After a one-year absence because of COVID restrictions, Advent penitential services are returning to parishes across the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
During Advent, the Church encourages Catholics to prepare for Christmas by receiving the sacrament of reconciliation. Traditionally, parishes in the archdiocese hold penitential services with several priests hearing confessions.
Last year, churches in B.C. were under lockdown due to a government ban on all public worship services. To provide opportunities for reconciliation, Archbishop J. Michael Miller set aside Dec. 12 as an Archdiocesan Day of Mercy during which parishes would offer increased opportunities for confession throughout the day.
With churches open this year, parishes are returning to the traditional penitential services, with some services already taking place this week.
A list of penitential services in each of the archdiocese’s six geographical deaneries can be found at rcav.org/christmas/confession. Dozens of parishes have submitted their confession schedules already, and the list will be updated as more come in.
