Where do you go to Confession

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KostyaJMJ said:
I’m pretty sure she has been sent to teach me patience. 😃 But she is not the only one. There are several parishioners who always seem to get to church early and take the full 30 min. I am sure that they would take more time, but the priest has to interrupt them to say mass. I don’t know if it is a common problem but it makes receiving the sacrament difficult.
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This would be a real problem at my parish – the open times on Saturday are only for one hour!!!
 
I usually go to a parish located two blocks away from where I work. There is a pastor and an associate pastor there and they both hear confessions, so I have a pretty even chance of getting either one. Lately though, I’ve been getting the pastor. Confessions are offered after the noon Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I try to go once a month, or as soon as I’m conscious of a bad sin. I’m actually going today.
 
KostyaJMJ said:
I’m pretty sure she has been sent to teach me patience. 😃 But she is not the only one. There are several parishioners who always seem to get to church early and take the full 30 min. I am sure that they would take more time, but the priest has to interrupt them to say mass. I don’t know if it is a common problem but it makes receiving the sacrament difficult.
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Sounds as if she is lonley and perhaps wants to talk, especiallly if she goes every week. If this is a common occurance perhaps you could mention to the priest that you have come to confess a few times but this one woman monopolizes the time and you and others don’t get the chance to confess. Maybe he can encourage the woman to be quick. Often, I have been told, people come in wanting to talk or get spiritual direction, but if there is only a 1/2 hour of confession time they really should make an appointment rather than keep others from confessing. I remember once being told to get to the point and if I wanted to discuss things to make an appointment. It was kind of shocking to hear, but I understand why if there were other people waiting. A person who goes once a week should need no more than 5 minutes I would think.
 
About two months ago I was standing in confession. There was a kid in front of me about 20 years old then in front of him an elderly guy and his wife. Well, his wife went into the confessional and now the old guy was waiting. Without hesitation or missing a beat, this guy let loose “some flatulance” (I’m trying to keep this classy LOL) and boy was it LOUD! The kid in front of me turned to me and said “all righty then! So how 'bout them Giants?” to me. We both started cracking up. That guy didn’t even react when he did it and it sounded like a sonic boom. Confession lines are always “interesting” 😛
 
Joannm said:
Sounds as if she is lonley and perhaps wants to talk, especiallly if she goes every week. If this is a common occurance perhaps you could mention to the priest that you have come to confess a few times but this one woman monopolizes the time and you and others don’t get the chance to confess. Maybe he can encourage the woman to be quick. Often, I have been told, people come in wanting to talk or get spiritual direction, but if there is only a 1/2 hour of confession time they really should make an appointment rather than keep others from confessing. I remember once being told to get to the point and if I wanted to discuss things to make an appointment. It was kind of shocking to hear, but I understand why if there were other people waiting. A person who goes once a week should need no more than 5 minutes I would think.
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I have politely asked if I can cut before but it is much easier to go to a different parish. The problem is that confession time often becomes monopolised by the neediest few parishioners. I’ve seen several priests write about the problem and how to avoid it. I don’t really feel that it is my place to try and correct anyone so I let the priest deal with it how he sees fit.

What it seems is happening is people don’t understand the difference between the sacrament of reconciliation, spiritual direction, and counselling.
 
:rotfl:
gurneyhalleck1 said:
About two months ago I was standing in confession. There was a kid in front of me about 20 years old then in front of him an elderly guy and his wife. Well, his wife went into the confessional and now the old guy was waiting. Without hesitation or missing a beat, this guy let loose “some flatulance” (I’m trying to keep this classy LOL) and boy was it LOUD! The kid in front of me turned to me and said “all righty then! So how 'bout them Giants?” to me. We both started cracking up. That guy didn’t even react when he did it and it sounded like a sonic boom. Confession lines are always “interesting” 😛
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:rotfl:
 
I had no issues when I went to the Communal with Private Confessions service recently.

We had a communal part with an an opening song, then a few prayers including the Confiteor then a reading from one of St Paul’s letters, then one of the priests in attendance read a Gospel and gave a brief homily. After that was an examination of conscience.

The church I attended, the parish priest invited about 12 other priests from other nearby local parishes to assist with the private confessions. They were set up in various sections throughout the church. About 150 people or so came for the service. The line I chose had about 5 people ahead of me, and about 5 or so behind me. My wait was about 10 minutes, and I took about 5 minutes at most to confess & be absolved when it was my turn. My resolution is try to go a bit more often as I feel a mental burden lifted.

It took about 30 minutes or so for all those in attendance to receive the sacrament in the private confession. After it was all finished, there was the reciting of the Our Father, exchanging the Sign of Peace, a few closing prayers and a closing song.
 
I go to another parish close by for confession.

I find that a 45 block of time on Saturday-only makes it tough to get to confession regularly. Do many of you call and make an appointment with the priest instead?
I sure wish more churches offered confession during the evening work week.
 
I definitely don’t have a regular confessor. It’s difficult for me to get to the scheduled confession times around here, so I just go to the closest church I can find… All the priest I’ve confessed to were very nice, no scary confession stories from me!
I used to think that face to face confessions were more frightening, but since I was a kid, most of my confessions were done face to face and I’ve grown used to it. Plus I’ve always kind of had a fear that no one would be on the other side of the screen when I made my confession, or that it was really an eavesdropper and not a priest :eek: :rolleyes:
Hopefully the priests don’t really remember what I tell them… if they do, oh well, I’d still rather confess than not confess.
 
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