Priest ran out of time to hear my confession... twice!

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When there have been more people who want to go to the Sacrament than there is time, priests have just spoken out without looking at anyone particular that he is either going back to hearing confessions after Mass or that he is unfortunately unable to hear more confessions that day. All priests I know, say that hearing confessions and celebrating Mass are the most important they do every day as priests.
 
Thank you for all of your replies. I have found encouragement from most of them! Some folks in this thread would do well to show a little more encouragement. I am going to schedule an appointment with my priest. There are at least 5 parish’s within driving distance of where I live. All of them pretty much have confessions on the same day, which kinda makes it difficult to just go to another parish. As a new catholic I am still learning and understanding how things work. God Bless
 
Be sure to try to go to Mass anyway! I’m not sure if you went to another Mass or not, but it is very important to go to Mass at least on a Sunday Mass (this is referred to as our weekly obligation)!
Know that many priests are very kind, and I hope that everything goes well barring these couple of (hopefully) misunderstandings. God bless
 
I am sorry this happen to you. The priest was wrong and no excuses justifies his actions in my opinion. If you feel angry you are justified. Just don’t do things like leave the church as a result. I am a supporter of the priest but I have heard how busy they are as an excuse too often. I am not a priest but believe me I have been just as busy. If fact I had a priest tell me that once.
 
Theo2 said:
The priest was wrong and no excuses justifies his actions in my opinion. . .I have heard how busy they are as an excuse too often. I am not a priest but believe me I have been just as busy.
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Wow. Really? No excuses justifies his actions?
You don’t know what his reason was, and I am pretty sure you don’t know what his schedule is like. You should not be so uncharitable when speaking about a priest, let alone one you do not even know.
Priests serve God, not us.
 
Maybe being rude can be excused one time but not repeated offences. Sorry have to call a spade a spade. Priest are human just like all of us and we have to see right from wrong. I am really addressing the fact that he left people in line of showed up late without an explanation.
 
As I mentioned earlier, it would not have changed anything if he had explained. And with your “no excuse” is acceptable, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. You have your mind made up.
 
armstrongwannab said:
I went to confession 2 weeks in a row and each time my priest ran out of time.
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I’ve gone to confession many times where the priest just didn’t show up. Of course I am frustrated. I’m usually even a little mad. My time is important you know! But surely you know how few priests we have and how many demands they have upon them? And even if they aren’t doing something like anointing someone near death they need relaxation the same as all of us. Thinking about this helps me to lose my inappropriate anger.
armstrongwannab said:
At this point I am so discouraged I wonder if I will ever go back to church
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Thank God priests don’t apply the same to us when we disappoint them, and we do. If they did they just might not show up for Mass one Sunday.

I completely understand your frustration. When you want to confess, go at a regular time and can’t it is really irritating. Not just that you feel deprived of a very necessary thing. But rather than be irritated take a moment to thank God for leading you to His Church and the many men who devote their lives to administering the sacraments for you.
 
What did you want him to do? Tell everyone “sorry I was late, I was giving last rites”, or maybe start Liturgy late to accomodate the confession line?
 
You are blessed to have 5 parishes to choose from for confession. My suggestion is that you try out the other parishes. You do not have to go to confession at your own parish.
 
I often go to confession at another parish. It is almost as close as mine. My parish has long lines for the single hour we have on Saturday. The other parish never has a line. I actually feel bad for the other parish and particularly the priest hearing confession that so few people go to confession.
 
Theo2 said:
I am sorry this happen to you. The priest was wrong and no excuses justifies his actions in my opinion. If you feel angry you are justified. Just don’t do things like leave the church as a result. I am a supporter of the priest but I have heard how busy they are as an excuse too often. I am not a priest but believe me I have been just as busy. If fact I had a priest tell me that once.
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There is a priest shortage. Recently 2 priests got sick in my dioceses–YOUNG priests. No retired priest capable of saying mass is in the retirement home. The BISHOP is saying not just the masses at the Cathedral but also in neighboring parishes. My priest, the kindest guy in the world is very absent minded lately. He’s caring for 3 parishes composed of 4 very filled churches, and something like 5,000 souls or more over a geographic area of around 20 miles…

…these 4 churches have 11 Masses to say between 4PM Saturday and 7PM Sunday. Most are fairly full. The elder priests are filling in as he’s not able to biolocate quite yet.

He’s taking care of all this by himself.

Things are falling through the cracks. He has a heart of gold, but he can’t do everything.
 
Yes I expect him to tell people why he is late and that he would only be able to hear 1 or 2 confessions. I’m not sure it is allowed but I had a priest once who give a general absolution to those in line and told them to go to confession as soon as they could.
 
Theo2 said:
Yes I expect him to tell people why he is late and that he would only be able to hear 1 or 2 confessions. I’m not sure it is allowed but I had a priest once who give a general absolution
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Again, what would an explanation do to change the situation? Nothing. And I don’t believe general absolution is allowed except in dire emergencies, of which, this situation is not one.
 
I would say it is impossible to say 11 masses in 24 hours but if you say so. I talked to a Bishop once who said 5 masses. He said he was totally out of it for the 5 mass. IMO it is quite alright to cancel masses and confessions times if we don’t have the priest. This should be done with as much advanced notice as possible. If it is a last minute sickness then that should be explained.
 
Irish,

Well it chances things in my eyes. Dire emergencies are a judgment call so it is up to the priest to decide.
 
I guess we’re different. If my pastor were late, I would understand that there had to be a good reason as to why he was (and that it’s probably private and none of my business), and that he wasn’t just being irresponsible or inconsiderate.
 
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Theo2 said:
I would say it is impossible to say 11 masses in 24 hours but if you say so. I talked to a Bishop once who said 5 masses. He said he was totally out of it for the 5 mass. IMO it is quite alright to cancel masses and confessions times if we don’t have the priest. This should be done with as much advanced notice as possible. If it is a last minute sickness then that should be explained.
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Read carefully.

He doesn’t say 11 masses, he needs to say as many as possible and get coverage for the rest.

He personally sais 5. One Saturday, 3 in the morning and one in the evening.

And actually, priests cannot just “cancel Mass”. That’s not permitted in the US. They must contact the Bishop to remove the number of Masses available to the people.
 
Yes, but you said he is taking care of all of this himself.
So I guess I was confused. The priest can, like any of us, only do his best. I said cancels a mass if necessary with advance notice. That would include the Bishop’s approval.
Now to the point. A priest or any of us should not excuse bad behavior by saying he is too busy. Now he did not say that but other people seem to be offering that excuse. My opinion.
 
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