Something weird happened last week at ICC.  This wasn't just with my family, but for dozens of others out here who tried to go to confession before the Sunday Mass(es).

There are confessions heard on Thursday evenings.  My wife and two of our boys went.  When they got there, there was the usual dozen plus or so others who were also waiting.  Here's where it gets odd: there weren't any priests in the confessional booths.  People were lined up waiting on both sides yet it was if the priests couldn't make it.   And it was common knowledge that there WERE priests there because the voice of one of them could be heard from the sacristy conversing on the telephone.  After about half- or three-quarters of an hour, with no discernable evidence of confessions being heard (or wanting to be heard), people just upped and left.  Perhaps, they figured, things will be different on Saturday morning, when confessions are scheduled in the morning.

I went on Saturday morning.  I even got there early, thinking that because of the Thursday night fiasco, there'd be double the number of people waiting to be heard.  I wasn't wrong either as there were quite a number of souls lining up.  It started becoming surreal; I've never experienced going to confession where that little light above that center booth is just... not there.  Maybe things are running late, I thought.  So I waited.  And waited.  More and more people coming in.

About 10am, a woman came in and went to a few others and whispered something, which then filtered back my way.  The message was that confession was cancelled - something about scheduling conflicts - and that there was even a printed message in the vestibule.  Now I can't excuse my ignorance for not scanning every little thing posted up behind the glass, but I really can't find any excuse for 'cancelling.'  There are six (6) priests there at ICC.  I know they weren't all in VA, and gearing up for the Cataldo pilgrimage does not take up 72 hours of time or warrant a 'dereliction of duty.'

My family and I (and others) were told that there would also be no confessions heard at St. Dominics on the Sundays when Masses were held.  What is going on here?  Is it because no one is sinning anymore and they've got to economize?  Is ICC and St Dominic's taking a page from the Novus Ordo business plan and offering confessions once-a-week-every-week-for-a-half-hour?  Are parishoners being punished because we're getting in the way of priestly 'me time?'  Sorry to interrupt the snooker game in the rectory, gentlemen, but come on!  Our bulletin has a quarter page dedicated to the sick; am I to assume that sacraments, the elderly, or the infirm are now inconveniences?

Did anyone else in Post Falls run into this?

Something weird happened last week at ICC.  This wasn't just with my family, but for dozens of others out here who tried to go to confession before the Sunday Mass(es).

There are confessions heard on Thursday evenings.  My wife and two of our boys went.  When they got there, there was the usual dozen plus or so others who were also waiting.  Here's where it gets odd: there weren't any priests in the confessional booths.  People were lined up waiting on both sides yet it was if the priests couldn't make it.   And it was common knowledge that there WERE priests there because the voice of one of them could be heard from the sacristy conversing on the telephone.  After about half- or three-quarters of an hour, with no discernable evidence of confessions being heard (or wanting to be heard), people just upped and left.  Perhaps, they figured, things will be different on Saturday morning, when confessions are scheduled in the morning.

I went on Saturday morning.  I even got there early, thinking that because of the Thursday night fiasco, there'd be double the number of people waiting to be heard.  I wasn't wrong either as there were quite a number of souls lining up.  It started becoming surreal; I've never experienced going to confession where that little light above that center booth is just... not there.  Maybe things are running late, I thought.  So I waited.  And waited.  More and more people coming in.

About 10am, a woman came in and went to a few others and whispered something, which then filtered back my way.  The message was that confession was cancelled - something about scheduling conflicts - and that there was even a printed message in the vestibule.  Now I can't excuse my ignorance for not scanning every little thing posted up behind the glass, but I really can't find any excuse for 'cancelling.'  There are six (6) priests there at ICC.  I know they weren't all in VA, and gearing up for the Cataldo pilgrimage does not take up 72 hours of time or warrant a 'dereliction of duty.'

My family and I (and others) were told that there would also be no confessions heard at St. Dominics on the Sundays when Masses were held.  What is going on here?  Is it because no one is sinning anymore and they've got to economize?  Is ICC and St Dominic's taking a page from the Novus Ordo business plan and offering confessions once-a-week-every-week-for-a-half-hour?  Are parishoners being punished because we're getting in the way of priestly 'me time?'  Sorry to interrupt the snooker game in the rectory, gentlemen, but come on!  Our bulletin has a quarter page dedicated to the sick; am I to assume that sacraments, the elderly, or the infirm are now inconveniences?

Did anyone else in Post Falls run into this?

Wasn't in Post Falls, but could they have been gone to ordinations? In many of the smaller chapels (not priories), everything shuts down for ordinations, and the timing sounds right for that.

Wasn't in Post Falls, but could they have been gone to ordinations? In many of the smaller chapels (not priories), everything shuts down for ordinations, and the timing sounds right for that.

