More than 115 Catholic parishes invite Catholics to begin their Lenten journey with Confession | Events

One week into the 40 days of Lent, on Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Catholic Churches will invite their members to the “experience God’s love in the sacrament of reconciliation” through an initiative named “The Light is on For You.”

More than 115 Catholic churches across the Archdiocese of Denver will have their lights on that evening and priests will be waiting to welcome Catholics to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Purple and gold “Light is on For You” banners are hanging outside of many churches signaling that their parish is participating in the event.

Bishop James Conley, apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, has asked all parishes to help Catholics rediscover the sacrament and find peace in God’s Church.

Bishop Conley said he appreciates the sacrament both as a priest and a penitent.

“I think the sacrament of confession is the best kept secret in the Catholic Church,” he said. “As a convert to the Catholic Church, it was a whole new experience for me. It’s a wonderful gift of God’s mercy.”

This “Light is on For You” initiative, aimed at increasing awareness and participation in the sacrament of penance during the liturgical season of Lent, began in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., in 2005. The Archdiocese of Boston has also participated in the campaign.

Bishop Conley said the archdiocesan parishes welcome all Catholics to participate, including those who’ve strayed from the Church or who haven’t confessed in some time.

The sacrament of reconciliation is the means for Catholics to obtain pardon from God for sins committed and reconciles them with Christ’s Church. The sacrament goes by various names including “confession,” because of the act of disclosing sins to a priest, and the “sacrament of penance,” because it consecrates a person’s personal steps toward conversion.

For more information, visit www.archden.org/light or read the story in the Denver Catholic Register at http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/7578.

Press Release