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March 13, 2024Dear Families,
This past weekend, we had the final retreat for our children preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation during the Easter season. The theme of the retreat was the Sacrament of Penance, which they also received for the first time at the conclusion of the retreat. Of course, many of the children were a bit intimidated about going to confession for the first time, so I tried to put them at ease. Fr. Kevin Upham was able to come to help out for the retreat, so I pretended to go to confession to him in front of everyone. “These are not my real sins!” I told the kids – though I don’t imagine that “kicking the cat” would have been something they thought I was doing around the rectory these days. We had a bit of a laugh about it, and I think they were able to feel a bit more comfortable about going after watching me stumble through the ritual and seeing Fr. Kevin’s gentle and encouraging response.
This coming week, once again our parishes will be offering extended hours for confessions in preparation for Holy Week. For ease of access and parking, confessions will be in the Cathedral chapel from 6-7PM, Monday-Thursday. Friday we will not have confessions because of the Stations of the Cross. Confessors for the week are as follows:
- Monday: Fr. Seamus, Fr. Cyprian
- Tuesday: Fr. Seamus, Fr. Augustine
- Wednesday: Fr. Kevin Upham, Bishop Robert Deeley (during adoration from 6-7:30PM)
- Thursday: Fr. Augustine, Fr. Seamus
This lent, I encourage you to receive the gift of that Christ wants to give you in confession: the gift of a clear conscience. Yes, it is often difficult and embarrassing to go to confession. It’s not easy to fess up: to openly acknowledge the ways that we have fallen or failed. It is so important to remember that the confession of our guilt has a single purpose: to open our hearts to the unconditional love and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. We don’t confess our sins in order to dwell on them or to be punished for them. Often, they bring with them punishments of their own. No, we confess our sins to Christ because we want to be restored to an unencumbered relationship with him – to be able to serve him without anything holding us back or undermining our confidence in his presence at work in us.
I encourage you: receive the gift of the Lord’s forgiveness this Lent, especially if it has been a while. Bring your children or grandchildren with you so that they can see the gift that this sacrament is in your life. Spend some time with a good examination of conscience thinking about not only where you have fallen, but also and perhaps especially, where you have failed to step up and really seek out what is good and right. We all sin, we all fail. Jesus teaches us not to avoid or to fear this dark reality of our fallen nature, but instead to bring it to him for healing. But just like any earthly doctor, he cannot heal what is not brought before him and entrusted to his care.
Know of my prayers for you and your families!
