What do you all think

[decn2b]

We have communal pennance this week at my church. Which basically consists of a prayer service and some sort of act of contrition then we all line up to go confess our sins privately. My priest is ALWAYS there on saturday afternoons waiting and waitin in the confessional. Usually it is only a few people a week. HOWEVER my priest makes arrangements with 7-8 other priests from our deanery to come and hear confessions during this communal penance service. Considering how liberal my diocese (with the exception of my parish) I am actually quite amazed at how many people show up. Usually each of the 7-8 priests has a pretty good line waiting for private confessions.Funny though our priests line is slightly shorter than the other priests. (lol)

I know people may have opinions on this but the above scenario sorta reminds me of youth conferences or big events where you see priests scattered about hearing confessions. coments??

 

[aurora77]

Our church usually has a communal service in Advent and Lent. I think it’s a good idea, especially for those who might want to confess to someone they don’t know and don’t see each week. Each priest is somewhere quite private, so there’s no chance of being overheard. Also, it’s set up so that you can go face to face or behind a screen, whichever you prefer.

If it gets people to confession, it’s a good idea.

 

[shannin]

Our Church does the same thing. I don’t see anything wrong with at all. Catholics need to go to confession more often and this might help get more of them to get to confession.

 

[Brenda_V]

Even though in my Parish we have Confessions seven days a week with twice a day on six of them, the chances of getting turned away are very high as the times are before the Daily masses and unless you are first throug say, fourth in line you will most likely get turned away as then Mass will be starting!

Now having said this, you are guaranteed to have your confession heard if you go to one of the ‘communal’ Penance services because the Priests will not leave until all who are in line have had their confessions heard (-:. We usually have this twice a year, like someone else said, during Lent and Advent. Now we are having our Christmas Novena starting on Dec. 16 and will have several other Priests around to hear Confessions after the prayers so this is a good time to go too - again, guaranteed to get your confession heard!

Sadly, I usually end up going only once a year - no I am not perfect but tend to fear the Sacrament (and the fact that I cry every time I go no matter how often I go). The fact that I could be turned away is not a good thing for me either because once I got the courage up to go it is very hard to come back if I didn’t get to. I was once told that I had the gift of tears by a Priest who, poor guy, had to watch me blubber through my confession!

Brenda V.

 

[puzzleannie]

this is one of the prescribed forms of confession in the new rite, and is fine as long as everyone gets the chance to confess privately and be absolved privately. Usually several parishes get together to pool priests, and do it at a different parish each time. Whatever works to get people to the sacrament is great.

Had a beautiful experience at the last Youth 2000 event here, with the confreres of Fr. Stan Fortuna, there were priest in each corner of the hall hearing confessions and they still weren’t done when it was time for the Eucharistic procession which is the highlight of these conferences.

I was the last one to confess to an elderly friar, because we let the teens go first. I was graced to make an exceedingly honest and complete confession, but was afraid I would miss the chance to have Jesus come to me personally in the procession (those carrying the monstrance stop briefly in front of each person and the blessings experienced are enormous for anyone who has ever been there).

As I started my act of contrition the priest said, “My dear, look who has come to you.” I turned around and to me, the last person in the hall, they brought Jesus. Talk about tears. I am normally a very stoic unemotional person, but every tear saved up for the last 20 years came forth. Talk about healing. Whoa. I have had a completely different attitude and relationship with this sacrament since then. No longer regard it like a trip to the dentist, more like a spa weekend.

 

[Dorothy]

Penance services with several priests available to hear private confessions are great, but it seems like many need catechesis on the blessings of using the Sacrament of Penance regularly.

I think some teaching and explanation is needed from our priests whenever they announce an upcoming Penance service. Going to these services seem to have become the norm for many parishioners…as if they have taken the place of monthly confession.

 

[morgan63]

In my parish and most of the ones in my area, they only have confession on Sat evening before Mass. I work on Saturday and am looking forward to the Advent Reconcilation service, so I will have a chance to go. I used to go monthly before my work schedule changed.

 

[aurora77]

morgan63:

In my parish and most of the ones in my area, they only have confession on Sat evening before Mass. I work on Saturday and am looking forward to the Advent Reconcilation service, so I will have a chance to go. I used to go monthly before my work schedule changed.

That’s definitely a plus. Our penance services are in the evening, so that working people can more easily attend. I work Saturdays, too, and have had to either make an appointment for confession or attend a penance service.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

We have two of these a year. They are fine, as others have said, if penitents are given the opportunity to confess and be absolved privately. If a person lives in an area with a priest shortage or not enough regular confession hours, this is clearly a good thing.

Where it starts to get bad (and where there is abuse):

• Everybody writing their sins down on paper, burning the papers, and receiving general absolution.
• Everybody just receiving general absolution.