Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, announced today an initiative to promote the sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance called, “The Light is on for You.” Based on the successful campaign of the same name created by the Archdiocese of Washington, the initiative uses billboards, bus, radio and TV ads to encourage Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to reconnect with the sacrament during the 40-day period of prayer and repentance that begins on February 25, Ash Wednesday.
Recent statistics indicate that approximately 11 percent of Catholics go to confession once a year or more. Comparatively, in 1965, 38 percent of all American Catholics went to confession at least once a month.
“The Church needs to do a better job of educating our people about the spiritual benefits offered by the sacrament of Reconciliation, as well as the direct connection between Reconciliation and the reception of the Eucharist,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “We are also hopeful that this initiative will lead people who have been away from the sacrament not only back to the confessional, but also back to the pews. We hope it helps them to deepen their faith, while also knocking down some of the myths and stereotypes associated with confession.”
Priests will hear confessions each Wednesday during Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday and the Wednesday of Holy Week) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in each parish in the Archdiocese.
For more information about “The Light is on for You,” visit www.archbalt.org.