My son wants to know what is to be done about confession when no priest can be found.

I have no idea what to tell him and because assisting at mass is something that is difficult for us, it is important for him to know what he should do.

I also have a list of retired or elderly, old rite ordained priests for confessions in my area. Traditional priests aren't always available. Many also have the Eastern rites available in many locations.

Otherwise, one would just try to make a perfect act of contrition, and pray for aid to get to confession as soon as possible.

My son wants to know what is to be done about confession when no priest can be found.

I have no idea what to tell him and because assisting at mass is something that is difficult for us, it is important for him to know what he should do.

1.Keep track of mass schedules SSPX and CMRI and good independent priests that may be in your area.  You can often find out about good independent priests online through a google search.  Most of these priests are former SSPX so they have good training.

2.  Check to see if there are any Eastern rite Catholic Churches in your area.  If they are in your area, investigate them, without your children present to see if the priest(s) is still a Catholic.  Many Eastern rite priests live in a bubble of Catholicism and are still very much validly ordained Catholic priests.

But, with that said, other Eastern Catholic priests have joined the Vatican II revolution so you need to be careful and discerning.  Some things to look for:  does the eastern rite church engage in ecuмenical prayer and joint services with local "orthodox" schismatics, do they mix Novus Ordo songs with their rite, do they use altar girls or women lectors, do they omit the Filioque from the creed, does the priest give liberal or modernist sermons, etc.  

I would recommend that if you are going to look into an eastern rite Catholic Church, to first use the internet, and then if it appears safe, go without your children to make a better assessment, without risking scandal to your children.

3.  Find out the names of diocesan and religious priests ordained prior to the imposition of the Paul VI rite, (those ordained prior to April 6, 1969).  Many of these old priests still have the Catholic Faith, but as with the eastern rite priests, the same rule applies.  

Some questions to use when investigating:  does the priest still think and act like a Catholic priest, and only remain united to the Conciliar church because he believes he must be obedient to those he considers the lawful authorities?  Does he still from all appearances have the Catholic Faith?  Does he use the correct form for the sacrament?  Does he say and do things which indicate that he is part of the revolution, heretical or modernist statements, etc.

I know that this is a very annoying cross to have to do all this work when in former times you could show up at a church at the scheduled confession time and that would be it.  

Just ask a priest "were you ordained in the Tridentine rite"?

OR "when were you ordained?" which is easier.

If they say a year before vatican 2, or probably even up to 1969, then they are old rite.
Someone can clarify what year the ordination rite was changed.

In an emergency, like near death, go to any priest. The church will forgive in extraordinary situation.

Where can I find a directory?
When I google retired priests in my area, all I get back is a listing of sex offenders in my diocese...

How do you investigate diocesan priest without attending service there? Do you make an appointment with the parish secretary? What do you say it's about?