Why so hard to find Confession?

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Steelhart

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I moved to a smaller city under a different Diocese. There are 2 parishes within 15 miles.
I’m used to a Cathedral where there was reconsiliation before every Mass. I can’t find confession anywhere today. I’ve been their phones since this morning aand went over their web sites. I get a mass schedule on both and leave a message on the machines. Confessions here are both listed on sat afternoon fron 4-445 only.
I just find that so wierd. I’ve been a Catholic 3 years. Is this normal. How can I find/ask for that sacrament??
Thanks:)
 
Even though we have confession before daily Masses at our parish, I bet you won’t find that to be the case today. With a Holy Day such as Christmas, the schedules get changed, and you won’t find what is usually in place on a regular day. The same goes for Holy Week before Easter - go early.

No good advice for finding an available priest today. On occassion I have found that if I pray for the opportunity, it sometimes presents itself.
 
I’ve gone early to masses here and been told confessions on sat 4-445 but the priest made time for me. I just dont get why confession is not seeming to be very important. Am I seeing it as being too important? Theres rarely a line any saturday for it. The 45 minutes of the week dedicated to this sacriment.
 
If you can’t make it during regular confession times you can call and make an appointment when it would be convenient for you. Usually during Advent and Lent parishes have communal Reconciliation services to meet the needs of a large number of people at one time.

Christmas eve is probably not a time when you’ll find confessions scheduled, but again, you can call and see if a priest is available.
 
Steelhart said:
I’ve gone early to masses here and been told confessions on sat 4-445 but the priest made time for me. I just dont get why confession is not seeming to be very important. Am I seeing it as being too important? Theres rarely a line any saturday for it. The 45 minutes of the week dedicated to this sacriment.
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I agree with you Steelhart, it is often very difficult to find. I remember when I was on my way back into the Church (I left for many years after being a cradle Catholic); I found a parish whose Confessionals were only open ONE Saturday a month! I had gone thinking that I could make my Confession only to be told by the Priest, “Come back in 2 weeks, this isn’t the 3rd Saturday of the month.” I was in complete shock. Alas, times have changed. On the other side, what amazes me even more is when there is Confession and I find the line non-existent. Then, come Sunday morning I can count on one hand the amount of people that remain seated during Communion. Perhaps I’m the one with the problem, but I find myself feeling the need to go to Confession at least once but usually twice a month. I must be the biggest sinner in my parish.

Oh, I have also started attending a parish that offers Confession twice a week. Every Wednesday and every Saturday (both after the 8am Mass). This is a far better schedule for me than once a month. 👍 I would suggest that if you have no parishes in your area that offer Confession frequently, that you call your parish and schedule a private confession with your Priest. Do this as often as you need too. It’s important that we have the opportunity to be absolved of our sins without having to wait weeks at a time.

God bless and Merry Christmas.
 
Thanks for the reply. I’m not alone. I have been away from the Church for several months and really want to straighten myself out. I was very used to every week before mass. I struggle.
I dont understand confession after Mass. Kinda like cleaning out the house and then leaving it empty and weak for more sin untill the next chance to take communion. A deadly cycle.
:cool:
I’ll just set a weekly apointment then 8) maybe more will come.
 
My parish makes time for confession seven days a week. And the result is that people come.
 
Steelhart said:
I moved to a smaller city under a different Diocese. There are 2 parishes within 15 miles.
I’m used to a Cathedral where there was reconsiliation before every Mass. I can’t find confession anywhere today. I’ve been their phones since this morning aand went over their web sites. I get a mass schedule on both and leave a message on the machines. Confessions here are both listed on sat afternoon fron 4-445 only.
I just find that so wierd. I’ve been a Catholic 3 years. Is this normal. How can I find/ask for that sacrament??
Thanks:)
Click to expand...
Totally normal! The only time I’ve ever seen confession before each Mass is when I went to a church in a very large city that was run by a religious order. Unless I make a specific appt for confession, I can only go to confession on Sat at one of two parishes within 45 miles. The only other one doesn’t even have any confession hours. To get to a church that holds confession before each Mass, I’d need to travel 4 hours.:o
 
I’ve never lived near a parish that offered Confession more than once a week. They always offer it on Saturday afternoons. (Except for my current parish, which offers it on Fridays; I don’t know why.)

