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Confession to be offered all day March 1 |
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Friday, 29 February 2008 |
By DANI ELLE BRISSETTE
WOONSOCKET — Today, Catholics throughout northern Rhode Island will have the opportunity to confess and confess again at this year’s fifth annual All-Day Confessions event at St. Joseph’s Parish.
“The idea is to not only make it convenient for individuals to get to the sacrament, but to really make a very special outreach and welcome to those who have been away for a long time and might have a little trepidation,” explains Judy St. Thomas, St. Joseph’s parishioner and All-Day Confessions coordinator.
For eight consecutive hours, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., visitors will be given the opportunity to seek confession from two to four different priests in a variety of languages including English, French, Polish and possibly Spanish.
“We have written guides that examine your conscience and (explain) how to make a confession,” St. Thomas says.
To alleviate the stress and anxiety that many people experience when seeking confession, St. Thomas explains that soft music will be playing to ensure privacy and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and quell any uncertainties.
“It’s very private,” she said. “People come in, go to confession and leave, but some people want to talk to me and the things that I hear are just amazing,
“One woman said ‘I wanted to do this for 30 years,’ and all she needed was a little encouragement.”
St. Thomas says that, in her experience, many people have long considered attending confession but lack of motivation, courage or comfort kept them away.
The All-Day Confession event aims to give people the opportunity they need to take that step.
“We’ve all done things we wish we hadn’t. That’s a universal. We don’t get a do over, but the church offers us a start over and we can accept or reject that offer,” St. Thomas said.
“From a Catholic point of view, this is the fountain of youth for the soul. That’s not a cliché; it really, totally restores to absolute youthfulness.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 03 March 2008 )
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