The Holy Saints Area Catholic Community is offering a ‘Confesstival’ from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at St. Mary Help of Christians Church in St. Augusta. All are welcome.
Father Erik Lundgren said, “The Confesstival creates a visible in-person experience for each attendee of the fact that God’s desire to forgive us is present our whole life long. I especially love that children preparing for first holy Communion see that everyone in the ACC is supposed to be making this sacrament a regular and recurring part of their spiritual life.”
Father Lundgren is the parochial administrator for the Luxemburg, Kimball and St. Augusta parishes. The Holy Saints ACC also includes parishes in Pearl Lake and St. Nicholas.
People will hear music — a sacred polyphony and Gregorian chant — which are associated with mystical spiritual experiences. Each penitent is invited to light a votive candle at the altar rail.
“The simple visible idea of the light of Christ shining through a person’s soul might have been darkened by sin or even snuffed out before they went to confession. Now it is newly lit and shining brightly and will remain that way as long as possible,” Father Lundgren said.
Kelli Kleinschnitz, faith formation director for the Holy Saints ACC, said, “With many priests available, the attendees can confess face-to-face or behind a screen, offering them the freedom to approach the sacrament in the way they feel most comfortable.
“If it’s been a while since your last confession, I encourage you to take that step. Be bold — don’t let worries about formality hold you back. We provide a step-by-step guide to help you through an examination of conscience and the confession process. No sin is too great for a priest to handle or for God to forgive.”
Children who are preparing for their first reconciliation are one focus for the event. The Confesstival was intentionally scheduled for the ACC’s faith formation night so more parents can participate in reconciliation and other activities.
Adoration will be available a throughout the Confesstival.
“Exposing the Blessed Sacrament for all-day adoration adds many elements — it makes clear that anyone is welcome to stay and pray as long as they want,” Father Lundgren said. “Because the Blessed Sacrament exposed for adoration is in the same area where the votive candles are placed, it helps us to remember that we are offering our newly purified souls back to Jesus for safekeeping as our Good Shepherd.”
And because it’s a festival, there’s an all-day craft and bake sales, the sales of which support their attendees to the Steubenville Youth Conference. Later in the day, participants can play Saint Bingo and enjoy fellowship and snacks.
Kleinschnitz said, “The Confesstival beautifully brings together a sense of community even though confession is a deeply personal encounter with Jesus,” she added. “While many may feel uneasy or anxious about going to confession, seeing people of all ages waiting in line to receive God’s mercy is truly inspiring. The experience goes beyond simply confessing and leaving — it’s a meaningful encounter with Jesus and his Church.”
Father Lundgren said, “The possibilities of how to expand or deepen the experience are endless and they all help draw people into an environment where they can walk down the hall to the church at any point, hop in line and be forgiven. After all, whether it’s been a few weeks or a few decades, we’re all just one good confession away from becoming a saint!”
If you go
What: Confession and adoration all day
When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 19
Where: St. Mary Help of Christians Church (24588 Co. Rd. 7, St. Augusta, MN 56301)
Pictured above: Many parishioners participated in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Confesstival last year. (Photo courtesy of Kelli Kleinschnitz)