Is confession devalued today?

[Arebella]

I work very long hours every week and I’m really frustrated trying to find a church within a reasonable driving distance from my workplace that has hours for confession that I can get to. The nearest church only has open confession times on Saturday for about 1/2 an hour, my home parish only one a week, during my work time, and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only. You would think that during Holy Week there would be more times available - to encourage people to go! When I was growing up, my parish had confession during Holy Week every day for at least an hour, at various times of the day so everyone could get there. It’s frustrating and I’m starting to understand why so many Catholics have given up going to confession.

 

[bitznbitez]

The once per week on Saturday for 30 or 60 minutes seems to be the norm around here.

However there is one church downtown offering daily confession midday. And one a good ways south with daily confession weekdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. I have never been to either that didn’t have a line.

You are probably familiar with masstimes.org but if not look it up. They have confession sechedules listed.

 

[PacoG]

and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only.

Then why don’t you schedule an appointment? Isn’t that the easiest solution?

In the words of the Eagles:
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key

 

[FrenzyJen]

I too, am very frustrated with this. As a full-time SAHM with no help (husband works long hours) I am unable to find a confession time. Recently my mother babysat for me so that I could go, arrived early, and still I stood in line for an hour only for the priest to be called away. I was at a wedding later that day and was eyeing the priest at the reception trying to catch him alone so he would hear my confession then. I want so badly to go but it just isn’t happening.

I agree it doesn’t exactly seem that people are encouraged to go, with how difficult and limited it seems to be.

*****Although I realize this is less of a problem with the clergy, and more so a problem at our LACK of clergy. HDOs have been canceled in my area because there aren’t enough priests.

 

[HelenRose]

I work very long hours every week and I’m really frustrated trying to find a church within a reasonable driving distance from my workplace that has hours for confession that I can get to. The nearest church only has open confession times on Saturday for about 1/2 an hour, my home parish only one a week, during my work time, and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only. You would think that during Holy Week there would be more times available - to encourage people to go! When I was growing up, my parish had confession during Holy Week every day for at least an hour, at various times of the day so everyone could get there. It’s frustrating and I’m starting to understand why so many Catholics have given up going to confession.

What kind of long hours do the priests work in your parish? What is the work load for priests in your parish during Holy Week?

 

[RedFox0456]

The local parish here has daily confession. Back home the parishes only have scheduled confession on Saturdays. You can call and make an appointment, though.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I work very long hours every week and I’m really frustrated trying to find a church within a reasonable driving distance from my workplace that has hours for confession that I can get to. The nearest church only has open confession times on Saturday for about 1/2 an hour, my home parish only one a week, during my work time, and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only. You would think that during Holy Week there would be more times available - to encourage people to go! When I was growing up, my parish had confession during Holy Week every day for at least an hour, at various times of the day so everyone could get there. It’s frustrating and I’m starting to understand why so many Catholics have given up going to confession.

A lot of Catholics don’t go to Confession because they aren’t serious about the faith. I’ll bet most of the people referenced in the prior comment haven’t even bothered to look up when Confession is.

But hey, I hear there’s plenty of room in purgatory!

 

[maryjk]

I work very long hours every week and I’m really frustrated trying to find a church within a reasonable driving distance from my workplace that has hours for confession that I can get to. The nearest church only has open confession times on Saturday for about 1/2 an hour, my home parish only one a week, during my work time, and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only. You would think that during Holy Week there would be more times available - to encourage people to go! When I was growing up, my parish had confession during Holy Week every day for at least an hour, at various times of the day so everyone could get there. It’s frustrating and I’m starting to understand why so many Catholics have given up going to confession.

As busy as Holy Week is, no I wouldn’t think that the pastor could schedule more time for Confession.

He did schedule more times during Lent. And he did say not to wait until the last minute.

 

[SuperLuigi]

The local parish here has daily confession. Back home the parishes only have scheduled confession on Saturdays. You can call and make an appointment, though.

I chuckled when I read this.

If you’re in a smaller, rural parish, you may want to call to make sure they’re actually having it.

 

[rcuk]

I work very long hours every week and I’m really frustrated trying to find a church within a reasonable driving distance from my workplace that has hours for confession that I can get to. The nearest church only has open confession times on Saturday for about 1/2 an hour, my home parish only one a week, during my work time, and the only other parish in a reasonable distance is by appointment only. You would think that during Holy Week there would be more times available - to encourage people to go! When I was growing up, my parish had confession during Holy Week every day for at least an hour, at various times of the day so everyone could get there. It’s frustrating and I’m starting to understand why so many Catholics have given up going to confession.

