Catholics Invited to Confession March 24 during “Be Reconciled"

After being cancelled in 2020 because of the coronavirus, the all-day opportunity to take part in the Sacrament of Confession is back. The Diocese of Rockford will again hold Be Reconciled Day on March 24, 2021.

Bishop David J. Malloy, recognizing the need for God’s grace and forgiveness in the lives of Catholics, has again asked all 104 parishes in the 11-county diocese to add Wednesday, March 24, to their regular Lenten confession calendar and, where possible, to offer confessions that day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The goal of “Be Reconciled” is to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation more accessible, especially for people who have been away or hesitant about confession for many months or many years.

In his radio and television invitations this year Bishop Malloy asks Catholics “Can’t remember your last confession? Then Be Reconciled Day is just what you need.”

“The Lenten Season is always an important time for us to take stock of our spiritual lives. By the Church's tradition of prayer, fasting and charity, we draw closer to Christ and to the Church. Our souls are laid open to be strengthened by Christ's love, grace and forgiveness so it is a real privilege to focus on the opportunity to offer that forgiveness especially to those who have been away from confession for a long time for whatever reason,” Bishop Malloy said. The bishop added that “The old saying goes, confession is good for the soul and it’s true.”

There are many people who have felt the longing for reconciliation but, because of fear or other reasons, have put off going to confession. Bishop Malloy also suggests that Catholics invite someone they might know who has been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to take part in "Be Reconciled" on March 24 or anytime during Lent. Parishes are open and prepared to welcome people following guidelines of requiring masks, social distancing and sanitizing.

Invitations to “Be Reconciled” Day are being made through advertising in digital, print and social media platforms along with radio and television ads and through parishes and a dedicated page on the Diocese of Rockford website at http://bereconciled.rockforddiocese.org. The site includes confession times for all parishes in the Rockford Diocese as well as information and resources about the sacrament. For the most current information about “Be Reconciled” follow the Diocese of Rockford on Twitter and Facebook. You can also check local confession times by downloading myParish App available free in the App Store.

Established in 1908, the Diocese of Rockford is comprised of 105 parishes in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, Kane, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago Counties in Northern Illinois serving a Catholic population of more than 400,000. For more about the Catholic Diocese of Rockford visit www.rockforddiocese.org.