on Saturdays. I just remember when most parishes, around here anyhow, had confession during the week, also. I don’t know, it seems like I am hearing more and more how important confession is but there is limited availability.

Any thoughts?
 
I agree. It seems to be harder to find confession durring the week.😦 I find Saturdays difficult my self with two toddlers and one who is of age for the sacrament. On the up side one can always make a apointment for Confession durring the week.🙂
 
My observations are from my experiences in quite a few parishes and diocese’s in Australia, over 30 years (as an adult convert).

In my time I have never been in a parish which offered weekday confessions. It’s always been weekend only. There are now fewer opportunities for confession on weekends also, but this is in line with the fewer number of priests, and the increased demands on their time. One noticeable change has been that we no longer have confession available before Mass on Sundays.

On a couple of occasions, many years ago, that I felt an urgent need for confession I knocked on the door of the rectory and asked for confession from the priest. He accepted my confession then, but encouraged me to prefer the Saturday regular confession (unless it is truly urgent). If someone were unable to attend on Saturday, I assume he would be more accepting of the mid-week confession by appointment.

I don’t know about the situation in America in general, but perhaps your experience of having weekday confession available in the parish has been unusual?

The Cathedrals here offer weekday confession, usually twice per day, for several days of the week. In the past it was often all weekdays, but in recent years there has been less availability of that also.

Does your Cathedral offer weekday confession?
 
workingman said:
I agree. It seems to be harder to find confession durring the week.😦 I find Saturdays difficult my self with two toddlers and one who is of age for the sacrament. On the up side one can always make a apointment for Confession durring the week.🙂
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You’re right, I believe most parishes allow you to make an appointment for confession. They are very busy and I understand.
 
Edmundus1581 said:
My observations are from my experiences in quite a few parishes and diocese’s in Australia, over 30 years (as an adult convert).

In my time I have never been in a parish which offered weekday confessions. It’s always been weekend only. There are now fewer opportunities for confession on weekends also, but this is in line with the fewer number of priests, and the increased demands on their time. One noticeable change has been that we no longer have confession available before Mass on Sundays.

On a couple of occasions, many years ago, that I felt an urgent need for confession I knocked on the door of the rectory and asked for confession from the priest. He accepted my confession then, but encouraged me to prefer the Saturday regular confession (unless it is truly urgent). If someone were unable to attend on Saturday, I assume he would be more accepting of the mid-week confession by appointment.

I don’t know about the situation in America in general, but perhaps your experience of having weekday confession available in the parish has been unusual?

The Cathedrals here offer weekday confession, usually twice per day, for several days of the week. In the past it was often all weekdays, but in recent years there has been less availability of that also.

Does your Cathedral offer weekday confession?
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Our Cathedral is closed during the week. It only opens during the week by appointment or unless of course something is going on. I wish it was open for confession and weekday mass too. That would be great.
 
Ruth_Catherine said:
Our Cathedral is closed during the week. It only opens during the week by appointment or unless of course something is going on. I wish it was open for confession and weekday mass too. That would be great.
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Thanks for the reply. That’s sad. 😦

Oh, another possible, but unlikely, option, is to find a local monastery with a priestly order, such as Dominicans. When I was first a Catholic, many years ago, I could turn up at the monastery any time and receive reconciliation. The reconciliation room was close to the front door, just for such visits. Happy memories! But that was many years ago. I don’t know if even that monastery still provides this.

The Catholic ministry at a university, or military base, might also have weekday, or by-appointment, reconciliation.

Best wishes,

Edmundus
 
I’ve encouraged it before, I’m going to encourage it again…is there an FSSP location around where you live? Even if the priest has a full plate and plans after Mass, they will always, always, always, ALWAYS make time to hear a confession. ALWAYS. If a parish has more than one priest, one MAY hear confessions during Mass. If you don’t live near an FSSP location, what about a diocisan or ICK parish?
 
That’s what happens when there’s a priest shortage. I guess we should get used to it.
 
My small city has three Roman Catholic churches and the one I attend offer confession on Saturday afternoon, an hour before Mass. I’ve always wondered how that works out if it wasn’t enough time to hear everyone. I think it’s sad that people are turned away. 😦 The other big church offers it only on Saturdays also just before Mass. I’m going to go to that one church for my first Confession this Saturday. The other church probably only offers it on Saturday also. My parish has only one priest. Even though they are busy, i’m sure they will find time to hear a confession by appointment.
 
If I ever become a priest, I will dedicate 2-3 hours daily to the confessional. Well, I would attempt to. 😛
 
adstrinity said:
I’ve encouraged it before, I’m going to encourage it again…is there an FSSP location around where you live? Even if the priest has a full plate and plans after Mass, they will always, always, always, ALWAYS make time to hear a confession. ALWAYS. If a parish has more than one priest, one MAY hear confessions during Mass. If you don’t live near an FSSP location, what about a diocisan or ICK parish?
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Unfortunately we don’t have an FSSP parish anywhere near by. The closest is over 3 hours away. I am not sure what an ICK parish is. What exactly is that?
 
adstrinity said:
I’ve encouraged it before, I’m going to encourage it again…is there an FSSP location around where you live? Even if the priest has a full plate and plans after Mass, they will always, always, always, ALWAYS make time to hear a confession. ALWAYS. If a parish has more than one priest, one MAY hear confessions during Mass. If you don’t live near an FSSP location, what about a diocisan or ICK parish?
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I second this recommendation. After being away for 10 years and trying to come back, I had many failed attempts at going to Confession. My own parish priest refused to hear my confession outside of his non-regularly scheduled 30 minutes on a Saturday at some random time. He doesn’t “do confessions” outside of his scheduled time “unless it’s an emergency.” :rolleyes:

Finally I just gave up in my city and drove the two hours to go see the FSSP. After that, I started doing the drive every Sunday for Mass, and on Saturday night once a month for Confession. Yeah, gas is expensive, and I’m a student living on less than $700/month, but some things are worth giving up in order to protect your immortal soul.
 
