FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2011
 

ARCHBISHOP DOLAN THANKS PRIESTS FOR SUCCESS OF RECONCILIATION MONDAY

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has extended his gratitude to the priests of the Archdiocese for their efforts in making yesterday’s observance of Reconciliation Monday a tremendous success. The Archbishop offered his thanks in a letter that was e-mailed today to all of the priests serving in the Archdiocese.

On the Monday of Holy Week, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and the Diocese of Brooklyn, offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession, in every parish between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Although there is no official count of the number of people who participated, priests from all parts of the Archdiocese have been reporting bigger than expected turn-outs and extended hours that the sacrament was offered. 

In his letter, the Archbishop wrote to the priests, “Reports are coming in from the frontlines, from many of you, of a solid stream of penitents from 3-9 p.m., some fellas in the confessional until much later. One priest reports he had to have a sandwich brought to him in the confessional because the line was too long to leave! And apparently a lot of people returned to the sacrament after a long time. If my own experience at the cathedral was indicative, it was a great success.”

A copy of the Archbishop’s letter can be found here.