Should you go to confession during Mass?

[justbeinfrank]

Every once in awhile I go to Mass and there are confessions being offered during Mass (usually in a very large or famous church, or on special occasions).

Is it acceptable to leave Mass briefly to go to confession, or must one wait until after Mass?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Ordinarily, confessions aren’t offered while Mass is in progress. However, when they are, they are not meant to interfere with Mass attendance. Generally speaking, they are offered for the convenience of visitors to the church who are not necessarily there for Mass. As you noted, this usually occurs at churches that draw tourists or that host special events occuring at the same time as confession (which tend to draw Catholics who go to church infrequently).

What this means is that if you are at the church to attend Mass, your focus should be on the Mass. Unless you have no opportunity to go another time and need to go to confession right then, it would be best to save your confession for later.