Ruth_Catherine said:
Unfortunately we don’t have an FSSP parish anywhere near by. The closest is over 3 hours away. I am not sure what an ICK parish is. What exactly is that?
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Three hours…may be worth it. Seriously. I drive an hour and a half (two if I stop), at least every Sunday, Fridays when I can, at least First Friday’s now. A certain priest has stayed in the confessional to hear my confession, even though Mass was due to start (a Friday Mass) and the same priest, after Mass, I think knew that I didn’t get to confession, so, he let me know that he would be hearing confessions soon (a Sunday Mass)

Another priest on the Feast of the Assumption was just about to leave, and he saw me, and I asked him, “IfImakeitrealquick,willyouhearmyconfession?” “Sure.” Mass began a weeeee bit late that Monday.

Anyway, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Christ_the_King_Sovereign_Priest they have even less locations than FSSP, but, maybe one is close to you. There’s also diocesan parishes that celebrate in Latin. I say this because if they celebrate in Latin, they take the sacrements seriously.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholic#Traditionalists_in_good_standing_with_the_Holy_See
This link may help you look up what is close to you.

There are certain graces that come with regular confession and a regular confessor.

I will pray for you.
 
I have 4 churches in my area and still find it hard to go to confession. I went to 1 o’clock confession at one and the line was way to long b.c i had to drive my sister to a riding lesson so i rushed home from that to make it to another parish and as i walked into the confessional the priest walked out at the same time (it wasnt his fault he couldnt see me). Im only in my teens and only used to saturday confession
 
RosaryFan said:
That’s what happens when there’s a priest shortage. I guess we should get used to it.
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Unfortunately you’re right about the priest shortage. I think priests are very busy people because of this.
I wonder what would happen if every Catholic family would pray that someone in their family would be called and answer yes to the priesthood. I believe God would answer and help us.
 
Ruth_Catherine said:
Unfortunately you’re right about the priest shortage. I think priests are very busy people because of this.
I wonder what would happen if every Catholic family would pray that someone in their family would be called and answer yes to the priesthood. I believe God would answer and help us.
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I agree. Praying for vocations is something that seems to have fallen by the wayside. I have a list of young fellows that I feel may be called to the priesthood. They include family members, sons of friends, and classmates of my daughter. I mention them, individually, everyday in my prayers. They range in age from 10 to 17. I guess I have a long wait ahead of me to see if my prayers are answered. 😃
 
I attend a FSSP church and we have daily confessions before daily mass, Saturdays and Sundays. Father will also hear confessions after mass if needed. Has never been a problem.
 
Our FSSP parish is 2 1/2 hrs away (each way). we make it at least once a month. Now we have a TLM (EF) low Mass once a month within ten minutes of my house. So now I only have two Sundays to deal with the OF.

The Institute of Christ the King is another good place for Mass.
 
RosaryFan said:
That’s what happens when there’s a priest shortage. I guess we should get used to it.
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The lack of opportunities for confession is not due to a shortage of available priests. It is due to priests who feel that they have better things to do than to save souls from an eternity of suffering in Hell.

Australia is a big country, that’s true, but if you can make it to any of these locations:

fssp.net/houses.html

then your confession will be heard. Of course Father would prefer that you come at one of the scheduled times, but if you can’t do that, he’ll hear your confession anytime at all.
 
I wonder what St. Padre Pio would think about the current state of confession in the Church today. Padre Pio spent long hours in the confessional every day. People came from all over the world to go to him for confession.

How can we promote this awesome sacrament so that more Catholics make the decision to go to Confession. I don’t blame priests for this, I blame the laity for not getting up and making an effort to go to Confession on a regular basis, maybe at least once a month. If this happened the priests would respond in kind and schedule more times for confession.

If I were to count the number of people who actually attend confession at a typical church, not counting an FSSP parish :), but a typical Catholic parish I’ll bet the percentage is low. I have been thinking about this for a while and the only way I see to encourage more Catholics to partake in this sacrament is to start a lay apostolate that promotes the sacrament of Confession. Remember how Fr. Patrick Peyton promoted the Rosary? Maybe starting an apostolate promoting confession would be successful like Fr. Peyton was in promoting the Rosary.

After all the sacrament of Confession could very well be the difference in the fate of a soul ending up in Heaven or hell. Going to the Lord, confessing one’s sins and doing penance afterwards is not hard to accomplish. The Lord gave us an easy path for forgiveness. With all the sin in the world today why are we so obtuse as to not take this path? Confession is an essential sacrament.
 
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