Communal Penance Services

Leslie, you've created a monster! I keep hearing different things about the Communal Penance Service type things. I got a bit obsessed and I had to go look it up online. For a few hours. What do you mean, flimsy excuse for procrastination? Econ 104 homework? I don't know whaaaaat you're talking about, Conscience ::: looks guilty ::: If Pinocchio's "Conscience" was Jiminy Cricket, mine takes the form of an Avenging Box of Grab n' Go Chicken.

Anyway, from what I found I think your new priest was right about the general absolution not being allowed :( But I wouldn't worry about it since it's obviously not your fault and you were just doing what you were told. Anyway, it's not so bad, 'cuz communal penance services are still allowed, so long as the people individually confess to a priest during them.

Below is what I found here. There is also some information from the Q&A section of EWTN here and here.


COMMUNAL CELEBRATION

... 81. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confession and united thanksgiving to God for the forgiveness received can also take place in fellowship with other Catholics during a communal celebration.

... 6. During the communal celebration, the penitents are still required to undergo a private confession on a one-to-one basis with a priest at which time he receives individual absolution.
"Individual, integral confession and absolution remains the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church." (C.C.C. # 1484)

COMMUNAL CONFESSION WHEN IN DANGER OF DEATH

... 84. In exceptional cases of grave necessity, the diocesan bishop being the judge of whether or not the conditions for general absolution do apply, may permit a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution.

85. Examples of grave necessity are:
-There is approaching danger of death, such as during war time, without sufficient time for the priest(s) to hear individual confessions.
-The number of penitents is so great that there are not enough priests to hear the individual confessions of each penitent in a reasonable time, this being of no fault to the penitents who would be denied sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time.

86. For the general absolution to be valid in this case, the faithful must sincerely have the intention of confessing their sins on an individual basis in the time required.

87. The following conditions do not constitute a grave necessity that would justify general absolution:
-A large gathering of the faithful on a major feast.
-A large gathering of the faithful on a pilgrimage.
-The excuse that the Sunday Mass celebrant is not a resident priest of the parish when the means are available for the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Confession at another Diocesan Church which is only minutes away from the attending Church.

88. For a general absolution to be valid, the faithful must have exhausted all means available to their disposal. If receiving the Sacrament of Confession requires contacting the Parish secretary to request for an arrangement for the penitent to meet with a priest in private, then such must be done. (C.C.C. 1483)