The sacrament of reconciliation will be available at all Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of Rochester’s 12 counties on March 24, which will be the diocesanwide Day of Penance and Mercy.
Between 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. on this day, priests will be available to hear individual confessions at every parish within the diocese, although the priests at parishes with multiple worship sites probably will divide their time between the various locations.
This year marks the third time the diocese has held such a day during Lent, and in previous years the day has been very fruitful, noted Mary Dundas, diocesan coordinator of evangelization and sacramental catechesis.
The sacrament of reconciliation provides the most perfect way for Catholics to experience God’s endless love and mercy, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano wrote in a February 2015 letter inviting diocesan Catholics to participate in the upcoming Day of Penance and Mercy.
Some Catholics, especially those who haven’t gone to confession in a while, may be hesitant to receive the sacrament because they’re unsure of what to expect or anxious about confessing their sins. A visit to the diocesan website devoted to the sacrament of reconciliation, which may be found at http://forgiven.dor.org, might alleviate some of those concerns, Dundas said.
