Bulletin Column from July 19, 2020; 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends at Saint Frances Cabrini Parish and Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish:
 
Praised be Jesus Christ! I continue to be so moved and amazed by the numbers of Confessions that we hear on a weekly basis at our two parishes.  Saint Frances Cabrini continues to offer availability for Confessions on Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, as well as following the 8am Saturday morning Mass for as long as there is a waiting line for the Sacrament.  At Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception we make them available every Thursday evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, joined with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the main church. 
 
It is true that during some weeks, and during some times of the year, the volume of takers for the Sacrament is lower or higher.   Still, it is clear after this many years of offering these same times that most weeks we do have an impressive number of penitents, and that we are comfortably, consistently busy.   This remained true even during the Covid shut down when all that we were offering for Sacraments at that time was Confession.   People definitely came.   People are continuing to come.   It is wonderful to see. 
 
Among the dozens of other observations that could be made about this dynamic in our parish communities would be this one of note in our very turbulent times:  going to Confession means pointing a finger about what is wrong back at one’s self, rather than at someone else.  In this way it is a beautifully humble thing to do.  Coupled with God’s response of unconditional mercy, it is a profoundly healing activity.  One could rightly say, in light of this, that it is an indispensable activity for any needed and authentic societal transformation.
 
A great deal of our public discourse these days about the pressing issues of our day is decidedly lacking in any articulation of personal failing or responsibility for whatever happens to be wrong.  Indeed it seems that every open mouth right now in the public square is exclaiming that someone else is to blame.   A society, or a particular group of people, that refuses to ever examine its own conscience and humbly admit wrongdoing or responsibility for whatever is broken is not capable of staying together.  It will not survive.   That is true regardless of the side of the debate or agenda that is in question.
 
If one is looking for a needed break from the cycle of social finger-pointing that seems to make everything actually worse, it can be found in the Confessional.  There is no room for it there.  How blessed we are to have this Sacrament so well-utilized here.  Only good things will continue to come of this reality.