Dennis Baker, S.J. on Confession

As New York prepares for Advent Reconciliation Monday on December 14, former Xavier Regent Rev. Dennis Baker, S.J., a newly ordained Jesuit priest, reflected on confession in an article in the National Catholic Reporter.

“It is an incredible grace,” he wrote. “And I mean it. People are there to confess their sins, for sure. … But more than what they've done wrong, I hear people confessing how hard they are trying to live morally, and their deep desire to express love for the world with more conviction and frequency. I'm overwhelmed by their honesty and the compassion for the people in their lives. That's grace.”

To learn about more about the Archdiocesan Advent Reconciliation Monday, click here. All parishes in the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre will have priests available to hear confessions form 4-8 p.m. that day. At the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit confessors will be available from 3-8 p.m., and the Blessed Sacrament will be present on the altar during each of the five hours. All are welcome.