And I never see people there either. I was startled when I went 2 weeks ago, and there must have been, like, 8 people there!! I’ve never seen a line before!! (It made me feel so much better. Usually, it’s just me sitting there all by myself!!)
 
Well, the parish I attend, confession is availabe before almost all masses. It was announced ahead of time (for three weeks) that Father wouldn’t be hearing confessions before liturgies for Christmas.

That’s why he held a reconciliation window on Sunday… after liturgy. With an additional priest borrowed from a Roman parish.
 
Steelhart said:
I moved to a smaller city under a different Diocese. There are 2 parishes within 15 miles.
I’m used to a Cathedral where there was reconsiliation before every Mass. I can’t find confession anywhere today. I’ve been their phones since this morning aand went over their web sites. I get a mass schedule on both and leave a message on the machines. Confessions here are both listed on sat afternoon fron 4-445 only.
I just find that so wierd. I’ve been a Catholic 3 years. Is this normal. How can I find/ask for that sacrament??
Thanks:)
Click to expand...
There is a priest shortage in our diocese (as well as in many others). Our pastor is responsible for two parishes.
Confession is scheduled the same way you described, for 45 minutes before Saturday mass. However, it is always possible to make an appointment. I cannot imagine a priest turning a penitent away. I’m sure it happens, I just can’t figure out how a priest can do it.
 
God bless the priests at our super-traditional (heavily Latin), and sacrament-heavy parish. The confessional light was on during all of today’s Masses, including the high Masses. There were lines.

At the very liberal parish, where there are more priests, there is hugely less availability of confession. (3:00 - 3:45 on Saturdays, regardless of the season.) That’s why I believe it’s only partly related to priest availability. It’s also frame of mind. (Priorities.) Naturally when parishioners call on priests to be involved mostly in non-sacramental activities, the emphasis & availability shift.
 
Tietjen said:
I agree with you Steelhart, it is often very difficult to find. I remember when I was on my way back into the Church (I left for many years after being a cradle Catholic); I found a parish whose Confessionals were only open ONE Saturday a month! I had gone thinking that I could make my Confession only to be told by the Priest, “Come back in 2 weeks, this isn’t the 3rd Saturday of the month.” I was in complete shock. Alas, times have changed. On the other side, what amazes me even more is when there is Confession and I find the line non-existent. Then, come Sunday morning I can count on one hand the amount of people that remain seated during Communion. Perhaps I’m the one with the problem, but I find myself feeling the need to go to Confession at least once but usually twice a month. I must be the biggest sinner in my parish.

Oh, I have also started attending a parish that offers Confession twice a week. Every Wednesday and every Saturday (both after the 8am Mass). This is a far better schedule for me than once a month. 👍 I would suggest that if you have no parishes in your area that offer Confession frequently, that you call your parish and schedule a private confession with your Priest. Do this as often as you need too. It’s important that we have the opportunity to be absolved of our sins without having to wait weeks at a time.

God bless and Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...
ya i agree. it is a shame how most people abuse the opprtunity to use this gift from God
 
Steelhart said:
I’ve gone early to masses here and been told confessions on sat 4-445 but the priest made time for me. I just dont get why confession is not seeming to be very important. ** Am I seeing it as being too important? ** Theres rarely a line any saturday for it. The 45 minutes of the week dedicated to this sacriment.
Click to expand...
No, you’re not attaching too much importance to this sacrament. Because it’s important to you, as it should be to all of us, you asked for it, and I’m glad the priest accommodated you. And perhaps during this past week, that same priest accommodated other parishioners who couldn’t make it during the Saturday time frame.
 
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