MANILA, Philippines–In one barangay (village) in Quezon City, Catholics need not go to a church to confess their sins. They can do it on the streets.
Embracing Pope Francis’ call to make confession a priority, Fr. Emmanuel del Rosario of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Barangay Paltok, Quezon City now hears confessions even on the streets.
Fondly called “Father Pong” by his parishioners, the priest said he decided to hold “street confession” after noticing that many people in the barangay have become mere spectators in liturgies and other church-related activities.
He said that confession was often put off until the last minute and all sorts of excuses are made for not making confession at all.
“I said to myself that if I would sit near tricycle terminals, stores, or even outside an OTB (off-track betting) and lotto outlets, then perhaps it would be convenient for many to confess,” Del Rosario said in a post on CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) News.
According to him, street confessions have been done in some parts of the country in the past.
“My motivation is to make the beautiful and healing sacrament of reconciliation visible to many,” he said.
He always carries with him a portable kneeler with a screen but a penitent has the option of either confessing face-face or behind a screen.
He said those who avail themselves of the sacrament vary from street vendors, students and elderly people with some admitting that their last confessions were several decades ago.–Tina G. Santos