Sacrament of Confession Statistics

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Esperance

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Does anyone know if there are statistics kept on the number of people going to Confession and if that information is available to the public?
 
I can only say it’s a good deal less than in previous years… hopefully you and i can change that trend:thumbsup:
 
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Esperance:
Does anyone know if there are statistics kept on the number of people going to Confession and if that information is available to the public?
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Wow!
That is a toughie.
In my parish, there are three Holy Masses a day and six on Sundays.
We have confession 1/2 before and every one of them is packed. I have even been to a 6 am and couldn’t get in.
Does that help?
 
I guess my main reason for asking the question is I have seen priest with clickers in the confessional and I know that I have heard specific numbers referenced when talking about the decline in the use of Confession.
 
In my Diocese I have visited almost all the parish’s and most only have confession at one mass a week and for only 30 minutes, doesnt that make it difficult for those to go? Two do have confession before each mas, but they are the exceptions. And at one of the parish’s that does have confession before each mass, the weekly bulletiin posts how many went to confession, which would accout for why your Priest had a clicker. I think it is a good idea so all can see they are not alone and many are going!
 
I think having confession before each mass would be great. One confession time on Saturday just doesn’t work for me.
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
Wow!
That is a toughie.
In my parish, there are three Holy Masses a day and six on Sundays.
We have confession 1/2 before and every one of them is packed. I have even been to a 6 am and couldn’t get in.
Does that help?
Click to expand...
As with netmil(name removed by moderator), I am in a traditional parish within the Archdiocese of Detroit, but not the same one. The cultures of such parishes, I believe, are highly penitintial for two main reasons that I can see thus far:


  1. *]It is fostered by the parish priests in their homilies, and their actions (spend time in the box). People respond to a priest in the confessional when it is offered before mass.
    *]People in such parishes tend to be more orthodox and traditional in their practices.

    Saturdays aren’t much different, with a steady stream of people, but most do go before masses. Plus, they offer confession improptu during the week by just going to the box ahead of the second morning mass. Penitents are mixed in age too from the youngest allowed, up to the elderly and every age in bewteen. Penances are stiffer at this parish than anything I have ever received, but I’ll be honest - I welcome it and find it helpful.

    Before I started attending this parish, I didn’t go to confession much - falling into the “no one else goes” attitude. What I recall seeing when I was going in those other parishes was very few people 5-10 at most and all had gray hair. On Divine Mercy Saturday, there were about 25-30 at most. The parish is fairly large so that is a sad number.

    Contrast that to the traditional parish that I am in now where one of several priests told me that he put in around 26 hours himself the week of Divine Mercy. That doesn’t count at least 4-5 other priests, or more that helped out (another holy order works on the grounds).

    If there are no statistics there should be. Some parishes just aren’t into confession and it is sad. I have found that it is “catchy” when you see so many others going and it is so readily availble.
 
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NewCatholicGirl:
In my Diocese I have visited almost all the parish’s and most only have confession at one mass a week and for only 30 minutes, doesnt that make it difficult for those to go? Two do have confession before each mas, but they are the exceptions. And at one of the parish’s that does have confession before each mass, the weekly bulletiin posts how many went to confession, which would accout for why your Priest had a clicker. I think it is a good idea so all can see they are not alone and many are going!
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One parish in my diocese (not mine) started a policy of having confession 2-3 times per day; the pastor at the time felt that strongly about it. And people got in the habit of going, so they’ve continued it with the new pastor. Mind you, this is NOT a cathedral or a basilica or anything, but it is a blessing for those of us able to get there.
 
My strongest feeling is that people will respond to a priest in a confessional, especially if such a culture is fostered through homilies, bulletin articles, and other means.
 
I know many “Catholics” who reject the sacrament all together, confess directly to Jesus, ect… I try to talk about when and where I go to at least foster an interest. It must be very heavy load to bear to have to try and carry all those sins around by not offering them to Christ sacramentally.
 
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