Completely understand your frustration! I live in South east UK

 

[pianistclare]

The parishes around me have penance services during Advent and Lent where 14 priests come an hear confessions for a couple of hours. Hundreds of people come. IF you miss the one in our parish, there’s generally one in every parish…the priests help each other out.
They are very well attended. Since they’ve begun offering this, I think many of our parishioners just wait and only go twice a year. I notice that at Saturday confessions, there are rarely more than 4 or 5 people in line.

 

[Arebella]

A lot of Catholics don’t go to Confession because they aren’t serious about the faith. I’ll bet most of the people referenced in the prior comment haven’t even bothered to look up when Confession is.

But hey, I hear there’s plenty of room in purgatory!

I beg to differ. I’ve checked our entire diocese for confession times during all of Lent and have found very few parishes that have expanded confession times. I understand that priests are very busy during this time, but to me confession during Holy Week is a priority. Your comment about purgatory was a might uncharitable and self-rightgeous.

 

[Arebella]

The parishes around me have penance services during Advent and Lent where 14 priests come an hear confessions for a couple of hours. Hundreds of people come. IF you miss the one in our parish, there’s generally one in every parish…the priests help each other out.
They are very well attended. Since they’ve begun offering this, I think many of our parishioners just wait and only go twice a year. I notice that at Saturday confessions, there are rarely more than 4 or 5 people in line.

That’s a wonderful idea and very helpful to know! Thank you!

 

[Arebella]

Then why don’t you schedule an appointment? Isn’t that the easiest solution?

In the words of the Eagles:
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key

LOL! I just saw The Eagles in concert a couple of weeks ago. Thanks!

 

[Arebella]

The once per week on Saturday for 30 or 60 minutes seems to be the norm around here.

However there is one church downtown offering daily confession midday. And one a good ways south with daily confession weekdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. I have never been to either that didn’t have a line.

You are probably familiar with masstimes.org but if not look it up. They have confession sechedules listed.

Thanks!

 

[Joshua_Shorter]

I chuckled when I read this.

If you’re in a smaller, rural parish, you may want to call to make sure they’re actually having it.

Why did this make you chuckle?

In my diocese, most every parish has daily confession.

 

[Cimachol]

A lot of Catholics don’t go to Confession because they aren’t serious about the faith. I’ll bet most of the people referenced in the prior comment haven’t even bothered to look up when Confession is.

True, and I think the OP’s observation though points to part of the problem – many parishes aren’t doing much to make confession easy to go to, especially if one is shy and wants to confess through the screen. (If you have to make an appointment, you’ve lost the anonymity.)

Personally, I’ve gotten used to face-to-face and now prefer it, but I’d hate for someone who really needs to confess to become discouraged from doing so.

My parish is at least offering two confession options – Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, and there are always long lines at both, and they did have extra confession times during advent and lent. This seems to be an exception, though.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I beg to differ.

How does any of this differ from what I said?

I’ve checked our entire diocese for confession times during all of Lent and have found very few parishes that have expanded confession times. I understand that priests are very busy during this time,

This isn’t even what my prior comment addressed.

but to me confession during Holy Week is a priority.

A lot of Churches scale back on Confession during Holy Week as some have it every day except Sunday.

Your comment about purgatory was a might uncharitable and self-rightgeous.

Some friendly advice:

1. Don’t toss around the charitable/uncharitable card. The only reason those words get used on here is because the STAFF uses them in policy and counseling.

It doesn’t enhance your argument one bit which should stand on its own merits. Also, I don’t entertain discussion threads that get into “you’re charitable, you’re uncharitable” nonsense because members who have this habit are well on their way to a ban.

1. Discussion issues, not users. That means on all forums except for family life, refrain from using “you” in your posts. Also, avoid assigning me (in this case inaccurate) adjectives. Nowhere did I say I was better off than anyone else.
2. It would be wise to follow this advice and site policy. I do not like engaging with people who are on the fast track to getting the boot.

:tiphat:

 

[SuperLuigi]

Why did this make you chuckle?

In my diocese, most every parish has daily confession.

Because sometimes mass or Confession will be scheduled and they won’t have it.

There was another thread on this issue.

Truthfully, I find it very annoying when something like that is scheduled and doesn’t happen. :yup:

But I now have a reliable area for Sacrament options, so, I was just amused at what I used to go through.

 

[discernmentinpr]

One of my former pastors never help scheduled times for confessions. If you wanted to go to confession, you made an appointment. My most recent previous one held them every Saturday at 11AM, and I believe on Tuesdays or Thursdays of the week. My current pastor holds confessions on Saturday at 4:15PM, and on Sunday at 8:15 AM.