Become evangelists for forgiveness, Archbishop Wuerl says

Published: 2007-01-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Use of the sacrament of penance makes each Catholic "an evangelist for the forgiveness of Christ and a witness to God's wondrous mercy," said Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl in his first pastoral letter as head of the Washington Archdiocese. Archbishop Wuerl called confession "a great gift" that offers new life in Christ. "When we face daily frustrations and struggle to be good, we need to recall the teaching of the church that we have the power to triumph over sin because we have God's grace within us," he said in the letter, dated Jan. 8 and made public Jan. 25. The letter was issued for the season of Lent and was titled "God's Mercy and the Sacrament of Penance." Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is Feb. 21. Easter is April 8. The grace of the sacrament allows people "to get back up after each fall ... and allows us to continue our journey to God," wrote Archbishop Wuerl. Coinciding with the pastoral letter is a pastoral initiative encouraging archdiocesan Catholics to receive the sacrament of reconciliation during Lent. Every parish church is to make confession available every Wednesday of Lent, starting Feb. 28, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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