No Confessions Here

[feargalmac]

Here in our parish our new (2 years) priest has all but done away with confessions. At Christmas and Easter, we have a Service of Reconciliation after Mass. He conducts the service and towards the end invites us to go up if we have something that is on our conscience, but that we’re absolved anyway because we waited after Mass. I find that I don’t go to Confession as often as I want or should.
Is he obliged to have a time for confession in the weekly calender?
Does anyone else have this in their parish?

 

[Catholig]

Here in our parish our new (2 years) priest has all but done away with confessions. At Christmas and Easter, we have a Service of Reconciliation after Mass. He conducts the service and towards the end invites us to go up if we have something that is on our conscience, but that we’re absolved anyway because we waited after Mass. I find that I don’t go to Confession as often as I want or should.
Is he obliged to have a time for confession in the weekly calender?
Does anyone else have this in their parish?

I’m pretty sure that it is part of his duties to have a weekly calender (or at least monthly - although I agree that weekly would be better). If he isn’t fulfilling them I’d suggest e-mailing/calling/writing or otherwise contacting your Bishop. Although it may be advisable to discus this (his lack of hearing confession) with the priest beforehand.

Catholig

 

[mike_sieber]

I’d agree that it’s part of his duties as the shepherd of your flock to make himself available for the sacrament of reconciliation.

You may just want to speak to him and politely ask why there aren’t set times for hearing confessions or if you could make an appointment with him to hear your confession.

Then, if you don’t make any headway, I’d contact your bishop.

This is an extremely important sacrament that needs to be available to all Catholics as often as possible.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

A priest is obliged to hear your confession if you ask and it sounds to me like a church should have set times when a priest is available for confession.

Can. 986 §1. All to whom the care of souls has been entrusted in virtue of some function are obliged to make provision so that the confessions of the faithful entrusted to them are heard when they reasonably seek to be heard and that they have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.

 

[feargalmac]

Thank you all for your help. I’ll talk to him later in the week. He takes Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. No Mass, no service of any kind on these days.:crying:

 

[Catholig]

Thank you all for your help. I’ll talk to him later in the week. He takes Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. No Mass, no service of any kind on these days.:crying:

I thought priests were required to celebrate a mass at least once a day (either in private or in public).

Catholig

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I thought priests were required to celebrate a mass at least once a day (either in private or in public).

Not according to the experts at EWTN:

Question from on 01-17-2007:
Are priests required to celebrate Mass daily?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 01-22-2007:
Dear Stacy,

Priests today are obliged to say the Divine Office every day under penalty of serious sin. They are strongly encouraged to say Mass every day but are not obliged to do so under penalty of serious sin.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Here in our parish our new (2 years) priest has all but done away with confessions. At Christmas and Easter, we have a Service of Reconciliation after Mass. He conducts the service and towards the end invites us to go up if we have something that is on our conscience, but that we’re absolved anyway because we waited after Mass. I find that I don’t go to Confession as often as I want or should.
Is he obliged to have a time for confession in the weekly calender?
Does anyone else have this in their parish?

Yes, Confessions should be available at certain times. People should not be forced to “make an appointment” I would bring this to the attention of the Bishop.

 

[pmoo]

Here in our parish our new (2 years) priest has all but done away with confessions. At Christmas and Easter, we have a Service of Reconciliation after Mass. He conducts the service and towards the end invites us to go up if we have something that is on our conscience, but that we’re absolved anyway because we waited after Mass. I find that I don’t go to Confession as often as I want or should.
Is he obliged to have a time for confession in the weekly calender?
Does anyone else have this in their parish?

How can he do away with confessions? You can’t take the Eucharist without it if you are in mortal sin. My church has confession every Saturday from 3-3:30 and there are special times at Easter. I don’t understand not making it available. In my RCIA classes, our teacher told us to go to confession every week, but my priest told me every three months should be good unless there is something special to confess. Plus, confession is so cathartic for me, I can’ imagine not doing it.

