I have lived in two cities during my life, Boston and New York. In each there was always a place I could go, no matter what the day, where I could go to confession. No appointments. Show up, confess. I always thought that this is one of the greatest services a diocese could offer. Always available, fully anonymous confession.
I know very well that the shortage of priests restricts what individual parishes can do in this regard. I am not asking for miracles. But each diocese, I think, should have one place where confession is always available.
Saturday 4:00-4:45PM and by appointment just isn’t enough. The whole by appointment thing never cut it with me anyway. I suspect that many people in need of confession, even in the throws of remorse, might very well hesitate to go to confession if an appointment is needed and by Saturday afternoon the moment may have passed. I know this has happened to me.
Many times in the past I have availed myself of the grace of an easily available confession. Years ago I lived in Queens, New York and commuted to my job in Jersey City, New Jersey. Each day I would take the M train to Fulton Street and walk on over to the World Trade Center from whence I would take the PATH train to work. A few blocks North of the Trade Center was a Church that catered to the commuter. I don’t recall the name of it right now but it was always there. I had been to Mass there a few times on Holy Days and the occasional weekday mass. While there I noticed that there was always a priest in the confessional. Always.
A funny thing about riding the subway every day is that even while sandwiched between Hasidim and construction workers, stockbrokers and pawn brokers, amidst the noise and the jostling, you have the perfect time to search your soul. If I didn’t like what I found, I would just wait for my stop, turn right, and walk a few blocks. I knew he would be there, waiting for me. Always.
The knowledge that every day a priest sat in that confessional was always with me. Whenever I felt convicted of my sin, I need only catch an earlier train, walk a few blocks, and I would always find a priest waiting for me. I would always find Jesus waiting for me and not by appointment.
This post is not meant as a criticism, rather it is more an expression of longing. I wanted to go to confession before Christmas, but somehow last week I didn’t get around to it. I wanted to go today, but I had work and so I would need to call for an appointment. I didn’t go. I wished that today there was one place in my diocese where I knew I could turn. Some Church, even if I had to drive out of my way, that I knew if I made it there there would be a priest waiting for me. No appointments. Just there, waiting. I thought about my Church by the Trade Center. I wonder if they still have confessions there or the frequent masses? Maybe with the Trade Center gone, they have given it up. I hope not. I thought about going back there, but I am afraid of what I might find. I like thinking that a priest is still sitting in that confessional, waiting. I don’t think I could handle it if I made my way downtown only to find the doors locked.
At Christmas time we can walk into any store or any mall and find what we want. If it isn’t there, why there is a place just down the road that will probably have it. That is the nature of our consumerized world. You want it, you got it.
This Christmas I wanted what I really need, but unfortunately the establishment was closed with a sign that said, “By Appointment Only.”
December 24, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Patrick, I have to confess the same dilemma of missing confessions last Saturday, but I have a Friary nearby up here in CT where if I stop by this morning and ask, a priest will readliy don his stole and hear my confession.
IF you can track him down, Monsignor McDonald at the Seminary in Huntington will do the same for you, anytime, anywhere.
I remember one Christmas when he was our pastor in Center Moriches, he announced a ‘sale’ on penances, “All the sins you have done for three Hail Marys”. He wasn’t being flippant, his point was we can never pay back God’s mercy, so we might as well accept the richness of his Mercy. His dedication to the confessional reminds me of the Cure of Ars.
Now, there’s a priest!
December 24, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I agree fully with the sentiment expressed. In our parish, we go to great lengths to explain why confession is important and encourage it. But, then, we have the standard 45 minutes weekly. Actions speak louder than words. My priest says no one comes and he’s right, but he doesn’t or can’t pick different times. I think this is a situation in which the archdiocese needs to make this a priority and to work with priests to free up their time to make the sacrament more available. If you build it, they will come, as the movie goes. Both the Eucharist and Reconciliation are critical pillars for the spiritual life, let’s hope and pray that confession will become yet more available.
December 25, 2008 at 9:24 am
Too many times I’ve tried to get to Confession only to be turned away because, oops, it was 5:00 pm, times up folks. This even after arriving before 4:00 pm to stand in line.
I’ve turned around frustrated only to see frustrated young faces of other men behind me throwing up their arms in exasperation.
The state of our Church is sad. Miserably sad. When young adults are leaving the Church in droves for the readily available 24 hr/day religion of secularism, then we’ll have nobody to blame but ourselves.
December 26, 2008 at 4:18 am
St William of York in Stafford VA has confessions in a couple of morning and evening timeslots during the week, as well as on Saturdays. One of the priests there talked it up in his homily, and listed all the times. I only went there a couple times, being temporarily in Quantico and having my choice of two parishes and the base chapel.
(The Basilica/National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC has confession in a couple or three timeslots on Saturday, and a couple more on Sunday, including right before some of the Masses – and they’re in an adjoining chapel, so they don’t stop 5 minutes before Mass)
Jesse – I’ve been Catholic all my life, and cannot see myself calling to make an appointment for confession, unless it really was kind of dire. I feel the same way about inconveniencing the priest.
I have, in college and the Marine Corps, been comfortable enough to show up at the office and ask the chaplain if he had five minutes to hear a confession – or catch him before/after Mass. But knowing the chaplain by being a regular at daily Mass/ active in the parish, or on the battalion staff with him helps… Military chaplains will never say no, especially in-theater, unless Mass is about to start or they have an aircraft to catch.
By the way, I know there aren’t enough priests to go around, but if any of you know priests who’d be good candidates for the military, ask them to at least think about becoming reservists…
Merry Christmas!
S. Murphy
December 26, 2008 at 5:34 am
Satellite parish, here.
We get Father Gus from about 10:20 AM Sunday (Mass is ten thirty) until Monday 11:30 (when he has to head back to Brewster).
Since we’re sharing with….I think it’s five other satellites, plus the main Parish, this isn’t a complaint– just a note.
Father breaks his tail and goes above and beyond to do the best he can… but confession is still really, really hard to set up.
December 26, 2008 at 6:30 am
I am very, very fortunate indeed to live in Washington, DC, less than one block from a church. I have easy access to the sacraments whenever I want them, and I have in fact made sacramental confessions daily.
I have lots and lots of experience asking priests, even or especially strangers, to hear my confession. My advice to Jesse is just to politely and bravely say “Father, I need to make a sacramental confession.” Even if it is inconvenient for him, even if he is tired, even if he is annoyed, he knows that he must administer the sacrament when it is reasonably requested. Yes, you may inconvenience him, but both of you know that it is bigger than that.
December 28, 2008 at 1:51 pm
My husband was in the same position as you were this Christmas & I have to tell you the same thing I told him: Make confession a priority & this won't happen again! Yes, of course you're right about the need for more confession availability but bottomline a person who really wants to go during Advent can find a time & place if it goes to the top of the 'to do' list.