Well, you know, that's a good point and I hadn't considered it.  But would that require all six priests to just up and forget about administering to the faithful?  It seems presumptuous (and ridiculously so) to think that.  What if someone needed extreme unction?  It just strikes me as being odd.

Why not just call and ask?  Call before hand next time to be sure a priest will be there for confessions.

Marsha

Why not just call and ask?  Call before hand next time to be sure a priest will be there for confessions.
Marsha

Because if it is printed on their weekly bulletins, then I or anyone else shouldn't have to call.  We trust that they will stick to their word (and their work).

Quote from: Novus Weirdo

Quote from: Sienna629

Wasn't in Post Falls, but could they have been gone to ordinations? In many of the smaller chapels (not priories), everything shuts down for ordinations, and the timing sounds right for that.

Well, you know, that's a good point and I hadn't considered it.  But would that require all six priests to just up and forget about administering to the faithful?  It seems presumptuous (and ridiculously so) to think that.  What if someone needed extreme unction?  It just strikes me as being odd.

I'm surprised you're taking it so well!  You're right, it's 'a bit odd'
but it's also a first, is it not?  

Has this ever happened before?  I've had it happen as you say
with NovusOrdo parishes, but trad chapels are almost always
much better about it, and I think I know why.  The priest has
words of encouragement for the faithful to go to confession,
and he would lose credibility if he and his fellow priests urge
people to show up and then the priest DOESN'T.

You are right, it is a first.  Maybe I'm still a bit stunned because it is a Trad chapel.  But these confession schedules have been in place for years and this is just out and out denial of the Sacraments.  It wasn't as if confession for the week was cancelled; they just didn't show up!  If I did that at my job, I'd be given the pink slip.

If they weren't there for scheduled confessions what makes you think they'd schedule a private one?

That parish has gained a reputation recently for cutting corners.

Quote from: Novus Weirdo

Quote from: Marlelar

Why not just call and ask?  Call before hand next time to be sure a priest will be there for confessions.
Marsha

Because if it is printed on their weekly bulletins, then I or anyone else shouldn't have to call.  We trust that they will stick to their word (and their work).

That's quite true, but things happen, schedules can get mixed up, people get called away.  Why look for some thing sinister behind this mix-up when it could be something quite innocent?  A simple phone call will ensure that you are not inconvenienced again.

Marsha

Before presuming that it could be "something quite innocent," it might be
good to know, what was the content of the "printed message
in the vestibule, posted up behind the glass?"

About 10am, a woman came in and went to a few others and whispered something, which then filtered back my way. The message was that confession was cancelled - something about scheduling conflicts - and that there was even a printed message in the vestibule. Now I can't excuse my ignorance for not scanning every little thing posted up behind the glass, but I really can't find any excuse for 'cancelling.'

I recall that the announcement that the Third Secret of Fatima would
not be released, not now, and probably not ever, was made by way
of a printed message, a short one of about 30 words, that appeared
in January of 1960 in a small Italian secular newspaper as an
advertisement or a Public Service Announcement, without any author
or source noted, and the newspaper had no answer regarding from
whom it came.




Also, the fact that they're cutting back on Confessions at St. Dominic's
raises more eyebrows:

My family and I (and others) were told that there would also be no confessions heard at St. Dominic's on the Sundays when Masses were held. What is going on here? Is it because no one is sinning anymore and they've got to economize? Is ICC and St Dominic's taking a page from the Novus Ordo business plan and offering confessions once-a-week-every-week-for-a-half-hour? Are parishioners being punished because we're getting in the way of priestly 'me time?' Sorry to interrupt the snooker game in the rectory, gentlemen, but come on! Our bulletin has a quarter page dedicated to the sick; am I to assume that sacraments, the elderly, or the infirm are now inconveniences?

You know, a half hour is pretty thin.  To be real, sometimes one
penitent can take a half hour -- are you going to have some kind
of blanket policy that pushes them to hurry through it, thereby
trivializing their delicate or pivotal situation?  If the salvation of
souls is the highest law of the Church, giving the requisite time for
each penitent in Confession ought to be a high priority, like one of
the highest of all priorities across the board!


With 6 priests on hand, there really should be time for Confessions.  

I would hold the rectory to providing some explanation for this policy
change.  They can't expect to pull this off without anyone asking
questions.  

So, it's not going to be via an honest announcement for all to hear,
but whatever the "newpolicy" is, will be given out (if at all!) by way
of individual phone calls.  

Okay, then, everyone who was turned away, basically, should be
calling the rectory asking questions.  If they can't find time to make
an honest announcement for everyone, then they must be planning
on having a ready answer at hand for dozens of phone calls.  And
don't fall for them saying "to spread the word" or whatever.  It's their
job to let everyone know what's going on.