My Parish Hardly Has Any Sinners!

[kayla]

I must also be one of a few “sinners” at our church… when I go to confession on sat afternoon about once a month…there are only a hand full of people…lucky me tho I don’t have to wait in line.
But it does make me wonder when Sun Mass rolls around, the church is packed and everyone goes to Communion.
The only time I had to wait was just before Christmas Mass…line was out the door…go figure!:whacky:

 

[brabble]

We need to take care that we are not up the front of the Church rejoicing we are not ‘like these others’ huh? (Parable of the pharisee and the sinner).
I think possibly much confusion entered into the individual rite of confession when the changes came in changing terminology from ‘Confession’ to ‘Sacrament of Reconciliation’ - there was also much talk, way back then anyway, about not presenting a ‘list of sins’ - but to get at motivations etc. etc. For a while in Catholic circles amongst laypeople there seemed to be much discussion about this Sacrament - and a heck of a lot of confusion too and then the numbers started to drop off - very much perhaps like attendance at Mass in some places anyway. Culpability and extent of is something that we cannot discern - except perhaps in our own case!
The answer possibly lies with leadership and a drive of renewal not only for penitents but also for confessors. I think there is a lot of confusion about this Sacrament prevailing and many perhaps have decided to simply bypass it all (confusion) by not going at all.
Coming into a new parish some years ago I phoned Father to find out confession times:
“Young Lady I do not have sinners in my parish!”
“Gee, sorry Father, but you sure got one now!”

Barbara