Page 26 - Catholic Extension Magazine - Spring 2016

26 IWNorksSofMPerIcyRE
A SACRAMENT OF MERCY
A busy confessor in North Carolina re ects on the gift of reconciliation
IBY FATHER JULIO C. DOMÍNGUEZ
believe that one great way for Catholics to renew our hearts and refocus our lives on mer- cy this year can be a recom- mitment to the sacrament of
reconciliation. In this sacrament we are giving God a wonderful opportunity to extend God’s love to us. As Jesus told us in the parable of the prodigal son, our Father is always looking into the distance, hoping that one of His sons or daughters will come home so He can have a great feast.
Unlike in many other parishes today, in our parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, North Caroli- na, many parishioners regularly take part in the sacrament of reconciliation. I’d like to think that is because they have come
to understand the beauty of this sacrament and to see it exactly for what it is — a moment of grace in which they approach God, not to be judged but to be forgiven. e God of mercy, the good Father, is
waiting for them with open arms to reconcile them with Him and with the Church. ey nd that the sacrament of reconciliation gives them strength and grace for their journey.
As pastors we should always be ready and willing to administer this sacrament because with it we are passing along a great gift from our loving Father. Of course, par- ishes need to have a regular sched- ule for confessions, but we cannot limit the access to this sacrament to what Pope Francis has called “scheduled ministry.” Because many people nowadays can’t come at the times we have set, we must receive them on their own times.
A friend recently approached me and said, “Father, I have many sins, and I have not gone to confes- sion in a long time, but that doesn’t mean I have forgotten about it.” I asked him, “What do you want to confess? Why don’t you come over to see me today?” When he came to me, I realized that he was car- rying many heavy burdens in his
life and that they were leading him to despair. He cried a lot and was relieved. I nally saw him smile. He told me, “Father, I wish more priests made time to help us with what is tormenting us.” After giv- ing him some advice, I asked him to “go and sin no more,” called
on God’s mercy and absolved the friend of his sins.
We also need to create more opportunities for our children and young people to experience this grace. Few parents bring their children to the sacrament of reconciliation at the times when we o er it. But each week we have
LEFT St. Francis parish- ioners who participated in the “School of Faith” formation program their pastor created.
RIGHT Father Domínguez says that the sacrament of reconciliation gives people strength and grace for their life journeys.