"Penance Services" During Lent and Advent?

[JHC]

Hi

For some reason, during Lent and Advent, a group of local parishes change their normal Reconciliation times and have “Penance Services” instead.

Every week the service will be held at a different local parish.

I don’t understand this at all. Usually, my parish has Reconciliation weekly. The next closest one to me has it bi-weekly.

But during these times it will only be offered monthly at each parish, and they will hold a “Penance Service” that is almost like a Mass with a choir, etc.

Can someone explain the point of this to me? How is offering less opportunities for reconciliation helpful? Is this normal? Why does it have to become a production as well during these times?

Thank you

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Parishes offer penance services (no quotes required) because they draw a lot of people. I think people like the idea of joining with their fellow sinners, doing an examination of conscience, and then go to confession along with everyone else. Since there are usually priests from a number of parishes, it also provides the opportunity to confess to someone you don’t know.

In my experience, these services are in addition to the usual confession times so people still have the opportunity to go on Saturday afternoon if they wish.

 

[Stephen_says]

I think that’s a little silly.

At my Parish, reconciliation is typically Saturday afternoon with two priest, but during lent they add Friday evenings to that as well as a one-off reconciliation service with like 8 or 10 priests from near by parishes. I can see the point of it being a “production”, because some people will probably feel more like “something is happening” you know? I think that part is commendable but for why they reduce the number of reconciliation times, I couldn’t tell you…

 

[JHC]

Unfortunately that is not the case for me. The usual Saturday time is cancelled for weeks and they will hold one Penance Service instead.

My wife and I were planning to go this Saturday and now we cant because the Penance Service is scheduled Thursday night when she has to work.

I tried to make it through a Penance Service a few months ago and ended up just walking out to wait for the usual reconciliation that resumed weeks later.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I hope there’s another parish nearby where you’ll be able to go to confession. It would be nice if your own parish made it available.

 

[Joe_5859]

In my experience, these services are in addition to the usual confession times so people still have the opportunity to go on Saturday afternoon if they wish.

Same here. My local area has penance services at a different parish each day the week before Holy Week. This is in addition to the regular Confession times. And in addition to the priests offering extra Confession times during Sunday Masses during Lent.

It is a big draw for many people. For one, since it is outside the normal routine, it catches people’s attention. Also, as you said, it provides the opportunity to confess to a priest who doesn’t know you which some people find appealing.

 

[JHC]

All of the nearby parishes are collaborating on the Penance Services that rotate weekly to each parish, and their usual reconciliation times are cancelled.

 

[SMHW]

I could see that weekday reconciliation times might be cancelled since the priest(s) might be spending additional time traveling to the other parishes and handling some of the other additional programs (talks, retreats, stations of the cross, etc.) that tend to go on during Lent. But unless those other activities happen on the weekends as well, I wonder why usual reconciliation times are cancelled?

 

[maryjk]

We also have Penance Services. But our regular confession times are as usual. In addition, we will have Confessions on Wednesday evening. “The Light is on for you.”

I like having other priests offering confessions. It gives me a chance to go to a priest that isn’t my boss.

 

[InThePew]

Rite II reconciliation (to give it it’s proper term) is a way of celebrating the sacrament with others rather than just on our own (which is Rite I). There’s a lot to be said for this since we are, of course, all sinners and in need of each others’ help since holiness is a journey in community. There’s also the added bonus of confessing to a different priest!

Advent and Lent tend to bring penitents out of the woodwork and Rite II services are a way of encouraging this, both as a reminder of the importance of the sacrament and as a way of scheduling a “special” (as in not routine) event which people will (hopefully) put into their calendars and show up at. Organising this however, requires calling in priestly reinforcements to cater for the numbers who will (hopefully) show up. this in turn requires reducing the usually schedule Rite I times in order to accommodate not just the Rite II celebrations but also the travel time, eating time (feeding priests afterwards does tend to encourage them to show up), etc.

Granted this reduction in usual Rite I times might not please everyone but don’t forget a priest has an obligation to hear your confession at any reasonable time!

 

[TheLittleLady]

Sounds as if the parishes are geographically close, so, there is still weekly confession, it is not on Saturday but on an evening instead.

As the order of the service is not something where you are required to be there for the readings and songs, if you do not want to be part of that, simply arrive about 30 minutes after the scheduled starting time. Walk in, get in the shortest line and make your confession.