N
NFrancis
Guest
If there was a regular confession time during the week at your parish would you go to confession more often?
Also what time and day would you want it?
Also what time and day would you want it?
- Status
N
NFrancis
Guest
I think it depends on the time confession is though.
D
daeve
Guest
I voted no, because Saturday works fine for me.
I work 9 to 6 during the week, with a 30 mile commute. When I get home, it’s about 6:45 or so, and I have to make dinner for my 80 year old father who has dementia and is home alone all day. Yes, he can still be alone, but I don’t know how much longer. I seldom go anywhere during the week except out to dinner.
I go on Saturday, and it’s usually the same group of 10 or 12 people there, except around Easter when there are a few more. I can’t stand in line, so I’m usually the last one, and then I stay for the Rosary and Mass. That works for me.
On the other hand, if some of those people from Saturday go during the week, I’d like that a lot. When I was a kid, we had confession every morning during Mass, and it was expected that people who don’t go to work would go to confession during the week. Saturdays were sort of reserved for people who work and can’t go any other time, and in the 1950s, people who worked were mostly men. There was usually a nun in the church all the time, and if one of the school kids went to confession on Saturday, he’d hear about it on Monday.
I work 9 to 6 during the week, with a 30 mile commute. When I get home, it’s about 6:45 or so, and I have to make dinner for my 80 year old father who has dementia and is home alone all day. Yes, he can still be alone, but I don’t know how much longer. I seldom go anywhere during the week except out to dinner.
I go on Saturday, and it’s usually the same group of 10 or 12 people there, except around Easter when there are a few more. I can’t stand in line, so I’m usually the last one, and then I stay for the Rosary and Mass. That works for me.
On the other hand, if some of those people from Saturday go during the week, I’d like that a lot. When I was a kid, we had confession every morning during Mass, and it was expected that people who don’t go to work would go to confession during the week. Saturdays were sort of reserved for people who work and can’t go any other time, and in the 1950s, people who worked were mostly men. There was usually a nun in the church all the time, and if one of the school kids went to confession on Saturday, he’d hear about it on Monday.
R
rotlex
Guest
I can’t stand the fact or parish only has confession once per week, on Saturday afternoon, at 3:30PM. Talk about an inconvenient time, especially during the summer. So yes, I would love it if my own parish had times during the week, even one or two, say maybe right before or after lunch.
Luckily, I have a parish, and a retreat house, in my area, that offer other times for me. The other parish as a 7:45AM Saturday confession time, which is GREAT, and the retreat house has a 3pm Wednesday afternoon time, which is not bad either.
I’ve brought up other confession times and dates to our priest, but am usually told that there just wouldn’t be enough people.
Luckily, I have a parish, and a retreat house, in my area, that offer other times for me. The other parish as a 7:45AM Saturday confession time, which is GREAT, and the retreat house has a 3pm Wednesday afternoon time, which is not bad either.
I’ve brought up other confession times and dates to our priest, but am usually told that there just wouldn’t be enough people.
P
Pug
Guest
Weekday confession times are great! The evenings work the best for me (like right after dinner). I wish we had daily masses in the evenings, too.
Our parish is blessed to have a priest that has instituted confessions on weekdays, one day in the early morning, and one day in the evening. So when I answered your poll, I wasn’t guessing. I knew it helped me get to confession more often.
Our parish is blessed to have a priest that has instituted confessions on weekdays, one day in the early morning, and one day in the evening. So when I answered your poll, I wasn’t guessing. I knew it helped me get to confession more often.
C
Cat
Guest
We have weekday confessions on Wednesday from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
I was one of thje parishioners who lobbied for this time. I work in a hospital, and I work every third weekend from 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If the day is busy (which often happens in a hospital), I cannot leave, and have stayed as late as 5:00 p.m.
This of course means that I usually cannot make the regular Saturday confession times, which are 9:15-10:15 a.m. and 3:15- 4:15 p.m. When this happens, I end up making an appointment during the week, which is OK. But it’s better for my soul to go stand in a line with other parishioners–boy, this public admission of my sins (standing in a confession line) sure humbles me!
So the weekday evening confession times are a real blessing for me and others like me with these kind of job hours. I think it’s fairly popular, because when I’ve been, there is always a line.
I was one of thje parishioners who lobbied for this time. I work in a hospital, and I work every third weekend from 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If the day is busy (which often happens in a hospital), I cannot leave, and have stayed as late as 5:00 p.m.
This of course means that I usually cannot make the regular Saturday confession times, which are 9:15-10:15 a.m. and 3:15- 4:15 p.m. When this happens, I end up making an appointment during the week, which is OK. But it’s better for my soul to go stand in a line with other parishioners–boy, this public admission of my sins (standing in a confession line) sure humbles me!
So the weekday evening confession times are a real blessing for me and others like me with these kind of job hours. I think it’s fairly popular, because when I’ve been, there is always a line.
A
acadian
Guest
We do have confessions during the week. Monday, Thursday and Friday from 6:15-6:25 am. and on Wednesdays from noon until 12:10 or so. Before daily Mass.
I use these times. Sometimes I encounter another sinner or two. But there is always a feeling of accomplishment about being to slide in to that narrow window of time.
