Confessions and 40 Hours- Father Kevin Louis's Bulletin Column - March 04, 2007

My memory just is not what it used to be.  I guess that has something to do with my advancing age (!) as well as the variety and sheer volume of things that I am supposed to remember.  In order to offset this, I write notes to myself.  Last year I wrote that Confessions dropped precipitously after the New Year.  Well, that memo has proved useless as a guide for 2007 insofar as Confessions have actually increased dramatically this year!  That is rather astounding insofar as the volume of Confessions at Saint Peter as a general rule is already high.  In fact, during this January people had been coming to Confession in such numbers that I decided to expand the daily opportunities in Lent by 15 minutes in order to accommodate the crowds.  Several weekends ago, hearing Confessions for one hour before Masses on Saturday and Sunday was not sufficient, so I heard for nearly another hour after Masses!  And on Tuesday of this week penitents were coming steady for nearly 45 minutes!  What a wonderful “problem” to have!  Saint Peter offers you many opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Penance during Lent.  Indeed, Confessions are heard seven days a week in our parish!  In addition to the usual Lenten schedule of Confessions (Tuesday through Saturday at 7:15 am; Monday through Friday at 4:30 pm; Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 pm; and Sunday from 7:00 to 7:45 am), there are several additional occasions for you to be reconciled with Christ and His Church.  This week Monday through Wednesday, March 5-7, multiple priests will hear Confessions from 8:00 to 9:00 pm as part of our 40 Hours Adoration.  Also, multiple priests will be hearing Confessions on Saturday, March 24, from 8:30 am to Noon and again from 1:00 to 3:45 pm.  What is more, some of our area parishes have communal Penance services in the coming weeks.

This week Monday through Wednesday, March 5-7, our parish celebrates 40 Hours Adoration of the Blessed SacramentThis period of intense prayer with our Eucharistic Lord as a parish is one of the privileged moments of our spiritual renewal as a family of families.  I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity for your own personal spiritual growth, as well as that of your family and our parish as a whole.  As with any of our liturgical functions at Saint Peter, all are most welcome.  Each night at 7:00 pm our own Father Derek Sakowski celebrates Evening Prayer and gives an extended homilyConfessions are heard from 8:00 to 9:00 pm and Night Prayer is prayed at 9:00 pmFor those with small children please note that we are providing childcare from 6:45 to 8:00 pm to facilitate your participationThe Blessed Sacrament is exposed continuously beginning 7:00 pm Monday, March 5, and concluding 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 7.  It was after the Last Supper that Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He extends that same invitation to us!  During these 48 hours of continuous Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament each family of our parish should commit itself to one hour of prayer.  With more than 1000 families that means every hour of those 48 should find 21 families at prayer before the Lord present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.  Please designate the hour your family will pray by signing up at the display at the main entrance of church.  Let us not have the Lord say to us as He said to the Apostles: “So you could not stay awake with me for even an hour?” (Matthew 26:40).

Saint Peter, pray for us!  Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Father Kevin Louis

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