In the early times of the coronavirus pandemic, Archbishop Hebda gave extraordinary permission to the priests of the Archdiocese “to impart absolution to multiple persons without individual confession, otherwise known as general absolution or ‘Form III’ Confessions.” On June 14, Archbishop Hebda sent a letter to the priests of the Archdiocese stating, “Now that social distancing recommendations are easing and most of us can safely gather again in Church, I have determined that the circumstances no longer exist to warrant the use of general absolution in this Archdiocese. Therefore, effective immediately, the faculty previously granted to offer general absolution during the pandemic is hereby rescinded.”  

While we never offered general absolution here at St. Hubert during the pandemic, choosing instead to regularly offer individual Confessions outside, we realize that parishioners may have sought out opportunities for general absolution when it was offered at other parishes during the pandemic. 

If you sought out general absolution during the coronavirus pandemic, we want to remind you of what to do following general absolution. Canon law states, “For a member of the Christian faithful validly to receive sacramental absolution given to many at one time, it is required not only that the person is properly disposed but also at the same time intends to confess within a suitable period of time each grave sin which at the present time cannot be so confessed.” On the occasion of receiving general absolution, if you had the intention to receive absolution for any sins you have committed, particularly serious (mortal) sins, called those sins to mind, prayed an Act of Contrition before receiving general absolution, and had the intention of confessing these serious sins if and when the opportunity for individual Confession arose, then we invite you, at the next opportunity you have, to come to individual Confession to state those serious sins. Tell the priest that you are now fulfilling your intention to confess these sins when you received general absolution. If you did not have this intention when seeking general absolution, then absolution was not actually received, and we invite you to come to individual Confession and confess these serious (mortal) sins to the priest to receive absolution for them.  

Archbishop Hebda wants us all to remember that “individual and integral Confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church.”  

Our current opportunities for individual Confession at St. Hubert are: Sundays from 8-8:25 AM in the Church; Thursdays from 6:30-7 PM outside of the main doors in a drive-thru format; Saturdays from 4-5 PM in the Church; or call the parish office to set up an individual appointment for Confession with one of our priests. We invite everyone to come joyfully to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, be forgiven of your sins, and be healed and renewed in the merciful love of Jesus Christ!