I also use the Saturday time (3:00 - 3:30). Not a whole lot of time, but rarely is there a line.
I use these times. Sometimes I encounter another sinner or two. But there is always a feeling of accomplishment about being to slide in to that narrow window of time.
I also use the Saturday time (3:00 - 3:30). Not a whole lot of time, but rarely is there a line.
A
Annabelle_Marie
Guest
Our parish does have a weekday confession time…and it appears to be used regularly…I know I do!
M
markomalley
Guest
There are loads of places near where I live that offer frequent confession. So if I want to go on a weekday, I’ll go on a weekday. If I want to go on a Saturday, I’ll go on a Saturday. If I want to go immediately before Mass on Sunday, I’ll do that as well.
One nice thing about living in a big city.
Having said that, though, if I was to, through my nightly examen, discern that I was in a state of mortal sin, I would do everything possible to get that remedied before the next time the sun went down. Including, if necessary, hijacking a local priest before (or after…if necessary) the early morning daily Mass the next morning.
I say this because I would hate to get in a car accident, have a heart attack or stroke, or befall some other sort of calamity while out of a state of grace. I’ve seen too many people in my life who have up and died unexpectedly to not fully comprehend that assuming you’re going to live until the following Saturday afternoon from 3:45 to 4:15 is too great a risk…better take the (and other times by appointment) option.
One nice thing about living in a big city.
Having said that, though, if I was to, through my nightly examen, discern that I was in a state of mortal sin, I would do everything possible to get that remedied before the next time the sun went down. Including, if necessary, hijacking a local priest before (or after…if necessary) the early morning daily Mass the next morning.
I say this because I would hate to get in a car accident, have a heart attack or stroke, or befall some other sort of calamity while out of a state of grace. I’ve seen too many people in my life who have up and died unexpectedly to not fully comprehend that assuming you’re going to live until the following Saturday afternoon from 3:45 to 4:15 is too great a risk…better take the (and other times by appointment) option.
H
HAnne
Guest
Our parishes (3 served by 1 priest) have confession available for 15 min. prior to the service at 2 parishes and at the 3rd it’s by appointment only.
However, I have been told most parishioners confess very regularly, usually by appointment and face to face here! (which surprised me!!!) Apparently our priest is a big fan of face to face confessions and generally only offers the other when requested.
I love that our priest is available by appointment! He’s very flexible to the point that he encourages us, “if you feel the need, call!” He’s well known for dropping just about everything to meet with a parishioner for any reason…confession, counseling, family crisis, whatever. He’s such a blessing!!!
That said, if a parish didn’t have such a flexible, wonderful priest, I would find a weekday confession time easiest for me. My husband works weekends and leaving my son alone outside the confessional would bother me.
However, I have been told most parishioners confess very regularly, usually by appointment and face to face here! (which surprised me!!!) Apparently our priest is a big fan of face to face confessions and generally only offers the other when requested.
I love that our priest is available by appointment! He’s very flexible to the point that he encourages us, “if you feel the need, call!” He’s well known for dropping just about everything to meet with a parishioner for any reason…confession, counseling, family crisis, whatever. He’s such a blessing!!!
That said, if a parish didn’t have such a flexible, wonderful priest, I would find a weekday confession time easiest for me. My husband works weekends and leaving my son alone outside the confessional would bother me.
M
m134e5
Guest
I’d like to see more weekday evening confession (and Mass) times. I don’t have a problem getting to confession on weekends, but weekday mornings aren’t really possible for me- and there are times when I realize early in the week that I need to go to confession.
L
laszlo
Guest
In my experience everywhere where there is opportunity to confessions, there are lines. People need it. This should be the most important job for priest preceding any other ones.
M
Mrs_Sally
Guest
My parish does have week-day confessions 2x a week, once before noon Mass and once in the evening as well as the traditional Saturday afternoons. Nearby parishes also have regular week-day confession times. We most often end up going Saturday afternoons anyway. It is nice to have those other times available and we have used them. If I felt the need for confession at another time, I would call my priest for an appointment.
I will also say that my parish and others nearby are also offering additional confession times during advent to encourage more people to avail themselves of the sacrament.
I will also say that my parish and others nearby are also offering additional confession times during advent to encourage more people to avail themselves of the sacrament.
D
Damase
Guest
I think the best time for confessions is right before Mass begins—maybe for an hour on Sundays or a half-hour on weekdays.
First, it promotes worthy reception of the Eucharist by tying the sacrament of confession with what’s going on at Mass. (I’ve heard of some parishes that have confession after Mass—I can’t see the sense in that.) Also, it would encourage a prayerful silence in church before Mass begins if people knew that confessions were being heard.
In fact, the Latin Mass parish I attend has Confessions even during Mass, up until the Sanctus.
First, it promotes worthy reception of the Eucharist by tying the sacrament of confession with what’s going on at Mass. (I’ve heard of some parishes that have confession after Mass—I can’t see the sense in that.) Also, it would encourage a prayerful silence in church before Mass begins if people knew that confessions were being heard.
In fact, the Latin Mass parish I attend has Confessions even during Mass, up until the Sanctus.
- Status