Is a thank you to this priest OK?

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The priest who heard my confession is someone I didn’t know (on purpose) when I came back into full participation in the Church. I was sorry for my sins, but mostly just miserable being homesick for God. Not the world’s best penitent, couldn’t even remember how to go to confession.
He walked me thru the sacrament, identified with my sttruggles, didn’t cut me any slack at all in regard to adhering to Church teachings, and was incredibly kind.
It did not occur to me until later how joyful I was after coming home and also how truly sorry for offending God until after I was forgiven.
Priests have such a difficult time, esp. now. Would it be OK to maybe send a note to him at the retreat center where he is working? Or is the sacrament such that I should just keep on praying for him and keep my mouth shut?
 
Katy,

There is nothing wrong with sending him a thank you note for helping you. Phrase it in a way that allows him to know your joy and how he helped you through a “difficult confession.”

You don’t need to sign it unless you want to.

Deacon Ed
 
It sounds like the thankyou note he would most enjoy would be you telling him of your intention to confess often, and encourage others to do the same. That would surely make his day.

If it were me, I would send the note, not sign my name, and be happy for what God has done to you. He used the priest, but it was God Who did it.

(so thank Him too… perhaps with an hour of Adoration ?)
 
Just Do It!

Tell him the same kind of specifics that you told us, especially about sticking to his guns about Church teachings.

Such feedback can be helpful to priests.
 
I think it’s a great idea 🙂 would probably make his day. You can keep it anonymous, like others mentioned if you wanted to even. I say go for it.
 
I think thank-you’s are appreciated. I send them to our priest a handful of times a year, and always signed them, except for once a few months back–I didn’t sign it…sure enough, the next day he stopped by my pew after Mass and said, “I presume that note was from you?” with a big grin on his face…seems to me maybe they don’t get enough thank-you notes.

Penitent
 
Oh my yes. Send him a letter, even if you don’t put your name on it.

Think about this. The priest became a priest to help us and give his life to Christ.
Confession is a Sacrement, an Institution of Chirst. Letting him know he is awesome might make his day, considering the sacrifice he has made for us by becoming a priest.
 
On a similar note, I always say “Thank you Father” right before I leave the confessional. Is that appropriate?
 
Katy:

YES - send him a note! Praise God for working through that priest - it is why they became a priest - to lead wayward sinners like you and me back to God!

And Jabronie:

It is so very appropriate to thank the priest upon leaving the confessional. I am sure to say it every time!
 
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Jabronie:
On a similar note, I always say “Thank you Father” right before I leave the confessional. Is that appropriate?
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Yes! In CCD classes, the nuns taught us to do this (and I still do).
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This is a great idea.
If you want to keep it anonymous, that’s fine, obviously. If you do sign it, though, it could be a great opportunity for you to develop more of a relationship with the priest and perhaps even find in him a good spiritual director. I wrote a thank-you note to a priest, and now I think he’s my spiritual director. It worked for me! 😃
 
By all means, send the thank you note! It’s rare enough when a priest actually returns a phone call or honors a request. And if the battleaxes that “run” the rectory actually pass along a message to begin with, in between their smug indifference and/or outright hostility to parishoners–at least that’s how it is at my parish-- 😦 , then one might consider it a true blessing to get a priest’s help. Heck, I’ll even write a thank you note to him!
 
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