Experience Christ’s healing love in the sacrament of reconciliation
“God knows our struggles. He knows that we often fail. Yet His love never fails. No matter how many times we stumble, we find Him ready to receive us again. In the sacrament of penance, we encounter a God who does not simply wait for us but rushes out to meet us. This is the beauty of the sacrament.” – Bishop Walkowiak
The season of Lent by its penitential nature is an opportune time for anyone seeking forgiveness to receive God’s unfailing mercy and restore and renew their relationship with Jesus through the sacrament of penance.
During The Light is ON For You, Thursday, April 3, individual confession will be available in most of our churches from 5 – 8 p.m. Please contact the parish ahead of time to confirm participation.
Al comenzar la temporada de Cuaresma, la Diócesis de Grand Rapids ofrecerá una vez más una oportunidad especial para recibir el sacramento de la reconciliación:
“La Luz Está Encendida Para Ti: Una Noche de Penitencia”
Jueves 3 de abril, 5 – 8 p.m. en la mayoría de las parroquias de la diócesis.
Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la lista de iglesias participantes.
Please scroll down for the list of participating churches.
If your parish is participating, but does not appear in the list below, please email awillison@grdiocese.org.
What is the sacrament of reconciliation?
In his abundant love and mercy, Jesus Christ established the sacrament of reconciliation, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church. This sacrament, also known as the sacrament of penance, or confession, “washes us clean,” and helps us discover anew God’s love for us. (Read “God is madly in love with you,” from FAITH Grand Rapids magazine, Oct. 2014)
Resources
Minor changes to Order of Penance took place in Lent 2023 (Read more)
Prepare for confession with resources from the USCCB
Find a church near you for weekly reconciliation times
Participating churches by county/city
*Unless otherwise noted, the churches below are participating in “The Light Is ON For You” on April 3 from 5-8 p.m.
Ionia County
Belding
St. Joseph/St. Mary
Additional confession times: at St. Mary on March 7 at 6 p.m.
Lake Odessa
St. Edward
Pewamo
St. Joseph
Additional confession times: Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:45 a.m., Fridays at 6:00 a.m., and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m.
Kent County
Ada
Saint Robert of Newminster Parish
with adoration
St. Patrick Parish (Parnell)
with adoration
Additional confession times: Wednesdays from 6 – 7:30 p.m. with adoration and Saturdays from 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Belmont
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
with adoration.
Additional confession times: Wednesdays from 6 – 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Byron Center
St. Sebastian Parish (5:30 – 8 p.m.)
Additional confession times: Thursday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Adoration with individual reconciliation
Thursday, March 27, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – CrossRoads Penance Service with individual reconciliation at St. Sebastian Church
Saturdays 4 – 4:30 p.m. (except Holy Saturday — No Confessions)
Cedar Springs
St. John Paul II Parish
Additional confession times: March 28 at 4 p.m. to March 29 at 4 p.m. (24 hours of Adoration with Confession)
Comstock Park
Holy Trinity
Additional confession times: Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Grand Rapids
Basilica of St. Adalbert (confession from 3:30 – 5 p.m., Mass at 5:15 p.m., then confession again from 6 – 8 p.m.)
Additional confession times: Monday – Friday from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Cathedral of Saint Andrew (5 – 7 p.m.)
Additional confession times: following every daily Mass and noon on Saturdays
Holy Spirit Parish
Additional confession times: March 29 from 6:45 – 8:00 p.m. and April 8 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Additional confession times: April 10 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua
Additional confession times: Fridays during Lent at 6:30 p.m.
SS. Peter and Paul (5 – 7 p.m.)
Additional confession times: Tuesday evenings from 5 – 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 3 – 3:45 p.m., and March 23 from 2 – 4 p.m.
St. Isidore Parish
Additional confession times: Lenten confession times will be posted on Facebook, our website, and in our bulletins.
St. Mary Parish (at the Basilica of St. Adalbert, see above)
St. Paul the Apostle Parish (5 – 8 p.m.)
Additional confession times: Fridays from 9 – 10 a.m. and Saturdays from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Grandville
St. Pius X (6 – 8:30 p.m.)
Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m., confessions will follow
Kentwood
St. Mary Magdalen Parish
Additional confession times: April 7 from 8:30 – 10 a.m. and 6 – 8 p.m., April 9 and 10 from 8:30 – 10 a.m. and 6 – 8 p.m., April 11 from 8:30 – 10 a.m., and April 16 from 8:30 – 10 a.m. and 6 – 8 p.m.
Lowell
St. Mary Parish
Additional confession times: First Fridays of every month from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., and third Thursdays every month from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Rockford
Our Lady of Consolation Parish
Sand Lake
Mary Queen of Apostles Parish
Wyoming
Holy Name of Jesus Parish
St. Joseph the Worker
Additional confession times: Every Friday during the Stations of the Cross 7 – 8 p.m.
Mason County
Ludington
St. Simon Parish (Not participating in Light is ON for You)
Additional confession times: March 19 and 26 and April 2 and 9 from 6 – 7:00 p.m.
Mecosta County
Big Rapids
St. Mary – St. Paul Catholic Community (11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at St. Mary Church)
Additional confession time: Lenten Penance Service with seven priests available to hear confessions on Tuesday, March 18, from 6 – 8 p.m. at St. Mary Church.
St. Michael the Archangel (5 – 7 p.m.)
Additional confession times: March 27 and 28 at 11 a.m., April 11 at noon, April 15 and 16 at 6 p.m., and April 18 at noon. All times subject to change due to Father’s condition. Please be patient.
Montcalm County
Greenville
St. Charles Borromeo (at St. Joseph, see above)
Howard City
Christ the King-St. Francis de Sales Parish (at Christ the King)
Stanton
St. Bernadette
Muskegon County
Montague
St. James Parish (6 – 8 p.m.)
Muskegon
Prince of Peace (April 2 from 5 – 8 p.m.)
Additional confession times: Saturdays from 4 – 4:45 p.m.
St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception Parish
St. Michael the Archangel (at St. Francis de Sales, see below)
Norton Shores
St. Francis de Sales
Additional confession times: extended hours in Holy Week – see bulletins for details
Muskegon Twp.
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Oceana County
Pentwater
St. Vincent (at St. Joseph, see below)
Weare
St. Joseph Parish
Additional confession times: Saturdays from 6:30 – 7 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 – 9 a.m.
Ottawa County
Allendale
St. Luke University Parish (4 – 9 p.m.)
Conklin
St. Francis Xavier
Coopersville
St. Michael Parish (April 2 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.)
Grand Haven
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish
Holland
Our Lady of the Lake Parish
Jenison
Holy Redeemer
Marne
St. Mary
Additional confession times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12 – 1 p.m.
Return to Lenten resources
(Updated 3/7/2025)
