Confession's worth

* The cover story on confession (NCR, Feb. 9) surely provokes a discussion. As one who has availed herself of the sacrament of reconciliation for 80 years, I am happy to see that the knowledge we now have of psychiatry confirms our need for this sacrament. Just as the Baltimore Catechism told us, sacraments give grace that we need to help us on the road of life. The updating of our understanding of how to make better use of this sacrament has enhanced the experience. Going face to face, letting go of the laundry list and putting guilt trips in their proper place have all contributed to the sacrament's worth for us. Is confession relevant in 2007? For me, the Gospels (Matthew t8:18) gives the authority and Peter's words to Jesus suffice: "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

JEANNE B. DILLON

Summit. N.J.

* Following my retirement as an Air Force chaplain, I remained in San Antonio to help in a parish whose gentlemanly pastor, Fr. John O'Donoghue, was mentioned in Ed Conroy's sidebar on communal penance. Saturday afternoon confessions there attracted the retired and elderly, who seldom missed the monthly encounter with their priest. I helped also at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Selma, Texas, where Fr. Conor McGrath orchestrates a team of pastoral ministries for 3,000 families. I was accustomed to see the church filled with 800-plus people at each of three reconciliation services before Christmas and Holy Week. It was exhilarating to see so many single adults, couples and families make the effort to drive to church at night to participate with a like-minded crowd of parishioners. Fr. Conor typically thanks his people for coming and then introduces five other priests who station themselves by the first step across the sanctuary. Ushers guide the assembly up front where the priests welcome them, then penitents acknowledge a lack of charity, obedience or some failing. The priests respond, "Your presence tells me you are sorry and want to be cleansed of your sins. God already knows them. It is my joy to forgive you in his name." They are absolved; a penance is given, then people depart or stop by the chapel for prayer. The steady growth in attendance speaks volumes about this less-than-one-hour service that is welcomed not only by the people but also by the gray-haired, hard of hearing, and less-than-agile priests who are recruited to help.

(Fr.) PAUL McDONALD

Dubuque, Iowa

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