 

[pmoo]

Thank you all for your help. I’ll talk to him later in the week. He takes Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. No Mass, no service of any kind on these days.:crying:

What? your church doesn’t even have a daily mass? EDIT Is this in a rural area?

 

[feargalmac]

What? your church doesn’t even have a daily mass? EDIT Is this in a rural area?

Yes, it is a rural area. Our previous P.P’s had daily Mass, Confession every Saturday and an extra Mass on Sunday. Maybe we were spoilt, but when you add in things like skipping readings, shortening the Gospel and occasionally asking us to say the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer with him, I wonder sometimes is it still a Catholic Parish.

 

[tcraig]

Yes, it is a rural area. Our previous P.P’s had daily Mass, Confession every Saturday and an extra Mass on Sunday. Maybe we were spoilt, but when you add in things like skipping readings, shortening the Gospel and occasionally asking us to say the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer with him, I wonder sometimes is it still a Catholic Parish.

Well, it sounds as if you have bigger problems than just no set confession time.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

This is usually a chicken and egg type thing.

No one goes to confession and the priest gets sick of showing up early and sitting in there for nothing. So he scales back the confession schedule.

Ask him to make an appointment to do it. He would probably (and should) do it.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

We have Reconciliation twice in the morning and evening in my parish. There is a nearby parish that offers the Sacrament EVERY DAY before Mass. Are you near any other parishes that offer the Sacrament on a more regular basis?

 

[lizaanne]

Well, it sounds as if you have bigger problems than just no set confession time.

I agree - and I would have to guess that this is going to take more than just a polite chat with Father. Sounds like the Bishop needs to get involved here.

I’m just curious - if a priest isn’t saying Mass and hearing Confession, then what IS he doing with that extra time that other priests seem to use for offering the Sacraments, even in extremely busy urban parishes? What could possibly be more important?

~Liza

 

[Catholig]

This is usually a chicken and egg type thing.

No one goes to confession and the priest gets sick of showing up early and sitting in there for nothing. So he scales back the confession schedule.

Ask him to make an appointment to do it. He would probably (and should) do it.

So instead of inviting people in the parish bulletin to partake in this sacrament he decides to cancel it entirely, with the exception of TWO times a year? Oh - and if he doesn’t happen to get to you he just spouts the bad theology that your “showing up” is enough to forgive your sins (regardless of what sins you’ve committed)? That you don’t actually have to make a confession at all?

The fact is that his not scheduling at least a monthly date for confession, although weekly or more frequently would be better, is only serving to teach the children that confession isn’t necessary. And while the OP’s making an appointment would help her - it won’t be as beneficial as him going into the confessional and hearing the confessions of all who come, as beneficial as showing that he is available. 90% won’t even think to make an appointment if it isn’t suggested.

Catholig

 

[Teelynn]

Oh brother! Here we go again with yet another example of the all too prevailant “leaning toward protestantism” type of theology. I have heard everything from clergy from " they don’t go anyway" to “God always forgives a sorrowful heart regardless of the formality of the sacrament”. I thought this kind of liberal mindset was on the way out but evidently it is still hanging over us like a dark cloud at least in some places.

My suggestion would be to try to find a parish that hears regular confessions in your area and go. You could, of course speak to Fr. about this and if nothing changes go to the Bishop, but some Diocese have just as liberal Bishops and Cardinals as their priests. It was easier for me just to go to another parish for confession. (this is just my experience, however)

And say a rosary about the situation, the Blessed Mother will help you out.

Blessings,
Tee

 

[Teelynn]

Hmmm…on 2nd thought after CAREFULLY reading other things that are going on in your parish as well, I think I would definitely have a talk with the Bishop. Are other parishioners feeling the same way? Might be more beneficial to maybe go in a small group and ask him very politely & tactfully to check into things. (at least we have found this to be true in our own parish) Sounds as if you all have a few more fish to fry besides the lack of confession. Of course it might be easier to look for another parish, however, I would consider the help you might be giving to the souls in your own parish so they are not mislead into lax beliefs. There has been way too much of that in our Church during the last 30 odd years or so.

Prayers,
Tee