By Catherine Wan
KOTA KINABALU — Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday Feb 17, is a grace-filled period when we are reminded, through the Word of God, to return to God as He loves us and is ever ready to forgive us.
In spite of the pandemic, Sacred Heart Cathedral parish offers to parishioners the opportunity to avail the grace of Confession as a concrete way of preparation to celebrate the paschal mystery of Easter with renewed hearts.
The individual confessions are made available to parishioners daily (Monday to Friday), from Mar 10-24, spaced out by three time slots: 8:30-9:30 am; 10:30-11:30 am and 3:30-4:30pm.
Entry pass may be obtained from the parish office or the counter at the entrance of the Church. Following the strict observance of the SOP protocol, each time slot will only accommodate a maximum of 200 people. The “paneled confessional” will be sanitized after each use by a penitent. At any one time slot, there will be four priests available to hear confession.
Catholics believe that the act of confession is important because it allows them to put things right with God and to know that they have been forgiven. They go to confession to say sorry for the wrong (sin) in their lives and to experience God’s healing through forgiveness. Confession also permits reconciliation with the Church, which is wounded by the sins people commit.