For the second year, the archdiocese is sponsoring “The Light Is on for You,” a campaign of billboard, bus, Internet and television ads to encourage area Catholics to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation during the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, to Easter, April 4.

“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 Edwin F. O’Brien said in a statement. “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.”

More than 8,000 area Catholics participated in the sacrament during Lent 2009, including many who were going to confession for the first time in many years, the archdiocese says.
Approximately 11 percent of Catholics go to confession at least once a year, the archdiocese says. In 1965, 38 percent of American Catholics went to confession at least once a month.

Last year, confessions were heard at a uniform time at parishes across the archdiocese. This year, parishes will set their own times each Wednesday during Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday and the Wednesday of Holy Week).